NORWALK — The Cerritos College Board of Trustees welcomed newly elected Trustee Mariana Pacheco (Area #1), at its December 16 board meeting. 

Trustees Carmen Avalos (Area #2), Marisa Perez (Area #4), and Dr. Sandra Salazar (Area #6) were uncontested, and returned to the board to serve another four-year term. 

Pacheco was sworn in by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia. 

Pacheco, the mother of Downey Mayor Pro Tem Blanca Pacheco, has served as the Director of Nursing for the VN, EMT, and Phlebotomy Program at Downey Adult School for the last six years. 

Prior to that, she worked as the clinical nursing director of outpatient services and employee health at LAC/USC Medical Center for 34 years.  

“As a new trustee, I look forward to working with my board colleagues on ways to help more students gain access to a quality education,” Pacheco said in a statement. “As the pandemic lingers, it is very important that we continue to offer students more resources, so they can stay in school. 

I’m happy to join a board whose goals are centered on meeting the needs of students, and supporting faculty, staff, and the community. I’m ready to get started.”

Avalos serves as South Gate's city clerk and teaches biology. She was sworn in by South Gate Councilmember Maria del Pilar Avalos. 

Perez has worked with South Coast Air Quality Management District since 2010, and was sworn in by Lakewoood Vice Mayor Jeff Wood. 

Salazar is a family medicine physician in Los Angeles. She was sworn in by Judge Lucy Armendáriz, Superior Court of Los Angeles County.

The board also elected new officers for 2021, choosing James Cody Birkey (Area #3) as the new board president, Dr. Shin Liu (Area #5) as vice president, and Avalos (Area #2) as clerk.