Modesto Junior College is pleased to announce Brenda Thames as the new Vice President of Student Services and Michael Guerra as the new Vice President of Administrative Services. Both vice presidents have begun their service to the college.
In her new role as Vice President of Student Services, Thames will provide leadership in the overall design, organization, delivery, supervision, evaluation and fiscal management of a comprehensive student services program including Admissions and Records, Counseling, Matriculation Services, Financial Aid, Assessment, Student Success, Career and Transfer Center, Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOPS), Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), TRIO Programs, Health Services, Student Discipline, Student Development and Campus life and Student Government activities. Thames will administer Title IX, discrimination, regulations and sexual harassment policies and procedures. She is responsible for the supervision of re-entry programs and the CalWORKs program.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Thames served as Dean of Counseling and Student Services at American River College in Sacramento from 2008 until coming to MJC. Prior to her deanship, she served as Matriculation Coordinator at American River College from 2001 to 2008 and was an adjunct faculty member from 2004 to 2009. Ms. Thames holds an M.A. in Public Administration and an M.S.W. in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree in both Sociology and Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Higher Education with an emphasis in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University.
In the role of Vice President of College Administrative Services, Guerra plans, organizes, directs and manages a wide variety of MJC support programs, including: college budget coordination, campus liaison with YCCD Central Services, auxiliary, safety/security, and business office, information technology and the instructional materials center and mailroom. He will work in cooperation with the district facilities office regarding building and grounds maintenance including coordination of major college capital facility projects.
Guerra comes to MJC from Fresno City College where he has served as the Vice President of Administrative Services since 1996. He has a lifetime Community College Teaching Credential in Business and Industrial Relations. Guerra earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from California State University, Fresno and a Master's Degree in Human Resource and Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco.
