New L.A. community college Chancellor Alberto J. Román pledges ‘culture of accountability'
Alberto J. Román, the interim chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District who assumed the post amid the system's yearslong reckoning with legal troubles, was appointed to the permanent role Wednesday by the district's Board of Trustees.
Román, who pledged a 'culture of accountability,' had been named interim chancellor after Francisco C. Rodriguez abruptly resigned last year, shocking critics and champions alike.
During Rodriguez's decade at the helm, the nine-college district faced lawsuits alleging gender discrimination, sexual harassment and whistleblower retaliation, among other claims. He and the trustees endured a vote of no confidence from the district's Academic Senate in 2024 that centered on what it described as a failure to sufficiently address sexual harassment and discrimination claims, among other concerns.
Román, 47, who has worked for the nation's largest two-year college system in various roles spanning more than 11 years, was given a roughly three-year contract, which takes effect immediately and pays $440,000 annually. A former president of East L.A. College, he also previously served as the vice chancellor of human resources for the community college district.
'We pride ourselves on being leaders and identifying and combating any type of discrimination,' Román said in an interview with The Times. 'I've also emphasized the importance of transparency, of trust building, both internally and with the broader public.'
A Mexican immigrant who came to the U.S. as a child, Román oversaw the creation of East L.A. College's pioneering Central American studies program, which launched in 2023. It has been billed as the first such endeavor in California at the community college level and affords students the chance to earn an associate degree in the field.
'It was truly, for me, a very important program to have here in Los Angeles,' said Román, who has worked in education for more than two decades. He said a trip to El Salvador with faculty had inspired him to create the program. 'I really grew an interest in learning more about our Central American community here.'
Just a year ago, Román had praised Rodriguez in an open letter for his 'transformative decade of service, leadership, and vision.'
But the end of the former chancellor's tenure had been rocky.
In August, Rodriguez said that he would step down to help care for his ailing father. The move was a major surprise, in part because the district had given him a four-year contract extension a year earlier. Rodriguez departed Nov. 2, with Román subsequently assuming the interim position.
Rodriguez did not respond to interview requests.
Among the lawsuits Rodriguez and the district have faced is an ongoing one filed by former general counsel Maribel Medina over allegations of sexual harassment, whistleblower retaliation and other claims.
She alleged in a 2024 L.A. Superior Court suit brought against Rodriguez, the district and a trustee that she was placed on leave — and then fired — after complaining to the then-chancellor about disparities in her salary, and bringing to his attention the 'evident lack of compliance at the District with sexual harassment training.'
Medina, who is Mexican American, also alleged in the complaint that Rodriguez once said in her presence, 'Mexican women serve me and they like it.'
The defendants have denied the allegations, according to court filings. Their attorneys did not respond to interview requests. Medina's attorney declined to comment.
A trial in the case is set for January.
Asked about some of the controversies that the former chancellor weathered, Román said that in a system as large as the college district — it has a workforce of nearly 10,000 people — 'issues will invariably arise,' and that he could not discuss ongoing litigation.
He also stressed that the district was 'actively working' to make sure policies related to professional conduct are updated. He added employees would be trained on an ongoing basis so they understand the revised codes and guidelines.
Another area of scrutiny has been the district's multibillion-dollar construction bond program. Since the early 2010s, it has been dogged by allegations that it was poorly managed, wasted money and was subject to nepotism.
Román insisted that the program has been overhauled, touting 'more rigorous accountability measures,' and improved 'vendor selection processes,' while noting the hiring this year of an independent, third-party bond monitor, Affiliated Monitors.
'The issues that were identified about 10 years ago have been resolved,' he said. 'I think a program of this size will undoubtedly have flare-ups, but we have managed those.'
Román faces other challenges, among them the ongoing recovery from a massive drop in enrollment tirggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The district said it had about 210,000 students for the 2019-2020 school year — but enrollment plunged to 158,000 for the 2021-2022 year. It picked up from there and stood at 194,000 students in 2023-2024.
