Page Content

Vice President of Student Learning: Background

Dr. Dennis B. Gervin
Photo of Dr. Dennis B. Gervin
Education:

Ph.D. in Biological Science, University of California, Santa Barbara
Emphasis: Molecular and Cellular Biology

MA in Biological Science, University of California, Santa Barbara
Emphasis: Molecular and Cellular Biology

BA in Microbiology, University of California, Santa Barbara
Emphasis: Genetic Engineering

American River College, Sacramento, California


Personal Mission and Philosophy of Leadership

Instructional and Administrative Background:
My first full teaching assignment was Introduction to Modern Genetics at U.C. Santa Barbara. That experience confirmed what I had suspected for some time - that I truly love to teach. I soon found myself at Modesto Junior College (CA), teaching Microbiology, Biology and Laboratory Techniques. That was a wonderful experience, soon after earning tenure, I found myself being pulled more and more towards Community College Leadership. As a faculty member, I knew I was at my best when there was someone there to help my colleagues and I to keep the morale up, cut through red-tape, tap into funding sources and encourage new and exciting programs.

Somehow, what I had initially intended to be only a brief flurry into administration, turned into what has now become a life-long passion. I found it very exciting to see that I had the ability to influence many more students as an administrator, than I likely ever could as an instructor. I saw that I could indirectly reach students through facilitating the talents of other faculty and staff at the college. I see my role as a Community College leader as being an advocate and catalyst for the learning experiences of our students.

In Chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process. I hope my efforts serve to increase and modify the 'reactions of learning' at Columbia College, and that I can continue to influence how our students learn for many years to come - I also hope that (like a catalyst) I am not consumed in the process.

At Modesto Junior College I earned tenure as a Biology/Microbiology Professor; served as Dean for Science, Math and Engineering; Interim Dean of Library, Learning Resources and Technology; and as Dean of Instructional Services. I proudly served for 10 years at Modesto Junior College.

I came to Columbia College in December of 2004 to fill the newly created position of Vice President of Student Learning. I was drawn to this specific administrative position because of its blended roles in both Instruction and Student Services. It embodies what I believe to be at the core of successful learning experiences for all students; a balanced, dynamic partnership between instructional and student services.

As Vice President for Student Learning at Columbia College, I feel I am in precisely the right place to continue serving students, faculty, staff and our community. It is a privilege to work at Columbia College, and I look forward to the coming year, as I know it will inevitably by another fun-filled adventure as I grow both personally and professionally at Columbia College.

Statewide Connections:
I feel it is important for me to stay closely connected with regional and Statewide issues; Columbia College has a rural location, and is somewhat (physically) isolated from other Colleges in our region. I believe it is my obligation to ensure that the areas under my responsibility do not become isolated from current issues, support mechanisms or resources that are available to the rest of the State. I regret that maintaining some of these connections sometimes takes me away from the College, but I believe the benefits to the college and district outweigh my occasional absences. I am currently involved/participating with the organizations listed below.

My doctoral dissertation, Integrin Vitronectin Receptors in the Developing Avian Retina, was focused on identifying extra-cellular receptors that might help retinal neurons migrate and extend axons to their targets in the brain during development. I was able to clone an avian vitronectin receptor, and then characterized its genetic expression during the development of the avian retina.

Research Background:
This work was done as part of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California at Santa Barbara, in the laboratory of Dr. Dennis Clegg. http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/mcdb/faculty/clegg/index.html and http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/mcdb/labs/clegg/


Resume: This is a more detailed summary of my background and professional experience


Publications:
Morse, D. and Gervin (2010) Beyond the Classroom: Fostering Civic Engagement in our Students. Senate Rostrum: Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, September 2010.

Gervin, D.B., Cann, G.M., and Clegg, D.O. (1996) Temporal and Spatial Regulation of Integrin Vitronectin Receptor mRNAs in the Embryonic Chick Retina. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 37. 1084-1096.

Gervin, D.B. (1995) Integrin Vitronectin Receptors in the Developing Avian Retina. Doctoral Dissertation. University of California at Santa Barbara

Cann, G.M., Bradshaw, A.D., Gervin, D.B., Hunter, A.W., and Clegg, D.O. (1996) Widespread Expression of b1 integrins in the developing chick retina; Evidence for a Role in Migration of Retinal Ganglion Cells Developmental Biology 180. 82-96

Bradshaw, A.D., McNagny, K.M., Gervin, D.B., Cann, G.M. and Clegg, D.O. (1995) Integrin a2b1 mediates interactions between developing embryonic retinal cells and collagen. Development 121. 3593-3602

Clegg, D.O., Mullick, L.H., Wingerd, K., Lin, H., Atienza, J., Bradshaw, A.D., Gervin, D.B., and Cann, G.M. (2000) Adhesive events in retinal development and function: The role of integrin receptors in Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation: Vertebrate Eye Development, E. Fini, ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 3:141-156

Mamounas, M., Gervin, D.B., and Englesberg, E. (1989) The Insulin Receptor as a Transmitter of a Mitogenic Signal in Chinese Hamster Ovary CHO-K1 Cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 86(23), 9294-9298

Abstracts:
Gervin, D.B., Cann, G.M., and Clegg, D.O. (1994) In situ Localization of Transcripts for Integrins Beta-1, Beta-3, and Beta-5 in the Developing Chick Retina. American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, #2092

Gervin, D.B., Cann, G.M., Bradshaw, A.D., Cadwell, R.C., Cummings, C.J., Hunter, A.W., LaBel, R.M., Choi, E.S.-H., and Clegg, D.O. (1992) Regulation of Integrin alpha and beta mRNAs in developing chick retina. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA #5573

Clegg, D.O., Cann, G.M., Gervin, D.B., Bradshaw, A.D., Tribble, B. and Hunter, A. (1994) Integrin Receptor Expression and Function in the Developing Retina. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL, #1191