Candidate for
Board Member; Southwestern Community College District; Seat 4

Yolanda Salcido was born in Mexico City, but was raised in Chula Vista. Her family immigrated into the United States when she was a small child, and is the fifth of 11 children. Her father, a doctor, commuted daily across the border to his private medical practice, while her mother, a nurse by profession, stayed home caring for the family. Her family settled in the Hilltop area of Chula Vista, where Yolanda and her siblings attended Hilltop Elementary, Middle, and graduated from Hilltop High School. A proud family of now two generations of Lancers!

Although her parents were professionals, they were unable to pursue their medical careers in the United States. Her parent's education was from Mexico, and experienced a language barrier hard to overcome. Finally after a tough time in menial jobs in the U.S., her parents started their medical practice in Tijuana, Mexico, where her father built a successful medical practice while her mother raised the children in Chula Vista. Raised on both sides of the border gave Yolanda an early insight of the importance of higher education and its impact on the prosperity and economy of both regions, so she sought to pursue higher education for herself and her family.

Yolanda graduated from Southwestern College with an Associate's degree in Administration of Justice, and moved on to obtain a Bachelors in Science in Law, and a Juris Doctor Law degree from Western State University College of Law, San Diego; now known as Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Yolanda's daughter Mary Jo Salcido graduated from Long Beach State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and her son, Joseph Salcido, is pursuing a Physics major at San Diego State University, while also taking classes at Southwestern College to meet the demands of his educational career.

Yolanda has a long history of community involvement, in both civic and community organizations, from youth athletic teams to serving on boards of various community based organizations, such as the Chicano Federation where she served for eight years bringing vital programs to the community of San Diego County in child development, senior and child nutritional programs, education, economic development, advocacy and affordable housing.

Yolanda was first elected to the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Community College in 2002, and was re-elected with an overwhelming support from the voters in 2006. Her number #1 priority has always been the students and their success. She successfully led the fight for Southwestern College's fair share of state funding, and continues to fight for affordable and accessible education opportunities for the students. Moreover, she has been instrumental in bringing Higher Education Centers into the communities of Otay Mesa, National City and San Ysidro bringing educational opportunities to these communities.

Yolanda, as President of the Governing Board, has led the District through the State's worst recession since the Great Depression. Despite the fiscal challenges, Yolanda has worked hard to protect faculty and staff jobs, retain classes, and continue vital student programs and services, whose Federal or State funding has been drastically cut back. She is also strongly committed to community workforce and development to give students and businesses the ability to meet future demands.

Under her leadership, Yolanda led the college in holding an Education & Business Roundtable forum where community leaders in business, industry, government and education came together to address the changing training and education needs of the local workforce.

Yolanda Salcido's commitment and dedication to students, college and community has remained strong throughout her tenure on the Governing Board. She has met the challenges as opportunities to enhance the college and the education opportunities of students.

With your support, Yolanda Salcido will continue to serve and represent the interest of the community, college, and students!