Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Name: Barbara Dunsheath
Age: N/A
Current job title: Professor
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: N/A
City where you reside: Cypress
Campaign website or social media: BarbforNorthOrange.com
What are the top two needs of your college district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Our mission at North Orange County CCD is to serve and enrich our diverse communities by providing comprehensive educational programs. We work diligently to provide relevant, accessible and academically excellent learning opportunities.
Two needs of the district are:
1. Ongoing support for student success. As president of the board, I am successful when our students thrive. Students thrive when they achieve their goals. As trustee, I carefully monitor student success metrics, such as degree/certificate attainment and implement strategies that strengthen completion. Trustees must provide student support services to help them along their educational journey. We need to continue to offer: tutors, basic needs such as our food pantries, wraparound services, and mental health counseling. We need to maintain affordable college at the $46 per unit in-state cost.
2. Ongoing fiscal prudence. As your representative, I have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely. North Orange County Community College District’s financial impact on our community is $2.7 billion in added income. For every dollar invested in NOCCCD, students gain $6.90 in lifetime earnings; taxpayers gain $1.70 in added tax revenue and public sector savings; and our society gains $11.90 in added income and social savings.
To you, what is the role of community college in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Community Colleges provide educational opportunities for the top 100%. We are the people’s college, offering academic and vocational needs with superior quality and efficiency to 63,129 students. Cypress and Fullerton Colleges offer over 225 associate degree programs, nearly the same number of career certificates, three baccalaureate degrees, and at North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) a variety of lifelong learning options. We offer the first drone baccalaureate degree in the western United States, certificates in artificial intelligence, as well as traditional areas of academic study. Cypress College’s nursing program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation based on license passage rate.
North Orange County CCD offers the lowest fees — merely $46 per unit (for residents), far below the national average of over $150. College is free for two years through the Promise Program for local high school graduates who enroll full time immediately after graduation. We provide wraparound services to assist students along their educational journey — including zero textbook costs, basic-need assistance (food banks, low-cost transportation) and emergency loans through our foundations because tuition is not the only cost for attending college.
In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
The high cost of housing in Orange County is a barrier for student success, and North Orange County CCD has worked diligently to offset costs. Cypress College submitteda cost-effective, shovel-ready proposal for state-funded student housing in 2024, but the state reversed its financial support for student housing.
We (NOCCCD) have recently purchased property near both our colleges to address student housing needs. We are happy to partner with our cities, community organizations such as Pathways for HOPE and sister universities to coordinate housing solutions.
Our foundations provide emergency funds for students unable to pay rent. I personally donate to both Cypress and Fullerton Foundations, understanding the real- life hurdles our students face. Donations support hope and resilience.
A safe, affordable place to live is essential for our students to thrive. Supporting basic needs is a core priority of mine as trustee.
What actions would you suggest to prevent a cyberattack similar to the Canvas data breach in May? How can your district ensure students’ information is safe? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
North Orange County has in place multiple layers of protection against cyberattacks and to ensure student data is safe, including:* Utilize MFA (multifactor authentication) for student and employee accounts.* Deployed SentinelOne, an advanced Endpoint Detection and Response tool, allowing for 24/7 ongoing monitoring and risk mitigation.* Cybersecurity Awareness Training for all employees.* Fully implemented Microsoft Defender for email and endpoint protection.* Created a backup process for all IT operations for redundancy to ensure disaster recovery and business continuity.* Two dedicated cybersecurity positions centralize monitoring.* Conducted cybersecurity vulnerability testing and assessment on an annual basis with monthly phishing simulations.
How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
As a history professor, I see first-hand the use of AI in my classroom. Through professional development events, I have learned the most effective way to harness the potential of AI while mitigating its harm is to create guidelines regarding its use.
The ability to generate instantly a plethora of information is now at our fingertips. The trick is to engage students to utilize critical thinking to discern credible sources and the integrity of information.
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I tell my students, “Just because somebody said something, doesn’t make it true.” AI-generated information is a great way to begin a discussion but never the definitive answer — that requires human thought.
How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
A core value at NOCCCD is respect. We believe that all members of the district are entitled to work and learn in an atmosphere of courtesy, civility, and collegiality by nurturing a culture of open, transparent, and authentic communication, taking care to invite traditionally marginalized voices to the center.
As a trustee, it is important to model civil discourse by respectful disagreement, focusing on facts, not personality, and active listening to different points of view.
I would follow guidelines for civil discourse set by the League of Women Voters that begins with a thoughtful conversation.
Our district offers a variety of convenings for students to learn about topics such as Earth Day symposium and Yom HaShoah. We set guidelines for faculty to facilitate meaningful classroom discussions that separate personal opinion from subject-area viewpoint. Freedom of speech is a core component of our district.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
My greatest experience is being a long-time resident of Cypress, where I’ve raised my family. I participated in: PTA, AYSO, Boy/Girl Scouts, St. Irenaeus, League of WomenVoters and Friends of Seal Beach Animal Care. Professionally, I have served in multiple roles at NOCCCD, statewide, as accreditation commissioner and professor.
Community College experience is my strength.
Currently, I am president of the California Community College Trustee Board. My focus is: trustee professional development and advocacy, including support for baccalaureate degrees at the Community Colleges.
I also am elected for the fourth time president of the NOCCCD board. Over my tenure, I have acquired in-depth experience in budgets and finance, curriculum and construction.
As commissioner for the accrediting agency (ACCJC), I ensured peer colleges in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific area met standards of educational quality and vigor. As a professor, I know what it’s like to be in the classroom interacting with students. I have a bird’s-eye view of student needs, struggles, and strengths.
I hold a doctorate in educational leadership specializing in Community Colleges. While there is always more to learn, I am excellently prepared to be your Trustee.
If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
The Sankofa bird. It is an African symbol of a mythical bird looking backward with the egg in its beak. It emphasizes that learning from the past is essential to moving forward. It is a sign of hope and resilience rooted in respect for ancestors and history.
I choose this symbol to represent my lifelong service to community colleges and ongoing energy and commitment to sustaining educational quality for our students and community.
Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.
I am an avid reader and belong to three book clubs. I could never choose one book. Here are three: “Theo of Golden”: Teaches you to give back to the community and be a good person. “How We Learn to be Brave”: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. How to respond with clarity and grace in tough situations. “Becoming Madame Secretary”: A historical fiction novel about Fransis Perkins, the first female Cabinet member who crafted Social Security and the Fair Labor and Standards Act while taking care of her mentally ill husband. As a hobby, I am writing a historical fiction novel, “Faithfully Yours,” based on love letters from my great-grandfather, a Chicago lawyer, to my great-grandmother, an Irish immigrant who worked next door to him as a nursemaid.
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