Tami Nelson Los Rios Community College Trustee Area 7

08/26/2026

Free Community Physicals!

Health Education Council (HEC), Zócalo Health, and SHRA are partnering to provide free physicals and wellness resources for the community.

📅 Friday, August 28
⏰ 2–6 PM
📍 Marina Vista Community Room
240 Seavey Circle, Sacramento, CA 95818

No appointment needed; physical exams are walk-ins only!

Physicals include basic checks of the eyes and ears, heart, lungs, abdomen, and joints. Additional care outside the scope of the physical should be followed up with a primary care provider or specialist.

✨ Sports physicals
✨ Wellness resources
✨ Snacks & refreshments
✨ Raffles & prizes!

Come by, get checked, and connect with community wellness resources!

08/23/2026

Something I wish more students and parents knew about community college…

Community college can be a really smart and affordable way to earn a bachelor’s degree—and there are some amazing transfer opportunities that many people don’t even know about.

For example, UC TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) allows eligible California community college students to get guaranteed admission to one of six UCs: Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, or Santa Cruz.

You complete the required courses, meet the GPA requirements, submit your TAG application, and then apply to the UC through the regular application. The huge benefit is that you’re working toward a guaranteed admission pathway instead of simply hoping you get accepted.

And it’s not just the UCs!

California community colleges also have transfer pathways to the CSUs through Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT), and there are additional agreements with some private and out-of-state universities.

And of course, there’s the cost. Completing your first two years at a community college can save you tens of thousands of dollars compared with paying four-year university tuition for all four years.

For students in the Sacramento area, Cosumnes River College has TAG agreements with all six participating UCs.

Learn more about CRC’s TAG program: Cosumnes River College TAG Information https://crc.losrios.edu/why-crc/transfer-to-a-four-year-institution/transfer-admission-guarantee-(tag)

I really don’t think enough students and parents know that this is an option. Community college isn’t necessarily a “backup plan.” It can be a strategic, affordable pathway to a bachelor’s degree from a UC, CSU, or other four-year university.

Please share this with a student or parent who might benefit from knowing about these options! ❤️

Cosumnes River College offers guaranteed admission to many four-year colleges and universities. Learn how you can take advantage of a transfer admission guarantee.

08/08/2026

🎓 Community College Tour — Colleges #17–22!

Six more California community colleges added to my tour! This time I explored campuses throughout the Silicon Valley/San José area. I’m always interested in seeing not only what programs a college offers, but what the campus actually feels like when you’re there.

#17 — Foothill College 📍Los Altos Hills
🌿 Campus: Absolutely beautiful! Set in the hills with open courtyards, lots of greenery, and views across the Bay Area. It feels more like a small four-year university than a community college.
⭐ Standout: Foothill has particularly strong transfer pathways, along with programs in areas like biotech, allied health, computer science and business. (Foothill College)

#18 — De Anza College 📍Cupertino
🏫 Campus: A large, modern campus right in the middle of Silicon Valley. There are lots of open spaces and a real sense that technology and innovation are part of the college’s identity.
💻 Standout: De Anza has a strong reputation for transfer and offers a wide range of technology, engineering, business and design programs — a great location for students interested in Silicon Valley careers. (De Anza College)

#19 — Mission College 📍Santa Clara
🌳 Campus: A very clean, modern campus with some impressive newer facilities, including the Business & Technology building and Viso Sports Complex. It felt very student-centered and welcoming.
🔥 Standout: Mission has strong career programs in areas such as fire protection technology and EMT, along with nursing, engineering, computer science and AI. (Mission College)

#20 — Evergreen Valley College 📍San José
🌿 Campus: One of the things I noticed immediately was the beautiful setting. The campus sits against the Evergreen foothills, giving it a much more open and scenic feel than many urban community colleges.
🎨 Standout: Evergreen has a strong Design program, including training in industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Creo and SolidWorks. (EVC)

#21 — San José City College 📍San José
🏗️ Campus: SJCC is undergoing a major transformation, and the new Career Education Complex really stood out. The four-story, 120,000-square-foot facility has modern labs, collaborative spaces, outdoor learning areas and lots of natural light. (San José City College)
💡 Standout: The new complex focuses on hands-on training for high-demand careers, including technology, skilled trades, medical assisting and other career education programs.

#22 — West Valley College 📍Saratoga
🌲 Campus: This may be one of the most beautiful community college campuses I’ve visited. The 143-acre campus sits in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and feels almost like a retreat from Silicon Valley. (West Valley College)
🌱 Standout: West Valley has a Science Garden that serves as an outdoor classroom, using the native landscape to teach students about science, conservation and sustainability. (West Valley College)

That brings me to 22 community colleges visited! 🎓

I’m really enjoying these visits because every campus has its own personality. Some feel urban and career-focused, some feel like four-year universities, and others have beautiful natural settings. And I continue to be impressed by the specialized programs and opportunities available at California’s community colleges.

