We appreciate your support and hope you've enjoyed and learned from this season's episodes so far! We will be taking a short break from releasing episodes over the coming holiday season. You can expect new episode releases when we return in the New Year, in January 2026.

The best way to not miss our return is to make sure you're subscribed to the podcast on your favorite listening app - if you're not already subscribed.

From everyone here at the Mt. SAC podcast - we are wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!

Run Time: 2:00 min

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Grounded in the work and priorities of the Academic Senate, Dr. Tania Anders, an Oceanography professor and part of the Earth Sciences program and current President of the Academic Senate shares her insight on the value of a great team with diverse experiences and strengths in the senate to support thoughtful work in the Senate, as well as in the classroom and lab.

Listen in for Tania's concise explanation of the Senate role, commonly called "the 10+1," into three areas of focus. You'll learn how DEISA + principles are at the core and how healing-centered practices can help us better support our newly hired faculty.

Join us as we follow the threads of our local Senate priorities, learn what is driven by state-level legislation, and how this impacts faculty and students. Enjoy!

Resources:

• "Governance Committees" Mt. SAC, https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/committees/
• Healing Centered Engagement (HCE) at Mt. SAC." Mt. SAC, https://www.mtsac.edu/pod/hce/healing_centered_engagement_info.html
• "Mt. SAC 2035." & Mt. SAC www.mtsac.edu/2035/ - "The college-wide plan to serve as the foundation of integrated planning. "Gives direction to accomplish the Mission and means to assess progress toward that goal."
• Mt. SAC Academic Senate. Mt. SAC, https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/academicsenate/

• Informational and resource page for the Academic Senate, Mt. SAC's faculty governance body makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees academic and professional matters. This is the best resource to learn about the 10+1, serving on committees, being a faculty coordinator or liaison, accessing Senate resolutions, agendas, and minutes, as well who is currently serving on the Senate - Professional & Organizational Development Mt. SAC.
• https://www.mtsac.edu/pod/
• Vision 2030 - The July 2025 edition
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/vision2030/vision-2030-report.pdfThe Chancelor's Office system-wide plan for "building the most inclusive, future-focused, student-centered and worker-centered systems of higher education in the nation."

Run Time: 34:14

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

While many of us celebrate Thanksgiving, we must also acknowledge that it is a holiday often observed in a way that erases the lived experiences of Indigenous people and ignores the ongoing impact of colonial oppression. In this episode taken from Fall Flex Day 2025, we hand the microphone over to Dr. Primavera Reza-Nakonechny. In this workshop, she breaks down the collaborative effort and complexity behind drafting a meaningful land acknowledgement, sheds light on the attempt to censor specific words in education, and the persistent attempts at historical erasure.

You'll also hear from some of the participants and myself as we reflect on how small but significant changes to our lessons can help center Native perspectives in our courses. We hope that this invites you to pause and reflect on your own teaching practices. Enjoy.

Resources:

Mt. SAC First Peoples Native Center (includes text of the Mt. SAC Land Acknowledgement)

Mt. SAC Native American & Indigenous Heritage Month

Mt. SAC Native American Student Support and Success Program (NASSSP) Grant

"Creating Student Impact: The First People's Native Center." Mt. San Antonio College Podcast, Episode 205, 12 Nov., 2024. Joining Podcast co-host Chisa Uyeki in conversation with Primavera Reza-Nakonechny & student Alisa Ciulla and learn about the founding of the center and its key role in empowering Native students, fostering identity development, and a strong sense of belonging.

"Crafting An Intentional Land Acknowledgement at Mt. SAC." Mt. San Antonio College Podcast, Episode 206, 26 Nov., 2024. Podcast co-host Chisa Uyeki interviews Mt. SAC First Peoples Native Center's Primavera Reza-Nakonechny & student Alisa Ciulla about the importance of language, the practices and meaning behind land acknowledgments, how Mt. SAC is working to craft a Land Acknowledgement with tribal input, and how we can go beyond statements into meaningful actions.

Bledsoe, R. "First Peoples Native Center Opens" Newsroom, 15, Nov., 2022, Mt. San Antonio College. Photos and news story on the Center's grand opening in 2022.

On censored words at the federal level: Connelly, A. "Federal government's growing banned words list is chilling act of censorship." Pen America, 1 Oct, 2025, www.pen.org/banned-words-list/.

