Barua, who chairs the Golden West College English department and is president of the college’s Academic Senate, was selected for his significant contributions and dedication to the promotion of student, faculty and staff diversity statewide. Barua has served as co-chair of the State Chancellor’s Task Force on Equity and Diversity, and co-coordinated the college’s first Puente Project, which provides educational opportunities to underrepresented college students seeking a degree.

         The John W. Rice Award honors an outstanding community college faculty member that demonstrates ongoing and significant contributions toward the advancement of faculty and staff diversity and student equality. The award is named for the late John W. Rice, former Board of Governors member and advocate for equity and equality in the California Community Colleges.

          Barua said he is honored to receive the award and gratified that his efforts to promote the ethic of diversity among community colleges and the greater society are valued. Those efforts, he said, must continue.

         “The task that lies ahead of us in promoting true equity and diversity is immense,” stated Barua. “The lack of cultural diversity and multicultural understanding in our society is toxic. Community college leaders need great qualities including imagination, infinite patience, inexhaustible energy and a lifelong commitment to follow the dream of true diversity and equity.”

          Humbled by the recognition, Barua hopes that the award signifies hope for the future rather than acknowledges accomplishments of the past and the mission to understand diversity will continue.
Golden West College President Ken Yglesias said the college community is proud to see Barua honored.

          “There is no one better suited or qualified to receive this award,” President Yglesias said. “Dr. Barua has distinguished himself as a tireless proponent of diversity and equity in educational, governance and policy matters. We are honored and proud to work with him.”
Coast Community College District Board of Trustees President Dr. Paul Berger said the District is fortunate to have Barua as a member of the faculty leadership.

          “The Board congratulates Dr. Barua on this well-deserved award,” Berger said. “For many years he has worked at the campus, district and state level to establish a commitment to fairness, justice, equity and diversity for community college students and faculty. This is especially important as we prepare our students for success in California, the most diverse state in the country.”

          “This award is especially important to a District that is the size and composition of ours,” said Coast District Chancellor Bill Vega. “Everything about the Coast Community College District is diverse – from our colleges to our students and faculty. Dr. Barua has, for many years, inspired us to understand and celebrate these differences.”
Barua received the award from Clara Rice, the widow of John W. Rice, at the May 5 meeting of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors in Sacramento.

          The Coast Community College District is the seventh largest community college district in the nation in credit enrollment, serving 55,000 students each semester.  The district is comprised of Coastline Community College headquartered in Fountain Valley, Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, and KOCE-TV, the district’s public broadcasting station.

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