FCC president honored as national achiever
Dr. Cynthia Azari, Fresno City College president, was honored in September by the Council for Opportunity in Education as a National TRIO Achiever.
TRIO is a set of federally funded educational outreach programs meant to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially low-income, first-generation students. Currently, the programs serve almost 850,000 students across America. Services include academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and additional educational supports. TRIO programs also provide training for administrators and staff.
The TRIO programs began with the Educational Opportunity Act of 1964, and the establishment of program called Upward Bound under President Lyndon Johnson. Upward Bound was followed by the Talent Search program in 1965, and Special Services for Disadvantaged Students (later called Student Support Services) in 1968. These three formed a “trio” of federally funded programs to encourage access to higher education for low-income students.
“…as a first-generation college student, I have been able to relate to students, and have fostered a student-centered environment.” – Dr. Cynthia Azari
That’s when Azari, one of seven children raised by a single mother, was able to utilize the TRIO programs. “Participating in Upward Bound gave me an opportunity to be on a college campus, and I learned not to be intimidated by the higher education environment,” she said.
Azari, who was named FCC president in 2008, credits the program with her professional career as well. “Upward Bound also taught me the 5-P’s: Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance,” she said. “This has been my mantra for many years. I used it in school when the lazy side of me said, ‘You can wing it,’ but the success-oriented side of me said, ‘Do your homework; read the textbook; write a meaningful paper.’ I was most successful when I was prepared. In my career, I have used the 5-P’s as well.”
For many years, Azari has worked in education, especially at the community college level. “Community colleges are often the college of choice for first-generation college students,” she said, “and, as a first-generation college student, I have been able to relate to students, and have fostered a student-centered environment.”
As a TRIO success story, Azari stands as an example of the continued value of such programs, especially in conjunction with community colleges. “I firmly believe in the mission of community colleges,” she said. “I know that, like TRIO programs, we have made a difference in the lives of millions of people, and we will continue to do so.”
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