At College of the Canyons, we have award-winning professors!  Angeli Francois, a College of the Canyons English instructor, has received a 2023 Hayward Award for ‘Excellence in Education’ from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) for her dedication and commitment to serving and empowering students from diverse backgrounds and experiences. 

Francois was one of four California faculty members to receive the prestigious statewide award at the Board of Governors meeting held on March 20, 2023 in Sacramento. 

“On behalf of the Academic Senate and the entire faculty, I want to offer my congratulations to Professor Angeli Francois for being honored with the Hayward Award recognizing excellence in education,” said COC Academic Senate President David Andrus. “Because over 100 community colleges are eligible to nominate faculty for this award, the honor is quite significant.”  

In 2020, COC also started laying the groundwork to create alliances, which are affinity groups where students learn to navigate college, connect with faculty and staff mentors, meet with resource specialists, and discuss issues in a safe and brave space. Francois was instrumental in the creation of the STEM Equity Alliance and Native American Indigenous Alliance. 

“Professor Francois distinguished herself by her ability to create an inclusive and effective learning environment in multiple teaching modalities,” said Andrus. “She has continually exhibited a commitment to her students by founding two student alliances, leading efforts at creating sustainable learning communities, collaborating on new course designs intended to broaden the cultural competency of students, as well as many other student-centered efforts. She is an excellent educator and even better person.”

Francois also served on the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee and worked to help launch the Multicultural Center, which has the goal of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the college’s fabric.

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