On Feb. 16, the Southwestern College governing board, in the second and final process, unanimously approved to appoint two new governing board members. After seven 30-minute interviews and a short discussion, the Board found consensus with two interviewees, and swore in Don Dumas for Seat 2 vacated by Nora Vargas and Kirin Macapugay for Seat 5 vacated by Tim Nader.
Dumas is currently employed as a teacher in the Sweetwater Union High School District, teaching advanced placement U.S. History, ethnic studies, international baccalaureate economics, U.S government, world history, and AP human geography. He also coaches varsity basketball at Mar Vista and Bonita high schools. Dumas said his top three values are integrity, work ethic and family. Dumas said he wants to raise the conscientiousness of people about issues surrounding racial discrimination. Injustice, anti-blackness and many other forms of oppression.
“That is how I have molded my lessons on a daily basis, my professional development training, my interactions with department colleagues in developing curriculum and content,” he said. “The goals the Board put up in January are very ambitious, direct and necessary. It is exactly what I do every day. It is what consumes my thoughts of every waking day in how to eliminate these things.”
Macapugay has spent the past 23 years working and serving in the county’s most marginalized populations. In 2017, she was awarded the San Diego Civil Rights Woman Leader by RISE San Diego. She began her higher education at Southwestern College, transferred to SDSU, earning a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in social work. She worked at her own elementary school in Paradise Hills, Victoria Summit Juvenile Court School and Bonita High School.
Macapugay held positions in hospitals, community clinics, civic engagement organizations, and coalitions based in Chula Vista, National City, southeastern San Diego, on public commissions for the cities of Chula Vista, San Diego, and the state of California.
Macapugay said her top three values are higher education, ethnic rights and social justice, and serving the most vulnerable populations.
“As a former student of Southwestern College, myself, I know that most of our students fit in those categories,” she said. “The fact is that the community college system is a pathway to social and economic justice. It is one of the few ways that people can have access to higher education. If you look at racism, systemic racism, ableism, poverty we know that one of the few ways that people can come out of this cycle is to receive a higher education.”
Macapugay said being trained in community organizing and part of that training is learning to listen.
“You learn to bring people together, strengthen people and make sure that they come together to do whatever needs to be done for their community,” she said.
Board President Leticia Cazares said she was in awe of the leadership qualities, lived experiences, critical thinking, and the answers and responses to their questions.
“What came through is who you are and that is what I wanted to see,” she said. “With Don, I absolutely connection with your students and community. It speaks to how who align, who you are with your day to day, what your role would be on the board. And that is really important. Kira, I really appreciated your key lessons of what the community needs. How you would work with the community and have that open communication, and to educate as you are leading as a board member is really important.”
Board Vice President Roberto Alcantar said he felt that the Board had taken one more step forward in recognizing and being intentional in actions to recognize the diversity of the campus and community population by diversifying the board.
“I am so proud to be part of a board that truly reflects our community and the diversity of our communities here in South County by having a board represented by Latinos, Asian Americans and Black Americans,” he said.
