Looking at Tina Park— New board of trustee member

Political newcomer and financial services auditor Tina Park ousted incumbent Trustee Angela Reddock for a position on the Los Angeles Community College District's nine-person Board of Trustees, securing nearly 54 percent of the vote in the May 19 special election.

Park, a former community college student who went on to earn a business administration degree from Hofstra University in New York, believes that her appreciation of two-year colleges and her expertise in the financial sector are what makes her an asset to the district.

“I think that community colleges are crucial in our society,” Park said. “It's important that students who don't want to go to four -year schools are able to get good, solid jobs.”
While attending Hofstra, she also earned a life-coaching certification from Landmark Education, to which she attributes her leadership skills.

This election marked Reddock's first attempt at defending her place on the board, as she was appointed to replace retiring former-trustee Michael Waxman in 2007. 

“Angela has done a good job in the time she was there,” said Robert Garber, Pierce College president. “She was very supportive of students, as is the rest of the board.”

The LACCD manages an annual budget of more than $600 million along with $5.7 billion in construction-related bonds, and Park thinks her experience as an auditor of large corporations in her seven-year stint working for the New York Stock Exchange has prepared her to delve into the district's finances.

“$1 billion is not overwhelming for me,” Parks said, referring to the districts budget. “At the NYSE, our job was to save the company money and make them accountable. Now, I'll be dealing with tax dollars, and we have to deal with that money conservatively and carefully.”
Besides the financial aspect of the job, Park hopes to give a voice to students and faculty alike -- and to exercise her own.

“It's a very tough group to get into,” Park said. “The board makes mostly unanimous decisions regarding money, and I don't quite understand that.”
“I will have a voice.”

Originally from Seoul, the Park family moved to the United States when she was 6-years old. Her minister father moved the family to Alaska primarily, with eventual stops in Los Angeles and New York.  She credits this Christian upbringing with her desire to give back to the community.

“I started my community service when I was 3-years-old,” Park said. “ We gave out food in the community, in the orphanage – we're Christians.”

The resounding defeat of state budget measures in the special election mean possible cuts for low-enrolled classes at community colleges. Park is extremely concerned about cutting classes, especially vocational training.

“We are going to add classes in some subjects that will help in certain fields,” Garber said. “It's a part of federal funding coming down from the state for workforce development.”

“If we can spend the money we do have wisely, I see no reason why we can't add more vocational classes,” Park said.

Shani Simms, president-elect of Pierce College's Associated Students Organization, applauds Park's commitment to occupational learning.

“It's an important part of community college,” Simms said. “There are a lot of people who have lost their jobs and are going back to school to learn a new career that they like.”