The Citrus College TeCS office has officially welcomed a new chief information services officer. He wants to bring students the tech they need to succeed, and he’s got the experience to do it. Eric Calderon officially took over as chief information services officer Nov. 3, two days after former head of TeCS services Robert Hughes retired.
Over 17 years, Calderon has worked in technology and education, working for five K-12 school districts as a technology specialist and chief technology officer.
Calderon said he remembers his time working in the K-12 environment as a fulfilling experience.
“There has been a lot of joy being in that space, seeing students go from kindergarten all the way to graduation,” he said.
Calderon said he decided it was time for him to move to higher education to further help students reach their life goals.
“I really enjoyed the vibe of higher education, just being with folks who are in a place in life where they are trying to figure out where they wanna be, where they wanna grow,” he said.
Calderon said he chose to come to Citrus because he thought Citrus would be a good place to help students gain opportunity through technology.
The question he asks himself in this challenge is “How can technology provide that equity, that access and opportunity? … That’s the pieces that excite me,” Calderon said.
Calderon said his goal at Citrus is to see the academic outcomes students are working towards and help them be achieved. For him, Citrus is a fitting campus because he sees community colleges like Citrus as places that promote social equity.
“It’s the idea of how can technology be that equalizer for the students that go there,” he said. “ … I think being at the community college level on site really will allow me to see those outcomes,” he said.
In addition to choosing Citrus to help students, Calderon has roots in the community. Calderon said he grew up in the area and graduated from Glendora High School. Calderon even took some classes at Citrus.
Calderon said that what motivates him help students with technology and come back to Citrus is “to be able to see students in that space (higher education) go and do what their heart, their passion is and just being part of that, technology is a tool that allows folks to really succeed I believe.”
After two weeks as the new head of TeCS, Calderon had nothing but good things to say about working on campus.
“I love the energy that the campus brings. I love the energy that students are on campus, that they’re eager to go to class, that learning’s happening. The vibe from the professors, faculty, administration has been amazing,” he said.
Calderon has also enjoyed seeing all the changes the campus has been through since he was a student at Citrus.
Technology Operations and Support Services Supervisor Tom Cheng, who has been working with Calderon as he settles into his new position, said although it’s early to say, so far Calderon has “been a great boss, very personable, very easygoing. … He’s got his priorities and we’re looking forward to his leadership and moving forward.”
