In the year since his election as Student Trustee for the Ventura County Community College District, Arshia Malekzadeh has focused on unification among the colleges and encouraging students to concern themselves with district matters.
“My sole purpose for running was to serve the students at the district level where the focus is policy-making,” Malekzadeh said. “I promised my supporters dedication, communication, responsiveness, and accessibility.”
In the midst of district level turmoil due to budgetary cuts, program cuts, and the recent problems presented by the accreditation commission, Arshia trusts the district and the Board of Trustees to pull through.
“The concerns raised by the commission are being currently handled and we will soon return to the fully accredited status,” Malekzadeh said. “I have great faith in all the individuals who work tirelessly in serving the students of Moorpark College…and I have a great deal of faith in my colleagues at the Board of Trustees in their decisions.”
A Sociology major, Malekzadeh has spent the last two and a half years studying at Moorpark College, preparing to transfer. Prior to Moorpark College, he attended Granada Hills Charter High School. Currently, he has applications dispersed across the country and plans on receiving admissions decisions in late April through early June. He applied to Columbia, Stanford, Cornel, University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California, and UCSD. After he receives a bachelor’s degree, he intends to earn a PhD, become a professor, and, ultimately, a college president.
In addition to Student Trustee, Malekzadeh is the president of Phi Theta Kappa, Moorpark’s honors society, a member of the Pearson Student Advisory Board and manages to keep up with his schoolwork.
“Although he is involved in so many other activities outside being president of PTK, he always finds the time to get everything that needs to be done, done amazingly and on time,” said Morgan Duda, secretary of Phi Theta Kappa.
Lee Ballestero is a professor of Political Science at Moorpark College and the faculty advisor for the honors society.
“He is proactive in doing things that will benefit our club long after he has graduated,” said Ballestero. “His contributions to the future of our chapter will be appreciated for years to come.”
The most important thing is schoolwork, according to Malekzadeh. Getting involved on campus is great, but the most emphasis is put on GPA when transferring. Malekzadeh suggests getting involved in only one or two clubs and devoting much time and energy in those to really have an effect, rather than “hopping around through five clubs throughout two years.”
Malekzadeh considers the reward for all his involvement networking.
“By being involved, you start meeting more people around campus; administrators, faculty, staff, and fellow students, said Malekzadeh. “We have great professors and mentors on our campus that are extremely helpful and supportive.”
This May, he will graduate Moorpark College, and, as Professor Ballestero said, he will leave behind many contributions and improvements.
“We belong to a community where the common interest is the student’s,” said Malekzadeh. “I am truly proud to say that I will be a graduate of Moorpark College and a alumni of the Ventura County Community College District.”
