For years, the Best Choice for Students, Teachers, Workers, and the Community.

Re-elect Nicky for Peralta Colleges Board in 2024

20

years as a Trustee of the
Peralta Colleges

34

years as an instructor teaching political science to community college students

45+

years of community leadership and advocacy for equity and justice

Effective, Ethical Leadership

Serving students has been Nicky’s prime directive for three decades, both as a community college instructor and since 2004 as a trustee on the Peralta Community College Board. The depth and breadth of his experience (and his ability to work as comfortably with administrators and board colleagues as with students and staff) have earned him a well-deserved reputation as a senior statesman in the community college world. As a leader, Nicky’s decisions about community college governance are based on direct personal experience over many years with thousands of community college students and faculty both in and out of the classroom. Browse this website to see what he’s gotten done… And then sign up to help grow this work.

  • Successful recruitment and hiring of a world-class and innovative new Chancellor.

  • Supporting Students: Free Tuition, Universal Bus Passes, Food Pantries and Affordable Housing Initiatives.

  • 17% Cost of Living increases for Peralta workers over 2 years and expanded health care insurance.

  • Successful navigation of the Covid crisis that shuttered all four campuses.

  • Balanced Budgets, a healthy financial reserve and a new building for Berkeley City College (April 2024 groundbreaking!)

  • Elimination of excess administration, saving $500,000 for classrooms and student services.

  • Environmental Sustainability as a core aspect of our mission and operations.

  • Numerous civil rights initiatives to promote equity and inclusion.

Nicky (first row, far right) with Campus Camp Wellstone facilitators and organizers-in-training.

Nicky (first row, far right) with Campus Camp Wellstone facilitators and organizers-in-training.

 

“Nicky helped us find our voice, then amplified it farther than we could have imagined.”

— LEILA MCCABE, former student and living wage ACTIVIST

 
 

Mentoring the
Next Generation of Citizen Leaders

Nicky’s life-long calling as a educator and reformer fuels his passion for recruiting and training new generations of citizen-activists and community leaders.

  • 100,000+ new voter registrations facilitated through PCCD systems.

  • Peralta Board Policy changes to raise student voices.

  • Founded and led annual student empowerment trainings, locally and state-wide.

 
Nicky (2nd from left), with his wife Jude (left), celebrating their daughter Dana’s graduation from Berkeley City College, one of Peralta’s 4 colleges in the East Bay.

Nicky (2nd from left), with his wife Jude (left), celebrating their daughter Dana’s graduation from Berkeley City College, one of Peralta’s 4 colleges in the East Bay.

Saving a Seat for Every Stakeholder

In an era where transparency and civility are key to ensuring good governance, Nicky has promoted inclusion and collaboration in district decision-making.

  • Model Code for collaborative governance.

  • Upheld Board Policy and State law requiring democratic and inclusive decision-making for student-oriented budgeting.

  • Strong partnerships with workers and labor leaders.

  • Safe-guarded fair contracting & good wages through Project Labor Agreements while promoting small and local businesses.

  • Moved banking to local savings institutions to invest in our community.

Please learn more by browsing the “About,” “Testimonials” and “10+1 Reasons” links on this website.