Board of Trustees

The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees that oversee the activities of the district's two public community colleges, Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College, and represent the residents of Anaheim Hills, East Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Villa Park.

Members of the RSCCD Board of Trustees can be reached by calling (714) 480-7450 or sending an email. Letters can also be sent to: Rancho Santiago Community College District, 2323 N. Broadway, 4th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92706.

 

Tina Arias Miller, Ed.D., Member

Elected as Trustee for Area 7 in November 2020, Dr. Tina Arias Miller is a college administrator who has worked in both private and public institutions for 20 years. She served as a director of career services and as president, for seven years, of Westwood College. After taking a one-year hiatus from full-time employment to complete her dissertation, she was hired part-time as a Student Life coordinator at Santa Ana College supporting the Associated Student Government in 2017. The following year, she was hired as a Special Project Director with North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) where she is currently employed. Her role supported NOCCCD’s efforts in launching the California College Promise (AB 19) and worked collaboratively with local K-12 schools, community businesses, and non-profit organizations to help implement the Anaheim Educational Pledge and North Orange Promise college grant programs. 

Dr. Arias Miller earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California Polytechnic University of California, Pomona. Her published dissertation “Exploring the Non-Traditional Student Experience at Community Colleges: A Case Study” is a cumulation of student feedback via focus groups to provide insight on the challenges and priorities of working adult learners.

She is an active member of the Community College League of California, the California Community College Association of Occupational Education, and the California Coalition of Early and Middle Colleges. She also holds a certification in grant writing from San Diego State University. Additionally, she served as a volunteer ambassador for the Orange Chamber of Commerce and as secretary for the non-profit organization Orange County Latino Peace Officers Association.

Dr. Arias Miller has resided in the city of Orange for the past 20 years with her four children, one who is an honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps. veteran. All her children graduated from Orange Unified School District and are currently attending local colleges.

Trustee Arias Miller can be reached by email.

 

David Crockett, Member

David Crockett was elected to the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Board of Trustees in November 2020. He has extensive experience in managing relationships within the healthcare sphere, serving as an intermediary between healthcare providers, regulatory agencies and insurance companies. Crockett serves Area 5, representing the communities of Garden Grove and Santa Ana, California.

Residing in the city of Santa Ana, he attended Southern West Virginia Community College and earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from West Virginia University. He is a healthcare professional and has managed various programs that range from provider relations, training and development, staff management, and more. He currently works as a Network Performance Advisor for WellCare where he conducts bi-monthly meetings for the Independent Physicians Association and Joint Operating Meetings for the Management Services Operation.Crockett is a staunch advocate for community colleges. He believes they play a critical role in addressing issues with inequality and injustice, strengthening ties with local businesses to partner on vocational training programs and internships, and providing affordable and high-quality education.

His wealth of knowledge and experience in these areas bring a unique perspective to the RSCCD Board of Trustees and is a valuable asset for the two colleges he represents. Crockett’s goal is to provide excellent communication and services to the students at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College.

President Crockett can be reached by email.

 

John R. Hanna, Member

John R. Hanna is an attorney and serves as Government Affairs Director/Special Counsel, for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters as of March 2014. Previously, he served as General Counsel for the California Department of Business Oversight and General Counsel to the California Department of Corporations.  He was appointed to the Board in January 1998 and has served as an elected member representing Trustee Area 2 for the past 22 years.  He currently serves as chairperson of the Board Bond, Board Facilities, and Board Legislative Committees.

Hanna, a resident of Orange, received a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles.

He is active in civic and community affairs. Hanna is currently a member of the Community College League of California Advisory Committee on Legislation. He previously served on the Metropolitan Water District's Blue Ribbon Committee to help the region meet its long-term water needs. In the past, he has served on the Planning Commission and Personnel Board for the City of Santa Ana, the Board of Directors of the Orange County Transportation Service Agency, the St. Joseph Ballet Company and the Community Foundation of Orange. .

He and his wife, Cynthia, and their children Caitlin, Caroline, Jocko, Janelle, John Patrick, Kelly and Kiera are members of Holy Family Cathedral Parish in Orange.

Trustee Hanna can be reached by email.

 

Zeke Hernandez, Member

Zeke Hernandez was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2016 representing Trustee Area 1 and served as clerk in 2019. He currently serves as a member of the Board Fiscal/Audit and Board Policy Committees, and representative to the Orange County School Boards Association.

Hernandez received his paralegal certificate from the Orange County Paralegal Institute. After attending Santa Ana College, he decided to dedicate his life to public, civic, and educational volunteer causes.

He participates in Santa Ana College's Santa Ana Partnership Committee and volunteers as Board President to the Achievement Institute for Scientific Studies (AISS) which prepares young high school students for their college studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers.

