Ohlone College Trustee and Trade Advisor to Obama Administration Teresa D. Cox spoke on her position on various topics of interest to community today. She is campaigning for reelection to board of Ohlone College.
Tell us about your childhood and early education
Teresa D. Cox: I grew up in a family that deeply valued education. My mother was a music teacher and my father taught the building trades in public school. My dad died when I was just nine years old. Raised by my mother on a teacher’s salary with two brothers, I learned that education, hard work, and personal responsibility were the keys to success.
I excelled in school. In 1985, I graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago as the first African-American female to earn a degree in Nuclear Engineering in the United States. In 1988, I completed my MBA Degree from the University of Rochester’s Simon Graduate School of Business Administration.
As a result of my upbringing, I have spent my career focused on education, community service, and economic development. I have also served on the board of the San Francisco chapter of the Thurgood Marshall College Scholarship Fund and Stanford’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Neonatal Advisory Board.
In addition to my role at Ohlone College, I have the following roles in our community:
I am the proud mother of two children, a daughter and a son.
I worked at the White House during the Clinton administration, where I coordinated White House events strengthening community relations with constituent groups, facilitated public policy briefings for Presidential business forums and organized Presidential delegations and appointments.
In 2010, I was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and the United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk to serve during the 2010-14 charter term on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC 11). I work with the other members of ITAC 11 to provide trade policy and recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting small and minority business; and perform such other advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy as may be requested by the Secretary and the USTR or their designees.
In 2012, I was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson to serve as one of the members of the U.S. District Export Council (DEC) representing Northern California. I serve in numerous trade promotion activities with the U.S. Department of Commerce and foreign government officials. I assist small and medium sized businesses that are interested in exporting and help to address international trade issues.
I am the first African American Commissioner for the Economic Development Advisory Commission for the City of Fremont where I chaired this commission in 2008-2009. I served as a member of the Fremont Delegation to China and visited the new Ohlone College in Suzhou, China in 2008.
You were first African American woman to get a BS in nuclear engineering in the United States from prestigious Northwestern University. What attracted you to that field?
I excelled in math and science. When I was accepted to Northwestern University, I enjoyed the world class education and decided to pursue a degree in engineering. At that time, I selected nuclear engineering to study because the professors gave the hands on approach and worked with Commonwealth Edison nuclear power plants to do some of the experiments. I also used my Radiation Physics coursework to help me understand cancer patient treatments when my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
You have served in many different industries and domains. What do you think is need of the hour for our country to get back on education growth track?
Education is the cornerstone of our economy. The College must provide added value to the community to make a difference in the following ways:
a. Provide equal learning opportunities for all. It is important to provide the best curriculum for transfer to 4-year college, for better training for continuous improvement in the workforce, and focus on latest technology trends that will promote healthy economy growth, i.e. green technology.
b. Promote diversity and culture awareness in the community. We must recruit, retain, mentor, and provide scholarships to those underserved, underrepresented, and disadvantaged students. Also recruit and retain our faculty and administration that represents the local community.
c. Collaborate with public and private partnerships to generate educational opportunities and provide the latest education trends in our community. It will also allow the opportunity to gain key skills in our workforce talent.
For past four years you are on board of Ohlone College. Can you share some of the activities you perform? Any key accomplishments?
As you know, I’ve had the honor of representing my community over the past four years as a board member of the Ohlone College Board of Trustees. I am running to provide access to a great education, good training and job opportunities. I am running to continue to fight for students and teachers to sustain a world-class community college.
The past four years have been busy.
I along with other board members have helped to save the college by preserving its accreditation, passed $349 M Measure G, a bond measure that allows us to repair old facilities and create classrooms equipped to train students on cutting edge issues to prepare them for the new economy and economic development opportunities for small businesses. Serving as one of the board members along with top talented faculty, has helped Ohlone earn “Top Five” honors of all community colleges in the state. The board will be making decisions to ensure that Ohlone College will be the job creator in our community and promote opportunities for small businesses.
The Board approved the solar panels to generate 2 Mega-watts of power and saved the college approximately $400,000 per year. The board will monitor the progress on the solar panel projects to ensure cost savings are achieved.
To generate additional cash flow for the College during these economic downturns, I along with the Board of Trustees will move toward developing our frontage property along Mission Blvd that also create opportunities for small businesses.
What are key priorities you would like to accomplish in your next tenure at Ohlone College Board?
A: The three priorities are:
1. Prepare for our accreditation to maintaining quality of education.
2. Continual sustainability for our fiscal situation due to declining California budget.
3. Keep Measure G- $349M bond projects moving forward to repair old facilities and create classrooms equipped to train students on cutting edge issues to prepare them for the new economy and create economic development opportunities for small businesses.
How can people help and support in your reelection bid?
The community can help by supporting me as well as my fellow board member Greg Bonaccorsi and newcomer Kevin Bistrow to keep Ohlone the top rated college in our community.
To help with my re-election bid, my campaign always needs volunteers and donors. Please visit my website at www.ElectTeresaCox.com to volunteer, contribute, attend the upcoming events, and campaign updates.
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