STOCKTON -- Four new and returning Delta College trustees were sworn in on Tuesday night, taking their seats on the College’s governing board for the next four years.

Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard and Kathy Garcia were sworn in as new trustees after prevailing in the November election. Incumbents Dr. Teresa Brown and Jennet Stebbins will return to the Board of Trustees for another term. 

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Jose Alva administered the oath to all four trustees at the start of Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.

Also Tuesday, the College said farewell to trustees Steve Castellanos and Van Ha To-Cowell who are leaving the Board. Castellanos, a Stockton architect, was first elected in 2008 and advocated for Delta as a member of the Association of Community College Trustees Board of Directors, among other roles. To-Cowell, a school administrator, was appointed in March 2020 to fill a vacant seat on the Board. 

 “I'd like to congratulate our new and returning trustees and also offer my deepest thanks to trustees Castellanos and To-Cowell for their generous service to Delta College,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani. “The Board serves a critical oversight role for the College. I’m thankful for community members who are willing to step up and give of their time and energy to support student success."

The four new and returning trustees will join trustees Janet Rivera, Dr. Charles Jennings, and Dr. Catherine Mathis in rounding out the seven-member Board. Trustee Jennings was selected to serve as board President and Trustee Rivera as Vice President. Trustee Stebbins will be Board clerk. 

Delta's Board, which meets twice a month, provides elected representation for residents throughout Delta's district, which includes most of San Joaquin County and portions of five other counties. The Board is tasked with approving the College budget and providing policy oversight, among other responsibilities.

Meet the new trustees:

Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard (Area 2, Central Stockton): 

Trustee Blanchard has deep ties to Delta College, as a retired psychology professor and member of the Delta College Foundation Board of Directors. She was a faculty member and administrator at both Delta and the University of the Pacific. She is also past president of the California Teachers Association at Delta. Named Stocktonian of the Year in 2017, Trustee Blanchard has also served as a San Joaquin County planning commissioner, a city of Stockton planning commissioner for eight years, and a Port of Stockton commissioner. Her late husband, Joseph Blanchard, was superintendent/president of Delta College from 1954-1976. Trustee Blanchard is involved in many other community causes. She is past president of the Chinese Benevolent Association, past president of the Disabled American Veterans Association, and is co-president of the Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton. She served for five years on the fundraising committee of the Women’s Center Youth and Family Services, on the board for the Filipino Lions Club, Crime Stoppers, the Filipino American Educators Association, the Mexican Heritage Gallery, a member of the Rotary Club of Stockton and American Legion - Post 16 as an Education Director.

Kathy Garcia (Area 5, East San Joaquin County and Calaveras)

Trustee Garcia comes to Delta College after serving eight years on the Stockton Unified School District Board of Trustees, including three stints as president. Trustee Garcia has also been an elected delegate to the California School Board Association.

Outside of education, she is involved in various community safety and growth efforts, and is an organizer of Cat’s Closet, which collects prom dresses for youth who need them. Originally from Minnesota, Trustee Garcia attended Augsburg College majoring in music. She is still active in performing and teaching music.