22 down… and I’m not done yet! 🚗📚

07/07/2026

We are so excited to have Dr. Torence Powell as our new chancellor! Be sure to read the article to find out more about him. He’s pretty amazing!

Welcome to LRCCD!

07/02/2026

#14 Woodland Community College
#15 Napa Valley College
#16 Santa Rosa Junior College

Road trip time! Woodland Community College is a campus with many large grassy areas. It has a beautiful Performing Arts and Culinary Center. I also really love the mural. It’s a relatively new college.

Napa Valley a college was having a big swim meet when I visited, highlighting the “community” in “community college”. The buildings mostly have a rock exterior, but the Hospitality/Culinary building, which is a few years old, looks modern. There are student dorms built in 2024 just across from campus. The location of this campus is perfect for students interested in the food/wine industries.

Santa Rosa Junior College has a special place in my heart, as this was the first college I attended as a dual enrollment student. It’s a beautiful campus with mainly brick buildings and a historic look. It has strong nursing and public safety programs.

06/22/2026

#12 College of the Redwoods
#13 Mendocino College

Two college visits this week, and two completely different experiences.

At College of the Redwoods, the rain was coming down, thunder rolled overhead, and the campus seemed to blend right into the towering redwoods surrounding it. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting setting for a college known for programs in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, and skilled trades.

A few days later, I visited Mendocino College, where the atmosphere was entirely different—modern buildings, lush landscaping, and beautiful views overlooking Ukiah. The college is known for strong programs in agriculture, culinary arts, health sciences, and career technical education that reflect the needs and industries of Mendocino and Lake Counties.

One of the things I love about California’s community colleges is that each campus has its own personality and sense of place. From redwood forests to vineyard country, students are finding opportunities to learn, grow, and build their futures!

06/09/2026

#10 Shasta College
#11 College of the Siskiyous

Both are set in beautiful locations in the far north of California.

06/04/2026

Today was a busy day visiting three California community colleges!

My first stop was Gavilan College in Gilroy. Gavilan has a smaller campus with a friendly, close-knit feel.

Next, I traveled to Salinas to visit Hartnell College, where I got to visit some former Los Rios change makers (Michael Gutierrez, Hartnell’s President, and Sandra Guzman, Vice President of Student Affairs). I got to check out the impressive Respiratory Care and Nursing facilities, including some cool simulation labs with lifelike patient mannequins. Students get hands-on experience in realistic healthcare settings while instructors watch and provide feedback through observation glass. The program also uses simulation environments that recreate a variety of real-world healthcare situations.

I also toured Hartnell’s Alisal Campus and explored several Career Technical Education programs, including Advanced Automotive Technology, Advanced Diesel Technology, Construction Management, and Welding. The facilities were modern, hands-on, and clearly built to help students prepare for in-demand careers.

Before heading home, I made a quick stop at Monterey Peninsula College to get a feel for another option available to students on California’s Central Coast.

Days like today are a great reminder of how many opportunities California’s community colleges offer!

#7 Gavilan
#8 Hartnell
#9 MPC Monterey Peninsula College

05/25/2026

3 more community colleges today!

#4- San Joaquin Delta College
#5- Modesto Junior College
#6- Merced College

My thoughts….Delta College is so pretty! Redwood trees and art. I felt like I was walking through a condo village. Very scenic. It’s strong in nursing and the health sciences.

Modesto JC is divided into east and west campuses. I went to both, which are pretty small on their own. It’s a bit interesting that they are split up, but luckily they are just a few minutes drive from one another. It’s one of the oldest JC’s in CA. It’s got a very strong agriculture program.

Merced College is also pretty small in size. It’s conveniently located not far from UC Merced, and also strong in ag programs (its Central Valley location helps!).

05/22/2026

Today I got to participate in my favorite part of being a trustee- commencement. It’s the moment where you get to see all of the hard work, sacrifices, late nights, and perseverance finally pay off. The energy is incredible… everyone is excited, proud, emotional, and ready for what’s next. 💙🎓

College #3 out of 116: Cosumnes River College. This one feels especially close to home for me. CRC is right down the street from where I work, I’ve visited countless times over the years, and both of my kids have taken classes here. The faculty and staff are truly amazing and so dedicated to supporting students.

I also had to grab a few selfies with some wonderful people - CRC President Ed Bush, our legal counsel Aly Bivins, our student Trustee Brianna Pham, CRC Academic Senate President Lauren Wagner, and retiring Los Rios Chancellor Brian King. Thank you all for your leadership and commitment to students.

And of course… I loved seeing all the decorated caps and huge smiles today. 😊 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 — your future is bright!

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