Hazel Dai's academic journey began in a rather traditional way: She enrolled at the University of California, Irvine, and earned a degree in Economics. She quickly realized, however, that an Economics degree alone did not provide her with the tangible skills needed to excel in a competitive job market.
After being named the 1st Place Community College at the NOF Online National Championships, and 1st Place in limited entry at the CCCFA State Championship Tournament, IVC Speech tested their skills at the Phi Rho Pi National Championships in Norfolk, Virginia from April 5–13. Phi Rho Pi is the national forensics association for community colleges and has the honor of being one of the oldest forensics organizations in the United States. The championship tournament hosted 52 community colleges from across the country and over 600 participants.
It was truly a historic morning at Irvine Valley College last week as we broke ground on the Student Services Center and Student Union buildings—two ambitious and transformative projects that will reshape our campus for generations to come. The gold shovels used to formalize the groundbreaking ceremony carried special significance by providing a visual representation of the bold step we are taking into our future, as we celebrate 40 years since IVC became an accredited institution.
Irvine Valley College (IVC) officially broke ground on the most ambitious construction projects in its 40-year history: a new Student Services Center and Student Union. IVC and the South Orange County Community College District welcomed the college and the community to mark the occasion, with officials symbolically turning soil with gold shovels—a nod to the college’s four decades of service and its bold leap into the future.
Summer Serpas
Professor of English
Coordinator of The Hub: Center for Professional Learning
Professor Summer Serpas is the embodiment of the Caring Campus philosophy—leading with empathy, purpose, and a relentless focus on student success. Through her innovative and equity-driven initiatives, she has redefined what it means to create a truly student-centered learning environment.
Brooke Bui
Dean of Liberal Arts
IVC is proud to celebrate Dr. Brooke Bui, Dean of Liberal Arts, who has been named Irvine Valley College’s (IVC) 2025 Manager of the Year—an honor that recognizes her exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to equity, and profound impact on the IVC community.
Larisa Korepanova
Program Specialist
School of Languages and Learning Resources
“It’s to everyone’s benefit to learn about real estate,” says Rick Boone, a professor and chair of the Real Estate program at Irvine Valley College (IVC). “Regardless if we are renters or homeowners, we all have to live somewhere – so it’s essential to learn about the legalities and nuances of the real estate industry.”
Full-Time Teacher of the Year:
Thomas Cullen
Instructor, Chemistry
School of Physical Sciences and Technologies
Irvine Valley College proudly honors Professor Thomas Cullen as the 2025 Outstanding Full-Time Teacher of the Year for his dynamic contributions to teaching, student engagement, and science education both on campus and in the community.
April is California Community Colleges Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Awareness month. At Irvine Valley College, we take the time to celebrate the breadth of people that make up our IVC campus community. It is an opportunity to learn from experiences different than our own, connect in community with one another, and reflect on how we can continue to grow and evolve to better support each other.