Cerritos College

New Cerritos College Board of Trustees for 2008

For Immediate Release: December 18, 2007

Media Contact: Allison Abel, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451, ext. 2287

NORWALK, CA - December 17, 2007 – The Cerritos College Board of Trustees held its annual reorganization meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 12, conducting swearing-in procedures for recently-elected board member Tina Cho and re-elected members Bob Arthur, Ted Edmiston and Tom Jackson.

The board also chose new officers for the coming year, electing immediate past vice president Bob Arthur as the new board president, secretary Bob Epple as vice-president, and member Bob Hughlett as secretary. Outgoing president Tom Jackson, a trustee since 2003, was presented with an honorary plaque for his year of dedication and service to the board.

Retiring board member John Moore was also recognized during the meeting for his nearly twenty years of service on the Board of Trustees. Moore joined the board in 1988 and has served continuously since then, holding the offices of board president, vice-president and secretary multiple times.

“Mr. Moore has helped to bring about many positive changes, and worked tirelessly toward crafting the thriving institution we have today. This board, this college, and this community have all been positively impacted through his fine leadership,” said outgoing president Tom Jackson.

Board President Arthur, also of Norwalk, is a Cerritos College alumnus and longtime community member. In addition to his role on the college's board, Arthur has served as a board member for the Cerritos College Foundation since April 1996. Arthur also served as mayor and councilmember for the city of Norwalk, as board member for the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and as a board member for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Board Vice President Epple, of Bellflower, is an attorney at law with a private practice in Bellflower. A 1973 graduate of Cerritos College, Epple later attended California State University at Dominquez Hills and received his juris doctorate degree from the American College of Law. A strong advocate for community colleges, Epple was first elected to the Cerritos College Board of Trustees in 1981 and served until 1988 when he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served until December 1994. Epple remained involved with the college through his service on the board for the Cerritos College Foundation, a position he has held since February 1995. He was appointed by the board in 2004 to finish the term of his late wife Cheryl A. Epple before being re-elected in 2005.

Board Secretary Dr. Bob Hughlett, of Cerritos, has served as a board member since 2005. He is a retired administrator from Cerritos College, having been director of the Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS) at the college from 1980 to 2005. Dr. Hughlett is also a former councilmember for the City of Cerritos and Board of Education member for the ABC Unified School District. He is president of the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED).

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at http://www.cerritos.edu/.

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