Melissa Barbosa-Guzman: 2025 candidate for Elgin Community College board

Bio

Office sought: Elgin Community College District 509 board (Vote for 2)

City: Elgin

Age: 49

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I believe in a quality education and programs that encourage and support workforce enhancement. ECC is a leader with the programs and services it offers to our District 509 residents and community partners. I want to be on the board of trustees to collaborate with my fellow board members and advocate for initiates and programs that will broaden educational opportunities and workforce development.

Additionally, ECC made an impact on my life at a young age. My mom started working at ECC when I was in middle school and I observed then the college’s impact on students and their families.

I attended ECC for two years after high school and it changed my life. ECC gave me skills needed to prepare for a four-year university and beyond. ECC impacts people’s lives, just as it did mine. I have no political ambitions — my desire to serve the district in this capacity is due to my personal and strong belief in what this institution offers. I have a deep-rooted commitment to the college.

In tough economic times, many students (and working professionals) turn to a community college for its educational value. How do you ensure that a person’s financial sacrifice results in an educational benefit?

The college and board must remain committed to following academic needs and career trends, so that we may continue offering and expanding course options, skills enhancement programs, and internship opportunities.

These will provide our students with knowledge and resources for them to be positively impacted by the education they are receiving. The Center for Student Experience and Engagement, the Career Development Center, and he Student Success Center are, of course, some examples of the college’s services that can enrich a student’s experience and provide a tremendous educational and career benefit.

How would you describe the state of your college’s finances? What issues will your district have to confront in coming years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?

I encourage interested residents to review the college’s most recent budget, adopted in June of last year. Yes, it is detailed and may be to some, a little overwhelming. However, it also confirms the college’s financial strengths and transparency.

One issue will be maintaining if not increasing student enrollment and reviewing our outreach efforts to our high schools and community partners. Student enrollment and tuition are of course key to the college’s financial stability.

Do I support any tax or fee increase? It depends on the specific issue and need and what the college’s budget looks like during the impacted period. I will not say that I will never increase taxes or fees, because that is immediately telling our students, voters and our residents that I will not listen, collaborate, compromise or negotiate.

As trustees, part of our responsibility is it to bring our perspectives and values to the table, but also fairly evaluate an issue as it presents itself.

What are three specific non-financial challenges your community college will have to face in the next four years and what are your thoughts about how each should be addressed?

1.) Increasing student enrollment 2.) Increasing student retention 3.) The current administration’s executive orders, specifically seeking to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at educational institutions; proposed policies that are targeting Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). ECC is a HSI. re: #1 and #2. We need to continue expanding and highlighting the college’s programs, ensuring all students have access to the student service departments. Additionally, consistent outreach and community partnerships are key. re: #3. The board must work together and with our college employees and students to remain true to its mission of improving people’s lives through learning, and support the college’s philosophy that “we are successful only when we provide access to quality education and appropriate, equitable support in an inclusive environment to all members …”

My personal, academic and professional background will provide a needed perspective to meet these challenges.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions of your school board.

Over the last 30 years, I have served on many boards and committees. While the organizations have been diverse, their purpose has had a fundamental mission of providing resources to students and youth.

I have served with many individuals with diverse backgrounds and ideas, opinions and perspectives. I am able to listen, advocate, and work jointly with others because we have a shared purpose of helping the organizations, individuals and groups it served.

As an attorney, I am prepared to support an opinion, and negotiate issues when needed. As a someone who has always been involved in different community events, I am listening, observing, and helping. I will continue to do that so I can bring my observations of campus, community, and student needs to share with the board.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

As I mentioned earlier, I believe in the impact of a quality education. I believe in the value of ECC. I am an ECC alum, recognized as one of the college’s Sensational 75, and though I completed my studies at ECC almost 30 years ago, I have remained connected to the college in different capacities, because I appreciate and believe in the college.

This includes as a former member of the ECC Foundation, and supporter of the college’s on campus events and fundraisers. My goal is to serve our students so that they benefit from all the resources the college has to offer.

What’s one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

I would like to collaborate with our community partners to discuss opportunities and outreach efforts to underserved and underrepresented students who have expressed interest in areas of manufacturing and technology.

This interest may have been confirmed through a class visit to a business partner, or a career interest survey. With the college’s new Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTC), there will be more programs, more classrooms and lab space, and more internship opportunities.

There is certainly a demand for this specific workforce, so we must utilize these new resources. Of course, we are aware of the needs and trends with the career path, however, I want to make sure we are reaching out to communities that may be underrepresented but whose enrollment and presence in our program are vital to the MTC’s impact and sustainability.