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Gilbert J. Contreras, Ph.D.

@sbvcpresident

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President, San Bernardino Valley College
Building opportunity. Advancing community. Valley Up!
#SBVC100 #ValleyUP

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Some of the most meaningful moments at Valley College happen when our students come together to celebrate culture, creativity, and community.

On October 1, I had the pleasure of joining our Hispanic Heritage Month piñata making workshop, and I was especially encouraged by the incredible turnout from our students!

Piñata making is a cherished Mexican cultural tradition that brings together artistry, creativity, and celebration. Seeing our students embrace this experience, connect with one another, and take pride in their creations was a wonderful reminder of what makes our campus community so special.

As a Hispanic Serving Institution, our responsibility extends beyond the classroom. We are committed to creating an environment where students feel a sense of belonging, see their cultures represented, and have opportunities to celebrate the identities and traditions that enrich our community.

My sincere appreciation goes to English Instructor Mayra Frias for leading this wonderful workshop alongside Marie Maghuyop, and to Dra. Irene Sanchez for encouraging her students to participate.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this celebration such a success. It is moments like these that remind us why Valley College is such a special place.

Valley Up!

#SBVC #ValleyUp #HispanicHeritageMonth #StudentEngagement #CampusCommunity taken in San Bernardino Valley College by @sbvcpresident

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At San Bernardino Valley College, we are not just building new facilities. We are building opportunities for the next generation.

I was proud to join our campus community on October 5 for the Topping Off Ceremony of our new Aeronautics Building, where students and employees signed the final steel beam before it was lifted into place. It was a special moment knowing that their signatures will forever be part of Valley College's history.

Our new Aeronautics Building will feature an aircraft hangar, specialized laboratories, and modern instructional spaces designed to prepare students for careers in aviation technology and aircraft maintenance. As our programs continue to expand into professional piloting and air traffic control, we are strengthening pathways to meaningful careers while helping meet the evolving workforce needs of the Inland Empire.

As Valley College enters its second century, investments like these reaffirm our commitment to making high quality education and career opportunities accessible to our community.

My appreciation goes to the San Bernardino Community College District, our Board of Trustees, construction partners, and the dedicated faculty and classified professionals bringing this vision to life. Special thanks to our Athletics Department for supporting the celebration!

The future of aviation is taking shape right here at Valley College, and our students will help lead the way.

Valley Up!

#SBVC #ValleyUp #SBVC100 #AviationEducation #InlandEmpire taken in San Bernardino Valley College by @sbvcpresident

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The future of San Bernardino County is being built right here at home, and education is essential to that future.

Last week, I had the opportunity to join fellow San Bernardino Community College District leaders at the 2026 State of the County, bringing together business, government, and community leaders to celebrate our region’s progress and explore opportunities for continued economic growth.

As San Bernardino Valley College marks 100 years of serving our community, we remain committed to preparing the next generation of professionals, innovators, and community leaders who will shape the Inland Empire’s future.

Through our expanding workforce programs in healthcare, aviation, water resources, and skilled trades, alongside new opportunities like our first bachelor’s degree in Water Resources Management, we are connecting education directly to the needs of our regional economy.

Our work is about more than earning a degree or certificate. It is about creating pathways to meaningful careers, strengthening local industries, and helping families build brighter futures right here in our community.

Thank you to San Bernardino County and GOCAL for bringing our region’s leaders together. We look forward to continuing our work with community and industry partners to advance opportunity for all.

Valley Up!

#SBVC #SBCCD #SanBernardinoCounty #InlandEmpire #ValleyUp by @sbvcpresident

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One district. Three teams. Countless moments worth celebrating!

Last Friday, Crafton Hills College welcomed colleagues from San Bernardino Valley College and District Support Operations for Part 1 of the 2026 SBCCD Olympics!

From the friendly competition to the laughter, cheers, and school spirit, these photos capture what makes this growing district tradition so special.

Beyond the competition, the SBCCD Olympics remind us that our greatest strength is our people. Whether we’re Roadrunners, Wolverines, or members of our District Support Operations team, we share a commitment to supporting one another and creating opportunities for the students and communities we serve.

