NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Jack Beresford

October 27, 2014 jberesford@sdccd.edu

619-388-6540
@SDJackB


San Diego Mesa College Professor Carl Luna Named among
Nations Top Community College Faculty Members

San Diego Mesa College Professor and popular political pundit Carl Luna has been named as
one of the top community college faculty members in the country by the Association of
Community College Trustees (ACCT).
Luna, who began teaching in Mesa Colleges Accelerated College Program 25 years ago, was
presented with the Pacific Regions Faculty Member Award on Oct. 24 at the ACCTs annual
conference in Chicago. He was one of five regional winners in the country.
Im honored and humbled to have received this award, Luna said. Getting it is a testament to
what one can professionally accomplish with a supportive college and district from my Dean,
Saeid Eidgahy, to our president, Pam Luster, right up to our Chancellor and Board of Trustees.
Carl is respected in the classroom for engaging our students, and in the community for the
clarity and acumen he brings to the political process, noted Dr. Pamela T. Luster, Mesa College
President. But most notably, he is a model of civility and civic engagement for us all. Hes truly
one of Mesas treasures.
Luna is known to many as one of the regions most quotable political pundits. A go-to figure
during election coverage, Luna figures hes done over 1,000 media interviews, and he has served
as a Fox5 News political analyst for the past year.
Luna also was instrumental in founding Restoring Respect, a collaborative effort aimed at
bringing civility to the political arena. Restoring Respect held its first conference at USDs Joan
Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice in the spring of 2012. Earlier this year, the effort grew into
The Institute for Civil Civic Engagement, whose projects include sponsoring conferences on
Carl Luna Named Among Nations Top Community College Faculty Members - 2
political civility while working with local school districts, colleges and universities to promote
public dialogue that builds community consensus and resolves problems for the common good.
A graduate from Mira Mesa High School, Luna earned his bachelors degree in political science,
history and philosophy from the University of San Diego and his Ph.D. in political science from
American University in Washington, D.C. before returning to San Diego in 1988. Shortly after
he arrived, San Diego Mesa College hired him as a professor for its Accelerated College
Program, which provides college courses to advanced high school students on San Diego Unified
School District campuses.
Luna also has been a visiting professor at the University of San Diego for more than 15 years.
When I was president of Mesa College, Carl Luna was the Academic Senate President, as well
as one of the most active, student-oriented professors on campus, said Constance M. Carroll,
San Diego Community College District Chancellor. I quickly realized that community colleges
were exceptional institutions of promise for students because of the key role played by
exceptional faculty members like Dr. Luna. We are all proud to see him honored in this way.
The ACCT each year presents Regional Awards for community college trustees, equity
programs, chief executive officers, faculty members, and professional board staff members.
Community colleges have taken on new roles and increased responsibilities in recent years,
said former ACCT Chair and Westchester County Community College (N.Y.) Trustee LeRoy W.
Mitchell. The individuals who have been selected to receive this important recognition are truly
vital to their communities and regions.
As the second-largest of Californias 72 community college districts, the San Diego Community
College District serves approximately 100,000 students annually through three two-year
colleges and San Diego Continuing Education. The three colleges, San Diego City College, San
Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, offer associate degrees and certificates
in occupational programs that prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and entry-level
jobs.
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