Left: Angela Simon, Right: Julieta Ortiz
Congratulations to Angela Simon and Julieta Ortiz, two outstanding members of the El Camino College community who were honored for their work at the 21st Annual Faculty and Staff Award Reception.
Angela Simon has been a psychology professor at El Camino College for more than 20 years, with "service to students" as her primary goal. She is known as an effective student-centered teacher who engages and inspires students through an innovative learning environment. Angela believes that "learning never stops" and shares that philosophy with her students, with the intent that they apply what they learn in class to their own lives.
Her commitment to student success is evident in many ways. Angela can often be seen in the audience of performances, recitals, sporting events and has served at the adviser for several student clubs through the years. The lines of communication are always open for students, and she offers individual attention and support that makes a positive difference in their lives. In addition to her dedication to students and classroom teaching, colleagues note Angela's strong sense of community. She frequently uses her organization and social skills to build camaraderie and complete tasks through teamwork.
Angela serves on numerous El Camino College committees, including the Facilities Steering Committee, Title IX Committee, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Committee, Women's History Month Committee, hiring committees, and the ECC Breast Cancer Support Group, to name a few. She has also represented faculty as president of the ECC Federation of Teachers.
Angela earned doctorate and master's degrees in psychology from the University of California, Davis, in addition to a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Her many honors include the ECC Distinguished Woman Award in 2005 and the 2016 Award of Excellence from the Honors Transfer Program, an organization for which she served as director from 2001-2005.
Julieta Ortiz is an El Camino College alumna who has made a tremendous impact on student success. Since she joined the ECC staff in 2004, she has served in the offices of Financial Aid, Outreach and School Relations, and in her current role as the RISE Center Program Coordinator, with enthusiasm and an unwavering commitment to helping students.
Julieta's leadership was instrumental in creating the Ambassador Program, which included the hiring, training, and mentoring of students to represent the college. She was also a leader in bringing back New Student Welcome Day – an opportunity for new students to learn about ECC programs and services.
The Counselor Collaborative is another program she helped revive in 2016; this year she coordinated the event, which has turned into a great success. Julieta's contributions in expanding the Outreach office's core services are also notable – more than 1,000 assessments are now offered at district high schools, helping students ease the transition to college.
Under Julieta's guidance and energy, Welcome Week (now known as "WOW" or "Week of Welcome") is a great success; ensuring new students find support during the first week of school. She is known for her dedication to students, her ability to make personal connections, and for showing respect and compassion for everyone she meets.
A graduate of Leuzinger High School and El Camino College, Julieta transferred to UC Berkeley where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and then went on earn a master's degree in social work from CSU Dominguez Hills. Julieta also participates in numerous college initiatives, such as the ECC PRIDE Leadership Academy design team and is a mentor and club adviser.