President of Foothill College

I want my legacy to be building an incredibly diverse student body who are very successful in college and in life.

Judy Miner was a first-generation college student, whose immigrant parents only had a grade school education. But she always loved school, worked hard, got her degree, became a teacher - and now leads the most prestigious community college in California.

Family Background: “My parents came from Mexico and Guam with

very little education. I was the youngest one of 5 children, and  the only one to go to college."

Where I Grew Up: San Francisco , CA

Pre College Education: Catholic Schools in San Francisco

College Education: Lone Mountain College and University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

"Aha" Moment: “My teachers told my parents that I should be in the college prep classes, that I should go

to college.”

Biggest Challenge To get to College: “I had to get over the feeling that I was a drag on the family -

that it was ok to go to school, not pay rent, not a have job out of high school."

Biggest Challenge In College: “I was really struggling with my own cultural identity.

People didn't understand why I was in college, and my parents were struggling."

Favorite Teacher: “The nuns were very encouraging, especially Sr. Madeline, my 7th Grade teacher.

And I really knew how to write when I got to college; I had good instruction."

Favorite Author: Frank Delaney

Favorite Mentor: Martha Kanter, Chancellor of Foothill - De Anza Community College District