News Release

IWV Campus

Assistant Professor at College Named Central Section President

May 7, 2008

Cerro Coso Community College Assistant Professor, Karen O'Connor was recently appointed the President of the Central Section, California Business Education Association. www.cbeaonline.org California Business Educator's Association has been in existence since 1935, helping to pave the way for teamwork, partnerships, and collaborations between industry, educators, and students. The CBEA vision is to connect faculty and business throughout the state to share ideas, energy, talents, and experiences with the intent to provide the best Business Education possible in a multitude of fields and by using technology to its greatest advantage in the twenty-first century.

One of the first assignments was to attend the 4Cs (California Correlating Curriculum Council) Education Summit meeting at the Capitol building in Sacramento in February along with CBEA president Jim Omlid. The 4Cs is comprised of representatives from key education associations throughout the state. The summit provides a voice to assembly members and senators who are making decisions for the future of education.

The central section covers 14 counties. As central section president, O'Connor's goal is to link educators for inspiration, synergy, and sharing using CBEA as a vehicle to develop partnerships and mentoring between industry, educators, and students.

A desire to continually work smarter and more fully use appropriate technology to support education both in and out of the classroom is the fuel that drives this initiative. Alone, no one can possibly keep up with all the new opportunities the technology of the day has to offer. "We may have 400 miles of highways separating us from the rest of the state, but that doesn't mean we need to work in isolation," stated O'Connor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230