Highlighting the amazing Administration, Faculty, Classified Professionals, and Students that make up our pirate family.
This month's highlights include: Lisa Smith (Bursar), Dan Clark (Faculty), Brenda Marin (Office Assistant), and Enrique Rodriguez (VC Student)
My name is Lisa Smith, and I am the Bursar for Ventura College. Most people wonder about that strange word used only in academic settings. The definition of Bursar is a person who manages the financial affairs of a college or university. The word comes from the Medieval Latin bursarius, “purse-bearer,” from bursa, or “purse.” I have enjoyed my position here at Ventura College for almost eight years and look forward to many more years of serving our students and staff.
I am married and have four children. My son worked in student services for a time and it was fun to carpool with him for a while. I love to read, cook and teach myself new skills like knitting, which I just began a year ago. I am also a proud alumni of Oxnard College.
One of the best parts of working at the Student Business Office at Ventura College has been the opportunity to hire and mentor the student workers in my office. It has been fun teaching them, as well as, learning new things from them. It is especially fulfilling to have them come back to seek employment, advice, or just to give me an update on their personal and academic achievements.
My name is Brenda Marin and I am the office assistant for the Library, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Modern Languages Division. I have been in my position for ten months.
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising and Management with an emphasis in Retail (AKA Fashion).
I am blessed to have my parents and two younger siblings.
When I am not working, I like to travel, take Zumba classes, and organize. My favorite food is Thai, my favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice (2005), and my favorite song is “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls.
I’m Dan Clark
BS Neuroscience (UCLA), PhD Biology (UCSD)
I’m in my 5th year at VC, and my 8th year teaching at community colleges in southern California.
My parents and one of my brothers live in San Diego, and my second brother lives in Gilroy, CA, where he heads an AP Computer Science program at Christopher High School.
I love sci-fi! My favorite sci-fi world is the Culture universe, which is spread across several novels and short stories. The Expanse and Rick and Morty are two of my fav sci-fi shows.
Keeping with the sci-fi theme, my favorite movie is Twelve Monkeys.
I have a pretty wide-ranging taste in music, but my favorite group is Justice, a French DJ duo.
As you can see from my pic, I love to travel, and have done so primarily by car. In 2016 I drove solo from SD to Alaska. 10,000 miles in three weeks, seeing a bunch of Canada, tons of wildlife, and reaching the northernmost point in on the Pan-American Highway, Prudhoe Bay.
My name is Enrique Rodriguez, and I am a student at Ventura College. I am in my third year, focusing on the Agriculture Business.
Some interesting facts about me are I am a first-generation college student, my family works in agriculture, and I used to raise livestock (swine). I have three siblings.
My favorite food is homemade tamales, my favorite movie is Aladdin, my favorite song is El Guero by Marca MP, and I enjoy working outdoors.