Governing Board Members
Board Member Profiles
Southwestern Community College District Governing Board Members
Don Dumas
Board President
- Area 5
- Term
December 2022 - November 2026
Don Dumas has a successful track record of teaching and education reform, who received
the San Diego County Teacher of the Year in 2020. He has been a dedicated 12-year
high school classroom teacher for the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD)
and for over 10-years the Boys Varsity Basketball Head
Coach.
His entire educational career has been devoted to the elimination of social and economic injustice, including the dismantling of white supremacist structures. Being a Black American, South Bay native, and child of working-class parents, he brings a unique and much needed perspective to eliminate anti-Blackness. He created and serves as the advisor for the Black Student Union at Bonita Vista High School as well as serve on a committee at the district level that is in the process of establishing the Black Student Union at all middle and high schools under SUHSD. Don strengthens his belief in community service and teaches his students in the importance of volunteering in such events. Don was a graduate of the Sweetwater Union High School District, a Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College student, and continued to earn his bachelor’s degree in History and Master of Arts in Teaching from San Diego State University.
Kristine Galicia Brown
Board Vice President
- Area 2
- Term
December 2024 - November 2028
Kris has a multitude of experience in the public affairs, branding, advertising, and food industries. Her strengths lie within strategic outreach, branding & positioning and problem-solving, especially when it comes to areas of influence. She is also highly skilled in analytics and crisis-communication. She is an accomplished copywriter, art director, a social media influencer, content creator, and published author. She has worked professionally with large brands, local governments, non-profits, restaurants, sporting-events, start-ups, and local small businesses.
Kris has been involved in educational issues, serving on both Sweetwater Union High School District’s (SUHSD) District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) and Hilltop High School’s School Site Council (SSC). She also serves on the Board of Advisors for Border View Family YMCA and liaison to YMCA of San Diego Corporate Board, helping with community access to programs to help improve individual, senior, youth, and family well-being.
By way of her US Navy family, Kris arrived in San Diego at nine years-old and has never once considered leaving. Kris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising. She loves to read, cook, hike, and explore “hidden” San Diego.
Robert Moreno
Board Member
- Area 1
- Term
December 2022 - November 2026
Robert Moreno was born and raised in the South Bay, and he holds a deep-rooted commitment to caring for the local community. Robert grew up in National City and graduated from Sweetwater High, Southwestern College, and SDSU. Now a resident of Chula Vista with his beloved family, Robert is living out his passion for public service. His long list of public leadership roles in the South Bay includes serving as a Redistricting Commissioner for the 2020/2021 redistricting of the City of Chula Vista, as well as his current roles as a volunteer Board Member for the YMCA and the Board Chair for Community Through Hope, a Chula Vista homeless outreach non-profit.
His dedication to serving south San Diego stems back to the beginning of his career. After graduating from State, Robert put his journalism degree to work as a “watchdog reporter” for the Star-News. He lived and breathed the South Bay community, covering local school board meetings, City Council meetings, political stories, and other important issues facing residents of Chula Vista and National City. Robert has also worked in city government having worked briefly for a city councilmember. graduated from the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce “Commerce Leadership Academy.”
Today, Robert proudly works at a nonprofit that helps businesses and consumers thrive in the marketplace. In addition to his routine responsibilities at his job, Robert serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which is tasked with creating diversity and inclusion measures across the organization, in part by analyzing how inequalities have impacted any employees at his job.
Elected to the Southwestern College Board in 2022, Robert is devoted to supporting college students in the South Bay community. His priorities for the college are providing affordable student housing, fighting for fiscal responsibility, retaining the best and brightest educators, and improving transfer opportunities, all with the goal of creating a better future of higher education for South Bay families.
Nicholas Segura
Governing Board Member
- Area 3
- Term
December 2024- November 2028
Nicholas J. Segura Jr. is an accomplished individual with a diverse background in education, labor relations, and community service. Since 2014, he has been a dedicated Board Member for Sweetwater Union High School District Area 4, demonstrating his commitment to the education sector. Within the board, he has held prominent positions such as President and Vice President of the Board of Trustees, showcasing his leadership skills and expertise in governance.
