Dr. Kathryn Jeffery has been president of City College since 2008. She has a bachelor's degree in music, a master's in counseling and a Ph.D. in community college leadership. She began her career at City College as a counselor in 1981. Photo by R. Hanna rhanna68@gmail.com

A water filter, one large piece of fabric, a dictionary of edible plants and a small collection of pictures as a reminder of who you are.

Not the typical things people would want if stranded on an island, but when asked the question, City College President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery suggests items that strike characteristics of a survivor. “Survivor” is often not a word used to characterize a college president, but the word stands as evidence of a leader.

There are many ways to describe the president.

“Analytical, thoughtful, calm and professional,” says Pamela Morrison, assistant to the president.

Jeffery is like no ordinary president. Her cool, calm and collective nature is what has kept her on a path of success as City College president since 2008. Her soothing and constructive approach to work and life was chiseled with many years of hard work and patience. With all her accomplishments and years of leadership, a little known secret close to her heart is her love and compassion for the arts.

“For my dream vacation I had always wanted to go to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland,” says Jeffery. “I did that this past summer.”

Although confessing to having a few songs on her iPod, Jeffery admitted she only carried three artists in her iPhone: Robin Thicke, Jill Scott and Corinne Bailey Rae.

“Music is my background,” says Jeffery. “It’s hard for me to settle in on a favorite artist because I like so many different styles of music.”

Jeffery received a bachelor’s degree in music from Oklahoma State University in 1975. She continued her education by obtaining a master’s degree in counseling.

In 1981 Jeffery brought her talent to City College as one of the youngest counselors in the college’s counseling office. Twenty-seven years and various job titles later Jeffery returned as college president. During the interim, she also received a Ph.D. in community college leadership from the University of Texas, Austin.

Patricia Stanton, a City College counselor, has known Jeffery since 1986. She said she began as a student secretary,but gained a unique and genuine friendship with Jeffery.

“What’s intimidating to students or people that don’t know her is the word ‘president,’” Stanton says. “Our friendship has never died.”

In her spare time, Jeffery practices an outdoor style of painting known as “enplein air,” in which the artist simply sees a scene and paints it.

After a three-day course and weeks of painting, Jeffery said she found it to be something relaxing to do outside of work.

Over time she realized she had a real talent for this unique style of painting.

“I thought it would just be fun,” Jeffery says. “Sometimes you have these hidden talents. You have things that you don’t even know you can do.”

What started out as fun helped her keep her strength and peace as her father lay ill in his hospital bed. As a reminder of the love his family had for him, Jeffery painted a picture of their family home and hung it above his bed. That same picture remains perched on a wall in Jeffery’s home.

“There are those little things that mean a lot to someone else,” Jeffery says. “That’s one of the things I enjoy about working here at the college.”

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Photo by Kayla Spry

They say the third time is the charm, which is exactly the case with Leedel Williams.

Last April. Williams was elected into his third Associated Student Government office when City College students chose him over Braxton Lethco.

Williams has served as chief justice, a student senator and now, president of the club; and will be up for reelection in October which would mean another term until June.

“I think Leedel is very passionate and fair when it comes to students. That is a big part of being president,” Justin Turner said, who actually appointed Leedel as chief justice last year when he was president.

Aside from caring about student affairs, the ASG president must also interpret the constitution and rule in both student disciplinary situations, as well as lead senate meetings and approve motions according to City College’s constitution.

“All in all he’s very professional and tries his best to abide by the constitution, the Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order. He pays attention to motions and if someone doesn’t say a motion correctly, he asks them to repeat it,” said Angela Miller, chief justice.

Williams believes that his past experience in other governmental roles within the club have prepared him for his greatest responsibility yet as president this year.

“The president is the chief executive, chief spokesman and chair of the ASG,” Williams said. “The president is responsible for representing the ASG and the students of City College, on school, district, state and federal levels. As chief executive I supervise the ASG in all areas, with the assistance of the adviser.”

Williams says he is working with the bookstore to enact a book rental program to ensure access to all students. He hopes to increase student participation across campus and gain the school exposure on a state level.

“As a friend he is relaxed, funny, courteous, non-judgmental,” Miller said. “He embodies true friendship and is unbiased, even if that isn’t what you want.”

Williams is a English major and likes Percy Jackson.

“Leedel possess a golden heart and cares deeply for those around him,” Moszaba Carter, associated justice said. “He works diligently to ensure that care for friends and acquaintances passes through and covers the student body.”

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Outgoing City College Associated Student Government president Justin Turner (left) is next to his successor, current Chief Justice and newly elected ASG president Leedel Williams. Photo by Vincent Fernandez

Former Associated Student Government Senator and Chief Justice Leedel Williams was voted in as president over business major Braxton Lethco after students cast their votes electronically April 12-13 at City College for the first time.

Los Rios Community College District decided to implement electronic voting machines during elections for the 2011-2012 school year. Three hundred and forty-four City College students used the machines to approve ratification of the new student constitution and voted on candidates running for ASG positions. Other wins included Lemanda “D” Del Toro for vice president, Richard Ragudo Jr. as Student Affairs commissioner, Emma Snuggs as Public Relations commissioner and Husham Haroun as Technology commissioner.

Two new student senators, Jack Jones and Nakia Rhodes, were also elected.

344 students from City College voted during the elections, adding to a total 2026 votes from the entire Los Rios district.

The new student constitution will be implemented Nov. 1, and another election will be held afterward to elect new officers.

For more information on student government, contact Kim Beyrer.

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“Because our prior president resigned, we just move up in order of succession,” Dixon said, regarding the process of vacant student government positions. “My goal is to best serve the students; it’s been my goal the whole time.”

Former ASG president Macias, resigned on Jan. 20 at an unofficial board meeting in the City Café. Macias was scheduled to appear at two judicial hearings on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 regarding possible impeachment. Students on campus began a petition last semester to recall Macias based on the events of Constitution Day with the Genocide Awareness Project’s graphic anti-abortion displays and also for not completing mandatory ASG presidential duties.

At the Jan. 27 ASG board meeting, Dixon was unanimously affirmed by the board to be appointed the new ASG president of City College, while Justin Turner former commissioner of public relations was appointed ASG vice president.

According to ASG vice president, Turner, Macias was said to send a press release to the Express offices regarding his abrupt resignation, but no press release was ever received.

“From what he told us is he has too many things going on. [Macias] is involved with the California Republican Party very deeply, he also works on many campaigns, he’s also the chair of the Republican club here on campus now,” Turner said. “He wanted to leave, he had his personal reasons and he said he was spread too thin.”

The Express has placed repeated emails to Macias in order to request an interview about his sudden resignation as ASG president. However, Macias did not return any emails from the Express.

According to Dixon, the newly united board members are planning to move forward by having a reintroduction day in the quad where they will, “reintroduce the new board and put everything that happened last semester in the past.”

Kim Beyrer, ASG’s original faculty adviser, is back from a short leave of absence last semester and finds the group is moving in a positive direction. In her absence, Student Affairs Specialist Lee Weathers-Miguel advised the ASG.

“I feel really good about the future of this group,” Beyrer said. “Their motivation and desire to move forward, the way they have handled everything since Steve’s resignation, I think they’ve really

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