California Community Colleges Board of Governors Honors Four Faculty Members with 2015-16 Gerald C. Hayward Award for Excellence in Education, including Dr. Linda McAllister of Berkeley City College.

 

Linda McAllister is a sociology professor at Berkeley City College. She is committed to assisting students from diverse backgrounds meet their goals, find their voice and transform their own lives through education. Under her leadership, the Social Science department has been the largest non-English/non-mathematics department involved in college planning and student offerings to meet the challenges of access to our traditionally underserved, underperforming student populations. McAllister successfully piloted a program recruiting former community college students who recently graduated with their master’s degree and are interested in teaching in a California community college.McAllister has also developed curriculum, scheduling and degree alignment so working adults could meet their degree goals, and served as an advisor to the first LGBTQ Club and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. She also mentors cross-discipline mentorship program and in the Faculty Diversity Internship Program. ~ Chancellor’s Office Press Release.

 

“Professor McAllister typifies the Peralta faculty who go above and beyond their expected duties to make Peralta shine,” said Jowel C. Laguerre, Ph.D., Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District.

 

Recipients of the Hayward Award receive a plaque and a $1,250 cash award. A call for nominations goes out in November with an announcement letter, application, criteria, and scoring rubric. This is a Board of Governors award, is sponsored by the Foundation for California Community Colleges, and recipients are recognized by the Board each March. The award winners are invited to attend a dinner with the Academic Senate President on Sunday night before the award ceremony and to attend the Board meeting to receive the award the next day. The announcement was also made on the website of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.

 

True to Dr. McAllister’s nature, her response upon receiving the news of her winning this award was that the award is great recognition for the college and for the many deserving faculty at the college and indeed throughout the district. While it is true that there are many excellent faculty at Berkeley City College and the other three colleges in our district, it was specifically the details of Dr. McAllister’s own professionalism and engagement with students that earned her this award. Congratulations, Linda! It’s an honor to be considered your colleague and to be able to witness your grit and grace day in and day out!

 

Dr. Linda McAllister teaches Sociology and is Co-Chair of the Social Sciences Department at Berkeley City College.