The race for Delta’s Board of Trustees Area 1 seat, which covers South Stockton and Weston Ranch, has two candidates with strong ties to the community: Ralph Lee White and Shelly Stoll Swanson. As they campaign, both candidates outline their platforms, focusing on how they plan to serve Delta College and its community.
Ralph Lee White
A former Stockton City Council member with 16.5 years of political experience, emphasizes diversity and representation. White believes that having Black representation on the Delta Board of Trustees is crucial to ensuring that the board reflects the community it serves.
“I believe that having Blacks on the board, or any board, is essential,” White said. “There are issues that need to be addressed, and I’m not afraid to tackle them head-on.”
White’s proposal aims to build upon Delta’s current expansion of the nursing program. According to an article from the Record, Delta has received $3.8 million in federal funding to help expand its nursing program.
White wants to introduce an accelerated pathway that allows students to complete their Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) or Registered Nursing (RN) degrees within 1 to 1.5 years, involving intensive courses of 5-6 hours per session. “The nursing program’s new renovations and supplies paired with longer class durations will allow hands-on training and real-time feedback, crucial for complex nursing skills and scenarios” White said. “Delta has the potential to become a major player in training the next generation of nurses.”
However, the current structure requires students to spend two years completing their ADN, with additional time required for those starting as LVNs before becoming RNs.
Shelly Stoll Swanson
A 20-year resident of Area 1, emphasizes community engagement and educational accessibility in her campaign. Swanson has a background in community and education advocacy, including volunteering at her children’s schools, pushing for disability accommodations and saving local historic buildings.
“What happens at Delta College matters to me and the people in my area,” Swanson said. “I’m running because I want Delta College to keep serving my community in all the ways a community college should — not just for transferring to a four-year institution, but also for lifelong learning and personal enrichment.”
Swanson has a few proposals aimed to expand Delta as well. Technical careers and trades programs are one of them. She advocates for offering classes not only on campus but also within the community, making education more accessible. Swanson also prioritizes the expansion of counseling services, improving financial aid access, restoring school facilities and student classrooms and bringing awareness to non-credited courses.
While Delta already offers non-credit courses like the “Adaptive Learning Transition to Work” series, which equips students with essential life and work skills, Swanson’s proposal emphasizes the need to further promote these courses and possibly introduce new ones tailored to the evolving needs of the community. She wants to ensure that more students are aware of and able to access these non-credit options. “Delta could better serve those who want to explore subjects outside their major, test the waters in a new field, or gain practical skills without the pressure of grades,” said Swanson.
Her platform reflects her belief in inclusion and education as a tool for empowerment.“I want to make sure that Delta College is accessible to everyone,” Swanson said. “Whether it’s through technical programs, health and fitness TRAC like nursing, or community education classes, we need to ensure that the college is serving the entire community.”
Improving inclusivity on campus is important to both candidates. White’s focus on diversity aligns with his goal of ensuring that Delta’s leadership reflects the broader community. Swanson supports initiatives to improve diversity in faculty hiring, sponsor more multicultural events on campus, and revise systems that assist professors with access to students’ preferred names and pronouns on class rosters.
Voters in South Stockton and Weston Ranch will soon decide which candidate best represents their vision for Delta College. The election is set to take place on Nov. 5, 2024.