He touted the upward trend and said the district, as a whole, hadn't seen a decline in enrollment over the last four years. He attributed the success, in part, to an emphasis on career technical education, which he said could be helpful as the region prepares to host both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Then, there's President Trump. His executive orders on higher education, the launching of investigations into antisemitism on university campuses and the deportation of college students have roiled academia at large.
So far, Román said, the president's various actions have not directly affected the college district. He said that, to his knowledge, no students in the district have been deported and none of its funding has been eliminated — though a roughly $500,000 arts-related grant has been 'placed on hold.'
'We will continue to monitor our funding and do everything we can to protect it,' he said. 'We will continue to monitor policies that could impact our students. We stand firm with them.'
Román also said that no programs had been altered to comply with Trump's directives aimed at rooting out diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on college campuses. 'Our programs ... [are] inclusive of all students,' he said. 'That's in essence how we are able to continue the work that we need to do.'
In a statement, Gabriel Buelna, a member of the Board of Trustees, noted that Román was taking over 'at a time of intense national pressure.'
He said the chancellor had 'exceptional credentials, proven talent, and the vision and integrity needed to lead LACCD through challenging times and strengthen our region.'
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Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
After images of unrest comes the political spin, distorting the reality on the ground in L.A.
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The images and their true meaning and context have become the subject of a furious debate in the media and among political partisans, centered on the true roots and victims of the protests, which erupted on Friday as the Trump administration moved aggressively to expand its arrests of undocumented immigrants. Read more: Newsom, in California address, says Trump purposely 'fanned the flames' of L.A. protests As the president and his supporters in conservative media tell it, he is the defender of law and order and American values. They cast their opponents as dangerous foreign-born criminals and their feckless enablers in the Democratic Party and mainstream media. 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And sending the Marines to L.A. was an even more extreme approach, with experts saying challenges to the deployment would test the limits of Trump's power. The federal Insurrection Act allows the deployment of the military for law enforcement purposes, but only under certain conditions, such as a national emergency. California leaders say Trump acted before a true emergency developed, thereby preempting standard protocols, including the institution of curfews and the mobilization of other local police departments in a true emergency. Even real estate developer Rick Caruso, Bass' opponent in the last election, suggested Trump acted too hastily. 'There is no emergency, widespread threat, or out of control violence in Los Angeles,' Caruso wrote on X Sunday. 'And absolutely no danger that justifies deployment of the National Guard, military, or other federal force to the streets of this or any other Southern California City.' 'We must call for calm in the streets,' Caruso added, 'and deployment of the National Guard may prompt just the opposite.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hamilton Spectator
31 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
AP PHOTOS: Mexican flags at LA protests spark debate over symbolism
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. ——— Over the last week, a sea of green, white and red Mexican flags have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids. The use of Mexican and other Latin American flags during the protests are a form of symbolism many conservatives are calling anti-American — while others argue they're an expression of pride in one's homeland that could not be more American. Whether it be U.S., Mexican or Palestinian flags, the banners reflect a nation of immigrants whose stories have become intertwined with the story of America, experts say. Kris Hernández, an associate professor of history at Connecticut College, said the flying of foreign flags in the U.S. has always brought awareness to the plight of marginalized groups. Their appearance in the latest protests might symbolize solidarity with their native land or social movements that support Americans of Mexican descent, she said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that those flying Mexican flags at immigration protests were left-wing radicals that attacked law enforcement agents 'removing violent, criminal illegal aliens from the city.' And even fierce Trump critic Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Democrat, expressed his displeasure with the display of non-American flags at immigration protests that have spread to other states. 'Peaceful protests are fine. Violence is not and will only destroy your message,' Kinzinger wrote on X . 