A2MEND

Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland is a dedicated leader in higher education, committed to empowering  students and transforming communities. As the Chancellor of the North Orange County  Community College District (NOCCCD), he oversees one of California’s largest and most  diverse community college districts, serving over 65,000 students and employing more than  4,500 staff members. His leadership is driven by a profound commitment to student success and  community engagement.

With over 25 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Clift Breland’s journey is marked by a  focus on creating opportunities and fostering growth. Before joining NOCCCD, he served as the first Black Chancellor in the more than 100 year history of the San Jose – Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD), where he developed partnerships that provided meaningful educational and job training experiences for the diverse student populations of San Jose City College, Evergreen Valley College, the Community College Extension Center in Milpitas, and the Center for Economic Mobility in downtown San Jose.

As President of San Jose City College (SJCC), Dr. Clift Breland positioned the institution among the nation’s top in career education and workforce preparation. He was instrumental in launching the City of San José Promise, which offers up to two years of cost-free education, breaking down financial barriers for students. Under his leadership, both San Jose City and Evergreen Valley Colleges were recognized as top transfer institutions for Black and LatinX students.

Previously, Dr. Clift Breland served as associate vice president/provost at Long Beach City  College’s Pacific Coast Campus; associate dean of student development at Santa Ana College;  and assistant dean, director of judicial affairs at the University of California, Irvine, serving both  the undergraduate and medical school campuses. In addition, he has held administrative positions  at University of Southern California and University of Maryland at College Park. In each  position, he has been a steadfast advocate for student development and success.

His dedication extends beyond administrative roles. Dr. Clift Breland has served on numerous boards, councils and commissions, including: National Advisory Board for the Steve Fund; being appointed to the inaugural CA community college Affordability, Food and Housing Taskforce; Community College Council on Mental Health; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on International Education; and the African-American Male Education Network and Development (AMEND); the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. In 2020, Dr. Clift Breland was an appointed member of the  Mayor’s Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable. His involvement in these areas underscores his commitment to creating supportive, inclusive environments where all students can thrive.

In 2021, as the CA community college system worked vigorously to recover from the pandemic,  Dr. Clift Breland was elected by his peers to serve as the chair of the board of directors for the  Community College League of California (CCLC) and as the president of the Chief Executive  Officers of the California Community Colleges Board. In these roles, he worked to transform the  lives of diverse students and strengthen communities statewide through advocacy, leadership  development, and policy advancement.

Dr. Clift Breland is the immediate past CEO Chair for the Orange County Community Colleges  Legislative Task Force and the OC Regional Consortium: Workforce Development Alliance. His  leadership continues to inspire and uplift those around him, driven by a belief in the  transformative power of education.

Dr. Clift Breland holds a BS in Consumer Economics and an MS in Family Studies from the  University of Maryland, College Park, as well as an MS in Education and a PhD in Counseling  Psychology from the University of Southern California. 

Dr. Clift Breland’s professional journey is a powerful reminder of the impact that passionate,  student-centered leadership can have on individuals and communities alike. His commitment to  fostering environments that support student success and community engagement continues to  drive his work and dedication to service.

Dr. Edward Bush has over 21 years of experience in higher education.  Dr. Bush is the President of Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. Prior to his position as College President, Dr. Bush served as Vice President of Student Services for seven years, tenured associate faculty member in student life and leadership, the Director of the Educational Talent Search federal TRIO grant, Dean of Student Services. Dr. Bush leadership experience further includes his involvement on statewide committees and initiatives.  Dr. Bush currently serves as the Area 2 representative for the California Community College League CEO Board, the CEO Representative for the state’s Chancellor Office Faculty Diversity Committee and the Chancellor’s Office Student Success Metrics Taskforce.  Dr. Bush is an innovative leader who has been able to reimagine traditional institutional practices. His innovative approach including the implementation of guided pathways has led to improvement of student outcomes while reducing gaps in achievement for students of color and other historically marginalized student populations. Dr. Bush is a student success focused leader with a clear vision and expertise in leading organizations through periods of change and structural disruption in order to meet the evolving needs of students and the communities in which they serve. Dr. Bush is a scholar practitioner who has served as an adjunct faculty members for several graduate programs. Moreover, Dr. Bush academic achievements includes; the co-authorship of 2 books, 2 book chapters, and 12 peer reviewed publications appearing in a variety of journals. Dr. Bush is a sought after speaker on issues relating to student success, equity, diversity, and leadership. He has been an invited presenter for numerous statewide, local and national organizations. Dr. Bush received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Riverside, a Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Claremont Graduate University in Urban Educational Leadership. He and his wife Dr. Jenise Bush have a daughter who is a law student at UC Irvine and a son who is a recent graduate of Morehouse College.