Thank you to everyone who competed, cheered, volunteered, and helped bring this event to life!

Next stop: San Bernardino Valley College on Friday, October 23, for Part 2! Let the friendly rivalry continue!

#SBCCDOlympics #SBCCD #SBVC #CraftonHillsCollege taken in Crafton Hills College by @sbvcpresident

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Last week, our San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines joined colleagues at Crafton Hills College for Part 1 of the SBCCD Olympics!

More than just friendly competition, these games represent something important for our district: an opportunity to bring faculty, staff, and leadership from across our colleges and District Support Operations together to strengthen relationships, celebrate teamwork, and build a greater sense of community.

The connections we build with one another ultimately strengthen the work we do for our students.

A special thank you to our colleagues at Crafton Hills College and District Support Operations for their efforts in making this event possible, and to our SBVC Wolverines for representing our college with pride!

We look forward to welcoming everyone to Valley College for Part 2 on October 23.

Go Wolverines!

#ValleyUp! taken in Crafton Hills College by @sbvcpresident

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Join us next Tuesday in the Library Viewing Room! taken in San Bernardino Valley College by @sbvcpresident

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On Friday, I joined Professor Bethany Tasaka at Norco College (@norcocollege) for a Community Resilience Tour focused on how community colleges can strengthen sustainability, infrastructure, and long term preparedness across our region.

Our colleagues at Norco College and the Riverside Community College District shared their work in sustainability and resilience, including investments in solar energy, battery storage, and infrastructure designed to better serve their campus and community into the future.

These conversations matter. Community colleges are more than places of instruction. We are major public institutions with a responsibility to steward resources wisely, prepare for the future, and help strengthen the communities we serve.

I was especially glad to attend alongside Professor Tasaka, whose leadership as the Area D Representative for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges connects San Bernardino Valley College with colleges and districts throughout Southern California. Bringing faculty and administrative perspectives together in regional conversations like these helps us learn from one another and bring strong ideas back to our own campuses.

At Valley College, sustainability is already an important part of our work, from our award winning Applied Technology Building and its photovoltaic systems to our leadership in water stewardship. Opportunities like this allow us to continue learning, collaborating, and thinking about what comes next.

Thank you to Norco College and the Riverside Community College District (@rccdistrict) for welcoming us and sharing your work. I look forward to continuing these conversations as we build a more resilient future for our students and our communities.

#ValleyUp taken in Norco College by @sbvcpresident

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14 days ago

Yesterday was another wonderful Coffee with the Cabinet at San Bernardino Valley College!

These gatherings are an important opportunity for our students, faculty, classified professionals, and campus community to connect directly with college leadership, hear updates, ask questions, and share ideas. I always appreciate the opportunity to listen and spend time with our Valley College community.

This Coffee with the Cabinet was especially meaningful as we opened a time capsule from 1986 and took a look back at SBVC nearly 40 years ago. As we celebrate our Centennial, moments like this remind us of the generations of Wolverines who came before us and the history we continue to make together.

Now, we are looking forward to creating a new Centennial time capsule that will tell the story of SBVC today for future generations of Wolverines to discover.

A special thank you to Connie Leyva and our partners at KVCR for hosting us and helping make this gathering so memorable.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and I hope to see even more of our campus community at the next Coffee with the Cabinet!

Valley Up!

#ValleyUp #SBVC #SBVC100 taken in San Bernardino Valley College by @sbvcpresident

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18 days ago

A heartfelt thank you to Citizens Business Bank for its continued investment in San Bernardino Valley College students!

We were honored to welcome Mary Wilson and Jess Tirado to campus to join members of our President’s Cabinet and SBVC Foundation team in celebrating our shared commitment to student success.

Partnerships like this are pivotal to strengthening our scholarship efforts, expanding access to education, and ensuring our students have the resources and support they need to achieve their goals.

Thank you, Citizens Business Bank, Mary, and Jess, for continuing to show up for our students and investing in the future of our community. 💙🐾

Together, we create opportunity. Valley Up! ✌️ by @sbvcpresident

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19 days ago