Page 23 - De Anza College Annual Report 2024

National Recognition
Distinguished Alums
Innovative Programs
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Real Estate instructor Mark Sherby was quoted as an
industry expert last July in a USA Today news feature
about the nationwide housing market.
•
Representatives from the Aspen Institute College
Excellence Program met with then-Interim President
Christina G. Espinosa-Pieb in March, after naming
De Anza as one of the “Top 150 Community Colleges”
in a nationwide ranking.
•
Film and Television graduate Sean Wang’s first feature, “Didi,” premiered
at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, two months after his short film,
“Nai Nai & Wài Pó,” was nominated for a 2024 Oscar in the short
documentary category.
•
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski earned a Michelin Star in 2024
for each of two restaurants they co-own in San Francisco: State Bird
Provisions and The Progress. The husband-and-wife team met 30 years
ago when they were Creative Arts students at De Anza.
•
De Anza hosted a statewide Futures Summit in September 2024, convening
400 educators, business leaders, government officials and tech experts
to explore how artificial intelligence and other new technologies are
transforming education and the state’s economy. The event was organized
by the Foothill-De Anza District in partnership with the California
Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
•
A new Innovation Center, launched in 2024 by the Business, Computer
Science and Applied Technologies Division, hosts guest speakers and
activities such as a Startup Boot Camp and Business Model Competition.
These are open to all students, with a focus on launching and running
successful businesses.
•
De Anza’s six Village Centers celebrated their first-year anniversary in February
2024. The Villages offer supportive communities and relevant resources for
students with related majors or academic interests. They’re part of the college’s
Guided Pathways Initiative – previously named an “Exemplary Program” by
the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
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