Yourish, K., Daniel, A., Datar, S., White, I., & Gamio, L. (2025, Mar 10). These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration. New York Times https://mtsac.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/these-words-are-disappearing-new-trump/docview/3175748596/se-2 [link requires Mt. SAC sign-in]

California Community College Chancellor's Office

• American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success

• Land Acknowledgement and Tribal Consultation Toolkit

Land Acknowledgement Statements

Native Land Digital honors the sovereignty of all Indigenous nations, their lands, and their waters. We recognize that these boundaries and territories are representations of the sacred. This is an honouring of Indigenous resilience past, present and future.

Native Governance Center's Tips for Creating an Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Statement

LAist What to know about land acknowledgment, and why it's deeper than just a statement

National Museum of the American Indian, Honoring Original Indigenous Inhabitants: Land Acknowledgment

Run Time: 25:44

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Professor Keiko Tsurumi was so inspired by the growth and resilience of the students who participated in the Mt. SAC Osaka Program that she wanted to share their experiences with all of us. As you'll hear, the program is the result of years of planning and coordination, a testament to Tsurumi-Sensei's dedication to supporting student learning.

As you listen to Professor Tsurumi, and students Gio and Diego, you'll hear the impact of combining high expectations with resolute compassion for students. This study abroad program set a high bar, and yet, the students continued with intention, to put themselves in positions to learn and grow, like asking strangers for directions in a new language, even when Google Maps is a click away.

They had difficult moments that tested them, but you'll hear the way they worked through it and found ways to engage in immersive learning with growing confidence.

We're excited to share this conversation on experiential learning beyond borders- it offers an opportunity to reflect on the power of immersive education and consider ways we can apply similar approaches to learning locally. Enjoy!

Resources:

Mt. San Antonio College Japanese Program and Osaka Program

Osaka Study Abroad Program January 2025

World Languages Department. "Osaka Japan Study Abroad!" Mt. SAC.

World Languages Department. Mt. SAC "Cultural Immersion with Students from Japan." Mt. SAC.

Olson, Cassidy and Robbie Doctor. "Folded artistry – Mt. SAC hosts origami workshop:

How to fold like a pro from a pro." 26 March, 2024, SAC Media.

Young, Adam, "Abroad and ambitious: Meet Yui Nakamura." 13 April 2023, SAC Media.

The Japanese program hosts five students from our partner university, J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo, for two weeks. Mt. San Antonio College Study Abroad

Background on episode topics

"Lolita fashion." Wikipedia.

Omura, Yuto. "Homemade Takoyaki Recipe (Japanese Fried Octopus Balls)" @SudachiRecipes, YouTube, 8 Jul, 2025.

Run Time: 22:54

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

What does skating and environmental advocacy have in common? As it turns out, a lot. This episode of the Mt. San Antonio College Podcast introduces award-winning skateboarder and environmentalist Peggy Oki, who visited campus to talk about her legacy skating, but also how it opened her eyes to the natural world.

Hosts Chisa Uyeki and Ivan Sanchez meet students creating their own skateboard art and art letters, shedding light on the intersections between skate culture, creativity, and environmental activism, and proving the value of creative approaches to advocacy.

Resources:

THE ART OF SKATE: Activism, Art and Design show continues through November 13, 2025 at the Diana Berger Art Gallery Instagram @mtsac_dianabergergallery

To learn more about skater, artist, and activist Peggy Oki, check out https://www.peggyoki.com/ including her activism for Whales and Dolphins through the Origami Whale Project

Peggy encouraged action to protect wildlife.

- To learn more about marine mammals currently protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act check out Cetacean.org, including actions you can take to protect these animals.

- ECOS (Environmental Conservation Online System) US endangered animals list provides information about each animal protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Mt. SAC Fine Art and Commercial Art Programs that participated in the Art of Skate Festival included: Mt. SAC Graphic Design & Illustration: Shaping the next generation of creative professionals and Mt. SAC Printmaking.

Run Time: 14:53

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Welcome back to the Mt. San Antonio College Podcast! Hosts Chisa Uyeki and Ivan Sanchez introduce us to the work of Dr. Lisbet Sanchez, who reflects on the power of language and describes encouraging her students to write poetry in Spanish or in any way that feels natural. When she did, she witnessed a transformation: as students were given freedom and agency, their use of Spanish blossomed—from a mix to writing full poems.

Tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Resources:

Link: https://www.mtsac.edu/languages/

Link: https://www.mtsac.edu/languages/_blog/08-21-2025-lizbet-sanchez-spanish-heritage-students.html

Link: https://poets.org/poem/neighborhood-los-angeles

Anzaldúa, Gloria. Borderlands = La Frontera. Second edition. San Francisco: Aunt Lute Books, 1999. Print. Available at Mt. SAC Library General Collection 811.54 An98b 1999

Garcia, Gina Ann. Becoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions : Opportunities for Colleges and Universities. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019. Print. Available at Mt. SAC Library General Collection 378.1 G1659b

Run Time: 8:24

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Welcome back to the Mt. San Antonio College Podcast! In this special season 10 premiere, hosts Chisa Uyeki and Ivan Sanchez dive into the heart of what makes Mt. SAC — and community colleges in general — so unique: a deep commitment to creative, innovative teaching and ongoing learning.

This season, we're excited to introduce our new producer, Kate Mishkin, who brings her passion for storytelling and curiosity about education into the mix. Season 10 is all about reconnecting to purpose. Tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Run time: 8:24 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

This season of the podcast has come to a close! We will be going on break until we come back in the Fall. In this episode, Season Nine hosts, Ivan and Chisa, reflect on their first time hosting and creating the podcast. They share what they learned and what they loved about the podcast creation process. Plus, they each highlight a few of the important initiatives that they crafted episodes around this year.

We also wanted to thank YOU for listening. Here are Ivan's and Chisa's takeaways. Enjoy!

Run Time: 14:53

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

While parenting is tremendously rewarding, it is challenging on many levels. For our students who are also parents or guardians, they have to balance the demands of caring for children and the demands of college.

Today we delve into this topic and how to best support these students. We talk with Dr. Julie Marquez, who directs a number of student support programs, including EOPS and Care. Dr. Marquez shares her knowledge of services available on campus and off, as well as actions we can all take to contribute to a family-friendly college culture which supports these students. We also hear directly from students at the 4th annual Parenting Institute, which was held in February of 2025. Enjoy!

RESOURCES for Students who are parents:

Student Parents l points students to resources for Food & Basic Needs, Child & Pregnancy Care (including locations of lactation stations) , Priority Registration, Health & Wellness, Finances & Taxes, and more.

Lactation Room Locations: https://www.mtsac.edu/hr/lactation.html

Mt. San Antonio College Parent Institute:

The Parent Institute is an interactive and inclusive learning experience for Mt. SAC's parenting students, which includes workshops, community-building activities, a resource fair, and motivational speakers. The Parent Institute is designed to empower students to embrace their identities as parents, their ability to succeed and to reach their educational goals.

CalWORKs is the acronym for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids. All Community Colleges in California have a CalWORKs Program on campus. Community College CalWORKs Programs serves students in all 58 counties. By providing educational support to Mt. SAC student-parents who are receiving cash aid, we hope to change two generations at a time.

CARE: The CARE Program is designed to support EOPS students who are single parents, head of household, and who are receiving Cash Aid for themselves and/or their children.

Mt. SAC Child Development Center provides on-campus quality early care and education services for the children of college students, staff, and the community at-large are provided on campus throughout the year.

Run Time: 39:47

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Do you have questions about the transfer process? Or how to support students on their transfer journey? Host Ivan Sanchez sits down with Josh Louden, the director of the transfer and completion center, as well as one of our many wonderful counselors, Alana Bachor.

Listen in as we explore ways faculty can play bigger roles in assisting students with their transfer goals, and nurturing a positive transfer culture on campus. We'll dig in on transfer opportunities like the TAG and highlight ways we can all be a bigger part of our students' transfer stories. Enjoy!

Resources:

Transfer Center Website: https://www.mtsac.edu/transfer/

Sign Up for the Transfer Center Faculty Email List: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8ktNzJ4KQEKu3qfR1oj5Nbh43y7OAZ1NhZC0KeI1MPxUNTVTNzE0MzJEWEtESUg3NDYxREhITEFRVy4u&route=shorturl

Transfer Events Calendar: https://mtsac.lwcal.com/transfer-center/month

Transfer Presentation Request: https://www.mtsac.edu/transfer/presentationrequest.html

Transfer Center Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtsactransfer/?hl=en

Transfer Center Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mtsactransfer

Run Time: 47:45

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE