Wednesday, April 22, 2026
It was a lively and informative afternoon as students and staff gathered in the Renegade
Event Center on the Panorama Campus yesterday for the second installment of Pizza
with the Presidents. Attendees were welcome to enjoy fresh pizza and encouraged to
ask the day’s panelists questions about education, campus plans, the future of BC,
and more.
The panel included Bakersfield College administrators, including President Dr. Stacey
Pfluger, Vice President of Student Services Cesar Jimenez, Associate Vice President
of Instruction Jessica Wojtysiak, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Sooyeon Kim,
Executive Director of Communication and Marketing LaNina Andrews, and Interim Director
of College Safety Jason Townsend. The event was MC’d by BCSGA President Khalfani Mackey.
Once everyone had a chance to grab some pizza, the discussion time began. It was a
great environment for students to have their questions answered and voices heard.
One student question was regarding the recent recognition of BC as a Black Serving
Institution (BSI). Dr. Cesar Jimenez replied, “Part of the BSI application was focused
on framework, and specifically, outcomes,” he said, “so we as administrators come
together and discuss how else can we better support and elevate black student success.”
Dr. Stacey Pfulger also commented, “I really don’t see the BSI designation as an end
point, but a beginning point,” she said, “and we are actively engaged in trying to
create a culture on campus where every student knows that they belong here.”
The panelists fielded several more questions about various topics like campus safety,
support for on-campus student clubs, fostering a supportive culture for students,
faculty support for students, new faculty, and many more.
There were more than 150 students and staff present for the afternoon discussion.
It was a fun time of communication, interaction, and connection – all while enjoy
some delicious food. The hope is to continue these events to help build a stronger
sense of community on the Bakersfield College campus. Thank you to everyone who participated
in the Pizza with the Presidents, and a special thank you to our panelists for their
time and information.
