Convocation also features Laney President Webb

Laney College ushered in a new school year Aug. 25 with the 2015 Convocation ceremony.
The event, held in the Odell Johnson Performing Arts Center, featured Laney President Elnora Webb and the Peralta Community College District’s new chancellor, Jowel Laguerre.
Laguerre was making his first appearance in front of the student body since he was hired away from Solano Community College District in July. In a brief 3-minute speech, Laguerre stressed the importance of students sticking to their educational goals.
“There’s no reason for you not to be successful at Laney College,” Laguerre proclaimed.
Prior to taking the chancellor position, Laguerre served as president and superintendent of the Solano Community College District. A native of Haiti, Laguerre holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.
Prior to his stint in Solano, he held posts as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, NV, according to a Peralta Community College website. Laguerre founded “Teachers of Tomorrow,” a program that recruits and encourages young minorities into the teaching profession.
President Webb urged administration to be as transparent as they help students reach their potential. She also urged students to challenge administrators to stick to their core values of respect, appreciation, diversity, integrity and collaboration.
“Hold us true to all [our] values within your classes, within our offices, in our conference rooms,” she urged the 100 or so students in the audience, later adding, “It is our [administration]’s responsibility to be able to support you.”
Webb spoke on the importance of having convocations.
Webb is entering her sixth full year as President of Laney College. Prior to being President, Webb served 4 years as Vice President in charge of Academic Affairs at Laney. She also spent a 4-year stint as a Dean at Laney, presiding over Humanities, Language Arts and Social Science.
Webb also shed light on her upbringing during her 11-minute speech. In the address, she spoke on how she bounced around from foster home to foster home throughout the Greater Los Angeles area during her childhood. The foster system caused her to fall behind in school, which forced her elementary school to put her in classes for the mentally disabled. Despite the hardships, Webb was able to attain a myriad of degrees, getting her doctorate in Education from UC Berkeley.
Webb has also contributed to three books Honored but Invisible: Teaching in Community Colleges, Governance Networks, and their Influence on Teaching in Community College.
Over the years, Laney’s convocation has allowed the school’s student body and administration to interact in an intimate setting. It also serves as a kickoff to the school year for students.