Foothill-De Anza Board Seeks Applicants to Represent Central Sunnyvale
Ahrens resigns following election to California State Assembly
Los Altos Hills, CA —At a special meeting held Dec. 2, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to make a provisional appointment to fill a vacancy in Trustee Area 2 created by the resignation of Patrick Ahrens. Under state law, the governing board is required to either order an election or make a provisional appointment within 60 days of the vacancy.
Anyone interested in representing residents of central Sunnyvale in Trustee Area 2 may apply for the vacant position by submitting a letter of interest and resume to the Chancellor’s Office at chancellor@fhda.edu by Jan. 3, 2025. The successful applicant will serve the remainder of Ahrens’ term, which ends in December 2026.
To be eligible, applicants must be California citizens over the age of 18 who are registered to vote and reside in Trustee Area 2, central Sunnyvale. More information is available on the district website. It is anticipated that the governing board will conduct applicant interviews between Jan. 13 and Jan. 21 and vote on the appointment prior to Jan. 30.
Ahrens resigned his board seat effective Dec. 1 to assume a position in the California Legislature representing Assembly District 26, which includes Cupertino, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and parts of north and west San Jose. Ahrens was originally elected to an at-large position on the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees in November 2018 and was reelected without opposition in 2022 to represent Trustee Area 2. He is a graduate of De Anza College who served as student representative to the governing board in the 2008-2009 academic year before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles. Ahrens is replacing his former boss Evan Low in the Legislature.
Board President Peter Landsberger noted Ahrens many contributions and the unique perspective that shaped his work on the board.
“Patrick brought passion and energy to his role as a trustee at Foothill-De Anza,’’ Landsberger said. “As a former student at De Anza College, he understood the struggles students experience to finance their education in our expensive region. We will miss Patrick and wish him all the best in his new role.”
During his six years as a trustee, Ahrens served as board president as well as a member of the Audit and Finance Committee, Foothill-De Anza Foundation, and Trustee Scholarship Committee. He was also instrumental in the committee that helped pass Measure G, the district’s successful 2020 bond measure.
About Foothill-De Anza Community College District
Foothill-De Anza Community College District, which includes Foothill College in LosAltos Hills and De Anza College in Cupertino, is one of the largest community college districts in California, serving approximately 50,000 students per year. Since 1957, the publicly supported and locally governed district with a mission of student success and educational excellence has offered degree and certificate programs that prepare students for university transfer and careers that meet regional workforce needs. For more information, visit www.fhda.edu.
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Posted Dec. 3, 2024