Dr. Abdimalik Buul is currently serving as the Visiting Executive of Institutional Equity, innovation and strategic impact at the California Community College Chancellor’s office. During this tenure he is assisting in ensuring equal employment opportunities and initiatives are connected to the classroom for the largest system of higher education in the nation comprising over 116 colleges and 73 districts. He is also an award-winning professor, antiracist activist, and emancipatory educator.  Known as an international keynote speaker and innovative dynamic leader.  He co-chairs the Statewide Equal Employment Opportunity Diversity Advisory Committee (EEODAC) and oversaw its deployment of the 2022 EEO Best Practices handbook and 2023 Ten Point Plan for faculty diversification. Under his leadership he crafted a funding allocation for $20 million-dollars in EEO funding to improve equitable hiring practices for the state of California. He is a scholar practitioner with over 10 publications in the fields of Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility and Antiracism. He has a keen focus on racial equity and an asset based approach on countering Anti-Blackness . He completed his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in community-based counseling and social justice, both from San Diego State University (SDSU).  He completed his doctorate work in Educational leadership with an emphasis in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC).  Dr. Buul is also a lecturer at San Diego State University (SDSU) where he teaches Restorative Practices and Conflict Transformation to students in the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Recovery & Trauma-informed Care MA in Education with concentration in Counseling program. Dr.Buul conducts numerous speaking engagements, workshops and keynotes for multiple system stakeholders as he specializes in providing equity based strategic solutions to organizations and institutions. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Authentic Leadership
• Leading with Core Values and Empathy
• Leadership Ethics

Check out Dr. Elliott’s YouTube Channel

Dr. Elliott is dedicated to uplifting and liberating people by instilling the importance of education through community involvement and service. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, M.A. in Creative Arts Interdisciplinary Studies, and a B.A. in Music and Black Studies from San Francisco State University. As founder and artistic director of Black Song and Poetry, Dr. Elliott led a group of 30 students to Ghana, West Africa in 2002 to participate in a choral musical festival at the National Theater. He was a featured presenter at the Kumasi Cultural Centre as part of Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return festivities and recorded original music with his students at the Cultural Links Music Studio in Accra, Ghana. He was the founder and co-director of the African American Male Leadership Program (AAMLP) at Diablo Valley College; a tenured board member of the California statewide community college organization, African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND); past Division Dean of Natural, Social, and Applied Sciences-Contra Costa College; and former Senior Dean of Instruction at Los Medanos College. Dr. Elliott finished his teaching career as a Professor of Music at Diablo Valley College where he taught the History of Hip-Hop Music and Culture, and Introduction to Social Justice. His recent books—Spirit, Rhythm, and Story: Community Building and Healing through Song, involves the power of music and music therapy toward healing communities; and Hip-Hop Music: History and Culture, the first e-textbook for Hip Hop Music instruction in the California community colleges.

Dr. Elliott currently completed his Sound Healing Certificate and now focuses his time and efforts working in the community to help with stress management, anxiety, depression, and male anger issues for Black Americans, through drum circles, sound healing treatments, podcast, and cultural lecture series.

Mr. Herbert L. English, Jr. “Herb” has over 16 years of experience in higher education with 13 of those years in the California Community College system. Herb currently serves as the Vice- President of Student Services at West Hills College Coalinga in Central Valley California. Herb has served as the Director of EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Valley- Bound Commitment an award winning First Year Experience program and Dean of Student Equity and Success at Victor Valley College. Herb also served as an academic advisor and p/t faculty teaching First Year Experience at CSU San Bernardino.

In addition, Herb has served on numerous college, district, and state-wide committees throughout his career and has been active in several community organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Gils Club of San Bernardino and the African American Male Educational Network and Development (A²MEND).  Herb is an innovative leader that has a history of developing programs and services that foster both student access and success; including the development of targeted programs for historically underserved populations. Herb has also worked as a Social Worker for Riverside County Child Protective Services and Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino. He loves working with young people and inspiring them to pursue a college education. Herb received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, San Bernardino, Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Redlands and is presently pursuing his doctorate degree at Bradley University in Educational Leadership.