CITY OF FRESNO
_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________ JERRY DYER, Honorable Mayor NELSON ESPARZA, Council President
_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________ TYLER MAXWELL, Council Vice President ESMERALDA SORIA, Councilmember, District 1
_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________ MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember, District 2 MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember, District 3
_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________ LUIS CHAVEZ, Councilmember, District 5 GARRY BREDEFELD, Councilmember, District 6
Office of Mayor Jerry Dyer & The Fresno City Council
WHEREAS, Dr. Lori Bennett was born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho and currently lives in Fresno, California. She attended Highland High School in Bakersfield California. Her educational background includes a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from California State University, Northridge; a Master’s Degree in Business, with an emphasis in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Southern California; and WHEREAS, Dr. Bennett has served in higher education for almost 30 years. As a faculty member and administrator, including 6 years as President of Clovis Community College. Before moving into the field of education, Dr. Bennett had a successful career in business, including marketing management at a fortune 500 company and managing her own small business; and
WHEREAS, As the President of Clovis Community College, Dr. Bennett has a long list of accomplishments.
Clovis has been one of the fastest growing colleges in the state. They have increased student retention and success rates and has been honored several times for high degree completion and transfer rates. The Campaign for College Opportunity formally recognized the college five years in a row for its work in increasing the number of students receiving Associate Degrees for Transfer, or ACTs, which guarantee transfer to a California State University. Under her leadership the college has many new programs including approximately 70 new degrees and certificates and has developed a competitive athletic program; and WHEREAS, Serving on a variety of state and local boards and committees, Dr. Bennett has invested her time in the following: Area 3 representative for the California Community College League, Vice President of CEOCCC Board, Chair of the Central Valley Community College CEO Caucus, Co-Chair of the CEO Strategic Leadership Program, Member of the Community Health System Finance and Planning Committee, Clovis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Member of the Executive Steering Committee for the Fresno K-16 Collaborative, and a member of the Fresno DRIVE initiative for Economic Development; and WHEREAS, Dr. Bennett is ready for a new chapter in her life. She will be retiring from the college and district she loves, effective January 4
th, 2023. In her retirement she plans to spend time with her family, travel and stay active in her community.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and the Fresno City Council, do hereby honor, recognize, and proclaim Thursday, December 1st, 2022, to be:
“Dr. Lori Bennett Day”
in the City of Fresno
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the Great Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 1
st
day of December of the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Two