Our January speaker is Dr. Frank Gomez, executive director of STEM-NET for the Office of the CSU Chancellor as well as Professor of Chemistry at California State University, Long Beach. 

He'll be speaking on “Surviving the Existential Threat to Higher Education and Democracy. Please RSVP by 1/18 to lunchwithleague [at] lwvnoc.org to reserve a place, or click here to pay inadvance and avoid the line.

Prof. Gomez has extensive experience developing and directing large-scale systemwide research and educational initiatives in California and has served for over 30 years as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on federal, state, and foundation grants valued at over $75MM. He has expertise in project management, institutionalization, dissemination, policy change efforts, workforce development, and STEM education. His own research focuses on developing microfluidic-based point-of-care diagnostics, fuel cells and batteries.

 Prof. Gomez has given back to the community by serving on numerous non-profit and community boards, and in elected office as a member of the Montebello Unified School District Board of Education, the Montebello City Council and as Mayor. He is President of the Leo Buscaglia Foundation and is Chair of the Central Orange County Democratic Club. 

This presentation will paint a picture of the current state of higher education drawing on facts, observations, and stories from those on the front lines and most impacted. The attack on higher education by the current administration is cruel, insidious, and strategically planned. The chaos it has caused will have long-term effects that will resonate for a generation.