[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. DAISY GONZALES

 Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Dr. Daisy Gonzales, who later this month will end her 
tenure as interim chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the 
Nation's largest system of higher education.
  Born in Southern California to immigrant parents and a former foster 
child, Dr. Gonzales was among the first in her family to go to college 
when she attended Los Angeles Valley College, a public community 
college.
  Because of her intellect, her work ethic, and the opportunity 
provided by California's community college system, Dr. Gonzales would 
go on to earn her bachelor's degree, her master's degree, and her 
Ph.D., and eventually become the first Latina--and second woman--to 
serve as chancellor. She is a shining example of the American dream in 
action.
  Dr. Gonzales first joined the California Community Colleges as the 
system's deputy chancellor in early 2018. Since then, she has helped 
guide the system through some of its most tumultuous times. Throughout 
a global pandemic that forced nearly all instruction to move online and 
exacerbated the basic needs crisis surrounding issues like food and 
housing insecurity, Dr. Gonzales provided steady leadership for a 
system of 116 colleges and 1.8 million students across the State.
  She has been an unrelenting champion for Vision for Success--the 
system's north star--helping achieve meaningful progress in improving 
graduation and transfer rates, expanding access to on-campus basic 
needs services, and implementing groundbreaking reforms to faculty 
hiring and tenure policies that will ensure California Community 
College instructors are representative of the students they teach.
  As she transitions back to her role as deputy chancellor--and as the 
system welcomes its new permanent chancellor, Dr. Sonya Christian--I am 
grateful for the years of dedication and hard work that Dr. Gonzales 
has given to the State of California and to the pursuit of quality 
higher education for all.
  Felicidades, Dr. Gonzales, and thank you for your service.

                          ____________________