CFA 100th General Assembly Honors Past Leaders and Welcomes New Leadership

CFA members across the state gathered for CFA’s 100th General Assembly in Los Angeles to elect new officers and leaders to serve on our councils, committees, and board of directors, while also passing resolutions.

Having led three pivotal terms as CFA President, Charles Toombs passed the torch to CFA Vice President Margarita Berta-Ávila, who was elected unopposed to serve as our next unionwide president.

Michelle Ramos Pellicia was elected as Vice President.
Loren Cannon was elected as Secretary.
Vang Vang was re-elected as Treasurer.

Chris Cox was re-elected as Associate Vice President of Racial & Social Justice, North, and Preeti Sharma was elected unopposed as Associate Vice President of Racial & Social Justice, South.

Lisa Kawamura was elected as Associate Vice President, North, and Tracey Salisbury was elected unopposed as Associate Vice President, South.

Meghan O’Donnell was re-elected unopposed as Associate Vice President of Lecturers, North, and Elaine Bernal was elected as Associate Vice President of Lecturers, South.

In her first speech as the newly elected president, Berta-Ávila spoke to the importance of continuing to lay the foundations for a transformational movement that builds on higher education and beyond.

“As a collective, our fight in CFA and labor is critical and urgent,” said Berta-Ávila. “As social justice unionists, it is essential to push beyond just ‘resisting’ and organize together toward the future we envision…

“Not one of us is disposable. It’s about the humanity we bestow to each other. We all play an important role in our movement. As such, it is critical to embrace the intentional leaning into the assets we each offer… Let’s build on the ideas we have—not as an either/or but a both/and to strengthen our work and our engagement of all CFA members.”

While Berta-Ávila looked ahead toward the future of our organization, CFA members and staff also paused to reflect on Toombs’ legacy and the impact of his anti-racism social justice work.

“Charles is a visionary,” said Audrena Redmond, CFA Director for Anti-Racism & Social Justice. “He has a way of offering constructive feedback, he listens deeply, and he engages actively in collaborative decision-making. This has been the hallmark of Charles’ tenure as president.”

Though Sharon Elise—who is retiring—was also being honored for her enduring contributions, she instead used her time at the podium to pay a powerful tribute to Toombs’ years of commitment to CFA. “We want to express our deepest gratitude for all the hard work, dedication, and passion you’ve put in over the years. Your unwavering commitment to CFA’s anti-racism and social justice transformation has inspired and uplifted so many of us, and the impact of your efforts will be felt for years to come. Through every challenge and triumph, you’ve been the beacon of hope, and your relentless pursuit of fairness and quality has made the world a better place,” said Elise.

Cecil Canton, former distinguished leader of CFA and then-chair of the Council for Affirmative Action, was unable to attend the assembly but shared his heartfelt remark in a written statement. “Charles Toombs will always be my brother, my comrade, and my friend. He went from a skeptic to president of CFA. The very person who once questioned what CFA could change ended up leading its transformation,” said Canton.

Although Toombs will transition in his role to Immediate Past President in June, he remains committed to continuing his work in CFA rather than withdrawing from it. “We are going to have to make sure we are a united front. It’s going to take all of us to change the direction in the CSU, in the state of California, and in the nation. I am so proud of all of you, and we’re going to do a whole lot more under the leadership of our new president and the newly elected officers and board members. CFA all the way!”

Not long after Toombs’ parting remarks, keynote speaker Chris Smalls, a labor organizer and former president of the Amazon Labor Union, spoke passionately to the heart of how we must truly begin to engage and support one another in our work.

“Solidarity is free. It don’t cost nothing to give a hug, a shoulder to lean on, or to show up. Well, it may cost some gas money,” said Chris Smalls with a slight grin.

“My fight is your fight, your fight is my fight, and this fight isn’t something you can have one foot in. The billionaires have money, they have government power, they can use metrics and technology against us, but what they don’t have is the power of the people… the power of community,” asserted Smalls.

In a report from Students for Quality Education (SQE), coordinators spoke to the need connect the many struggles that students and faculty are facing, including tuition and fee increases, food and housing insecurity, mental health crises, attacks on migrant communities, police oppression, among more.

Amidst these issues, students are asking, “Where’s our money going and what is it being used for?” The answer is clear: it is being used to police and surveil students, to supply war profiteers who advance genocide, and to line the wallets of administrators who repress the concerns of faculty, staff, and students who speak out against the privatization of education and against the systemic anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-Palestinian racism and oppression they uphold.

As of now, 24 alleged interim Time, Place, and Manner violations have been issued to CSU students. As mentioned in their report, CSU administrators are enacting a system of violence and harassment against students who have the audacity to organize against global fascism.

At the General Assembly, member delegates approved eight resolutions (we will link the resolutions once the final drafts become available):

• Resolution to Amend the CFA Representation Policy (Passed by 64%)
• Resolution on Fighting CSU Mergers, Shutdowns, Cuts & Layoffs (Passed by 58%)
• Resolution on Becoming a Sanctuary Union (Passed by 100%)
• Resolution to Eliminate Quantitative Ranking of Faculty (Passed by 59%)
• Resolution to Fight Management Bloat (Passed by 95%)
• Resolution to Stop CSU Partnership with Israeli Universities (Passed by 83%)
• Resolution to Join AFT Lawsuit for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (Passed by 89%)
• Resolution to Fund the CSUs By Defunding CA Prisons (Passed by 99%)

For more election results, see below.

Committee Chairs: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

CDBS – Lisa Kawamura, San Luis Obispo
Representation – Molly Talcott, Los Angeles
PA Leg Chair – Melina Abdullah, Los Angeles
M&O – Tammy Lau, Fresno
Librarians – Katherine (Kitty) Luce, Maritime Academy

Council for Presidents Representives: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

LaTanya Skiffer, Dominguez Hills
Dave Colnic, Stanislaus
Aparna Sinha, Maritime Academy
Brad Erickson, San Francisco

Council of Lecturer Representives: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Melanie Kachadoorian, Fresno
Tad Walters, San Luis Obispo
Savanna Scheurmann, San Diego
Kevin Pina, East Bay

Council for Racial and Social Justice Representatives: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Dorothy Chen-Maynard, San Bernardino
Mark Allan Davis, San Francisco
Adisa Alkebulan, San Diego
Monique Turner, Dominguez Hills

Immediate Past President: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Charles Toombs, San Diego

Audit Committee Member: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2028

Jeff Newcomb, East Bay

AAUP Representative South: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Brian Dolber, San Marcos

Contract Development/Bargaining Strategy Committee:

Council for Presidents Representatives: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Andrew Jones, Fresno
Renee Penalver, Monterey Bay
Tiffany Jones, San Bernardino
Nathan Heggins Bryant, Chico

Council of Lecturer Representatives: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Chelsi Dimm, Pomona
Antonio Gallo, Northridge
Danielle Duckett, Sacramento
Barbara Olave, Stanislaus

Council for Racial & Social Justice Representatives: Term June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2027

Del Williams, Northridge
Dahna Stowe, Bakersfield
Aja LaDuke, Sonoma
Dale Allender, Sacramento