His professional work experience includes SARB student attendance coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education, Vice President of Responsive Educational Projects, paralegal with the Orange County law firm of attorneys Wally Davis and Rudy Montejano, Special Projects Manager for former California State Assemblyman Jose Solorio, and Interim Executive Director for SER – Jobs for Progress of Orange County.

He has served on the RSCCD Measure Q Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee as vice chair, President's Advisory Committee at California State University Fullerton, Chancellor's Advisory Committee for North Orange County Community College District, and President's Advisory Committees at Fullerton College and Cypress College.

Hernandez is committed to supporting educational construction projects. He assisted in two campaigns for successful voter-approved RSCCD construction bond measures (E and Q), two construction bond proposals for Santa Ana Unified School District, and construction bond measures for Anaheim Union High School District and Anaheim City Elementary School District.

His civic volunteer service includes serving on the Human Relations Commission (chair twice), Transportation Committee, Housing Advisory Committee, Police Chief's Community Advisory Committee for the City of Santa Ana, Orange County District Attorney's Community Advisory Commission, Orange County DREAM Team as a community advisor, Orange County NAACP as a member, and Santa Ana League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council #147 as president.

Today, Hernandez serves as the vice chair of the Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation - responsible for working with the City of Irvine with the goal of dedicating 125 acres at the Great Park, on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station for a California State Veterans Cemetery. Assemblyman Tom Daly recognized Hernandez as the 2019 Veteran of the Year for the 69th District which includes the communities of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Orange. He is a co-founding member of the American Legion Irvine Post #848.

Hernandez has one adult son, Richard D. Hernandez, married to Denise; with six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Trustee Hernandez can be reached by email.

 

Daisy Tong, Member

Daisy Tong serves as the Trustee for Area 4 and made history as the first Vietnamese American to serve on the Rancho Santiago Community College Board of Trustees in 2022 and representing the community of Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Growing up in District 4 as a 1.5-generation immigrant, Daisy understands her constituents' unique daily challenges. This insight enables her to advocate for them effectively as a Trustee on the Board.

Born in the Mekong Delta town of Sa Đéc in South Vietnam, both of her parents were members of the South Vietnamese Armed Forces and served time in prison camps after the Fall of Saigon. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1993 at the age of ten with her family as a political refugee.

From a young age, her parents instilled the importance of helping others and community involvement. Tong was taught that a thriving community is essential for individual success. With this mindset, she began her community service journey as a volunteer translator between parents and teachers. She participated in summer reading programs at the local library, contributed to the Christmas Toys for Tots program, and played a pivotal role in bridging the mainstream and the Asian communities. Tong was instrumental in establishing the annual Tet Parade in Westminster, contributing to a weekly Vietnamese newspaper, and hosting Vietnamese-language television and radio programs to discuss news and current events.

 For the past two decades, she has dedicated her career to consultancy, specializing in communication and bridging the gap between the Asian and mainstream communities. Her clients range from government agencies and businesses to numerous local elected leaders. Tong made a bold career transition in response to life-changing events, including the challenges brought about by COVID-19. Despite her limited prior experience, she ventured into the world of real estate with success.

 

Phillip E. Yarbrough, Member

Phillip Yarbrough was elected to the Board in 1996 and is in his sixth term as an elected member representing Trustee Area 6 (formerly District 3).  He currently serves as chairperson of the Board Fiscal/Audit Committee, and member of the Board Bond, Board Communications and Board Safety & Security Committees.  He also represents the California Community Colleges by serving as a board member on the County of Orange Redevelopment Oversight Agency, and a member of the Association of Community College Trustees Public Policy & Advocacy Committee.  In addition, Mr. Yarbrough is a contributing writer for the Orange County Register where he writes on family, social and policy issues.

Prior to becoming a trustee, Yarbrough taught economics courses in the evenings at both of the district’s colleges, Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. He is currently the owner of Nations Financial Mortgage Corporation, and Pacific Estates & Investments, real estate investment and management companies. 

Dedicated to improving the quality of life in Orange County, Yarbrough previously served as an executive board member with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and served on the board of the Orange County Chapter of the American Lung Association.  He also served as Orange County coordinator for The Concord Coalition, a non-profit federal deficit reduction organization dedicated to eliminating federal deficit spending and balancing the federal budget.  In addition, he served as a member of the Republican Party Central Committee and as a board member on the City of Orange Redevelopment Oversight Agency. Yarbrough is a former lay minister at St. James Church in Newport Beach, where he ministered to the elderly and the homeless. 

Born in Anaheim and raised in Orange County, Yarbrough is the third generation of his family to live in Orange County.  He and his wife Susan have two sons, Elliot and Grant.

Trustee Yarbrough can be reached by email.

 

Cecilia Iglesias, Member

Biography coming soon!