El Camino College Honors 2024-2025 Distinguished Faculty and Staff
El Camino College (ECC) faculty members Polly Parks and Diego Rodriguez were recently honored along with staff member Brian Hayden as the 2024-2025 El Camino College Distinguished Faculty and Staff Award honorees. The outstanding employees were recognized for their dedication to students, the college, and colleagues at the annual Faculty and Staff Awards Reception.
Polly Parks was named this year’s Distinguished Full-Time Faculty honoree. This biology professor is known to be an outstanding educator, an incredible colleague, mentor, and a passionate leader in the El Camino College campus community.
Polly serves on a number of college committees such as Evolve, Teaching Academy for Continuous Learning (TACL), Student Success Committee, Faculty Development, Academic Senate, Caring Campus, Professional Development Advisory, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, Equity Minded Teaching Institute (EMT!), New Faculty Learning Academy (NFLA), Faculty Book Club, PRIDE Leadership Academy Cohort #4, IMPACT Institutionalization Team as well as many others. Polly is known for her genuine concern for students making it her mission to meet each student where they are. Polly’s commitment to students, peers, and the community makes her an outstanding educator, exemplifying the qualities of the distinguished faculty award.
ECC’s 2025 Distinguished Part-Time Faculty honoree is Diego A. Rodriguez. As a counselor at El Camino, Diego works with students in college’s Behavioral & Social Science Meta Majors, Men of Color Action Network Initiative (MOCAN), and Formerly Incarcerated Re-entry Students Thriving Program (FIRST). Diego makes an extraordinary effort to help students feel welcome at El Camino, which ultimately leads to them becoming invested in their education, empowered, and self-assured of their success. Described by colleagues as hard-working, caring, efficient, and resilient, Diego’s sincere dedication to connect with students and help them get the most out of their college experience can be seen through the various professional development, educational exploration, and essential skills workshops he organizes – all built around a framework of equity and inclusion. He is an active member of the Hispanic Heritage Month planning committee, is a Puente and MOCAN mentor, and helps coordinate MOCAN and FIRST events. A first-generation Mexican-American born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, he is also the first in his family to graduate from college. The El Camino College alumnus transferred to UCLA where he earned his bachelor’s degree and later earned a master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of La Verne. Diego often says that attending El Camino was one of his best decisions; he strives to instill that same sense of pride and purpose in the students he supports.
Brian Hayden is this year’s Distinguished Staff honoree. Brian works directly with students to assist them in their academic and professional development journeys. He has managed student workers in the Student Center, been a mentor, a tour guide, and goes out of his way to help students, staff, and faculty whenever possible. He is often the "go-to guy" on campus when anyone has a question about something (policy, union business, student inquiry, dual enrollment, etc.). Brian has also worked previously in Outreach, where he interacted with prospective high school students to educate them on the great benefits of attending El Camino College, as well as how to navigate the enrollment process.
El Camino College congratulates and thanks these distinguished members of our campus community for their service and contribution to the success and achievements of our students