'American flags or nothing.' Amid the backlash, many Americans who support the right to protest are encouraging demonstrators to protest against immigration policies with the American flag instead of a foreign one, as way of reclaiming the U.S. flag for all who call the U.S. home. This underscores just how influential the American flag can be, Hernández said. 'What we are seeing ... is that people don't like to see some flags over others,' she said. Some Latino activists say the Mexican flag is being used by people who were in this land before it was part of the United States. California was part of Mexico until the 1800's. Many Mexican Americans are descendants of people who never crossed a border — instead the border crossed them. Still, their display of the Mexican flag at protests is being twisted into something it's not, said Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Hector E. Sanchez, president and CEO of 'Mi Familia Vota,' a non-profit focused on mobilizing Latino voters, said Mexicans have been at the forefront of attacks when it comes to immigration — attacks heightened during both of Trump's campaigns. Sanchez said he wonders why it's not called anti-American when some Americans fly Confederate flags next to the U.S. flag. 'We see a lot of flags celebrating cultural history and heritage,' he said. 'Why is it that the Mexican community is constantly under attack?' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Politico
34 minutes ago
- Politico
Why Los Angeles protesters fly the Mexican flag
Anyone looking at images of the Los Angeles immigration protests has almost certainly seen the Mexican flag flying somewhere in the frame. Demonstrators have hoisted the red, white and green banner atop cars and while marching down streets and freeways. It's spilled into the corners of CNN live shots and been splashed across social media. To some, the flag — its bright colors standing out against dark smoke from burning cars and tear gas — is a powerful sign of resistance to President Donald Trump's mass-deportation agenda. To others, it is ammunition for conservatives aiming to paint the unrest as a 'migrant invasion.' Case in point: a National Review headline calling the Mexican flag the 'Confederate banner of the L.A. riots.' Protesters' prominent use of the flag evokes photos from more than 30 years ago, when thousands of demonstrators raised the same banner while fighting a ballot measure that sought to bar undocumented Californians from accessing public schools and other services. That 1994 initiative, Proposition 187, was a turning point for Latino political power in the state. It served as an awakening for some California protesters who later became prominent leaders, including former Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León. Angelica Salas, a prominent activist in the state and executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, noted protesters also hoisted the flag in 2006, during massive demonstrations against George W. Bush-era legislation to crack down on illegal immigration. 'When you attack the undocumented community, when you attack the immigrant community, there is a sense that — I mean, it's a reality — the majority of the folks are Mexican,' she said. Salas spoke with California Playbook about why the Mexican flag continues to be an important symbol for demonstrators. On what the Mexican flag means to protesters … It's really about saying we're American, Mexican American, and we're not ashamed of being Mexican …There's a very popular refrain amongst our community that you can't just like our food and our culture — we also demand that you like the people. Because it's sort of a very, very strong sentiment that there's a like for what we produce and [for] our culture and our foods and everything else, but not of the people. So there's a sense of the deep level of discrimination against the Mexican people. So when people carry the flag, it's really a symbol of pride and a symbol of 'We're not going to be ashamed to claim our heritage, our Mexican heritage. We're not going to be bullied to hide an aspect of who we are.' On young protesters' attachment to the flag … When you see a lot of young people with their flags, it's also claiming and [showing] support for their parents. So many of the young people who are marching are U.S. citizens, they're second-, third-generation, maybe they are the first who were born in this country. Very much U.S. citizens by birth, but they want their parents to also know that they're standing with them. I feel like every time I ask a young person — whether they're carrying a Mexican flag, a Salvadoran flag, a Guatemalan flag, or any other flag — it's just about, 'I want people to understand I'm proud of who I am. I'm not ashamed to be Mexican, and I'm certainly not ashamed of my parents. And I want them to know that I will not reject them.' Because there's a lot of pressure to reject the Mexican heritage. On California's connection to Mexico … Thirty percent of the population is people of Mexican descent — 12 million individuals who live here. We are proudly a multigenerational community. That means that we have recent arrivals as well as people who are immigrants who've been here for many years. And then [the] majority of the people actually are second-, third-, fourth-generation Mexican American. There's a lot of pride in our deep roots in the region.