In addition to his role in the school district, Mr. Segura has actively contributed to various organizations and committees. He served as the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee. He is a Coordinating council member on the San Diego CIF, further highlighting his involvement in promoting athletics and student engagement. As a statewide Delegate to the California School Board Association (CSBA), he advocates for educational policies, funding, and initiatives that benefit students and communities across California.
Prior to serving on the Board, Mr. Segura had an esteemed career as a Business Manager/Financial Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569. He also held notable positions as Vice President of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council and the San Diego Building & Construction Trades. His dedication to the labor movement extended to the California State Association of Electrical Workers, where he served as Secretary Treasurer. Furthermore, he contributed to the National Electrical Training Alliance as a member of the Board of Directors, emphasizing his expertise in labor relations and commitment to workers' rights.
Mr. Segura's educational background includes graduating from the San Diego Electrical Training Center Inside Wireman Apprenticeship program and obtaining his Journeyman Wireman Electrician Certificate from Palomar College. He is a California State Certified General Electrician, highlighting his technical expertise in the field.
His service to the nation includes being a proud US Navy Veteran, where he served as an Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer on board the USS Cleveland LPD-7. This experience reflects his dedication to duty and his ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Recognized for his outstanding contributions, Mr. Segura received the following awards underscoring his exceptional leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others.
· 2016 79th District Certificate of Recognition Labor presented by Assembly women Dr. Shirley Webber
· 2017 80th Assembly District Outstanding Community Leader presented by Assembly women Lorena Gonzalez
· 2018 John’s Foundation - San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Leader of the Year Award
Mr. Segura resides in Chula Vista with his wife, Dr. Leticia Segura an elementary school principal, and their three children, Karina, Nicholas III, and Aurora.
Corina Soto
Governing Board Member
- Area 4
- Term
December 2022- November 2026
Corina Soto served a Counselor and Professor at Southwestern College (SWC) for 32 years. She also served in faculty union leadership during her long-term tenure as a college employee. She has an Associates, a Bachelors, and a Masters degree. In December 2021, she received a Professional Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University. Corina graduated from a California Community College. She was able to transfer to a UC to pursue higher education. She received her master’s degree from a CSU.
Corina knows about the barriers that SWC students may face while attending college including economic and social hardships such as needing money to pay for the costs of tuition, supplies and housing and such as needing information, support, and mentorship when you are the first in your family to even go to college. She is a strong supporter of free speech, academic freedom, and the use of dialogue towards conflict resolution. Corina is committed to transparency and accountability in the college’s decision-making processes.
Soto became eligible to retire in August 2022 and is pleased to continue her work at the place she has loved for the past 32 and a half years. Soto's educational background includes an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Riverside Community College; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Administrative Studies/Chicano Studies from UC Riverside; a Master of Arts Degree in Education with an emphasis in Muli-Cultural Counseling from San Diego State University; and a professional certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University.
Chris Chandler
Student Trustee
Term
June 2024 - May 2025
Chris Chandler is dedicated to positively impacting students through leadership and advocacy. Since beginning his studies at Southwestern College, he has led several events and initiatives on behalf of students. Chris joined Southwestern College’s student government, ASO, as a Senator-at-Large for the ‘23-’24 academic year. During his tenure as a senator, he was appointed and unanimously confirmed by his peers to several key positions within ASO.
Chris was the first ASO Senator to be appointed representative for all three Higher Education Centers at Southwestern College (HEC National City, HEC Otay Mesa, and HEC San Ysidro) and the Crown Cove Aquatic Center simultaneously. He was also the first senator appointed and unanimously confirmed to chair two ASO committees simultaneously, the Student Center Planning Committee and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Chris also served as the acting Student Affairs Senator and the student representative on two of the college’s participatory governance committees, the Calendar Committee and the Planning and Budget Committee.
As Student Trustee, he plans to work with the other Trustees to achieve the goals set out by the Governing Board and in Southwestern College’s Education Vision Plan. He is currently studying Business Administration at Southwestern College with the goal of transferring to a four-year institution and pursuing a career in finance and entertainment. In his free time, he enjoys attending music and dance performances and watching plays at the theatre.
