Highlighting the amazing Administration, Faculty, Classified Professionals, and Students that make up our pirate family.
This month's highlights include:
Lisa Putnam, Dean, Library, Languages, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences Division (Administrator), Jimmy Walker, Athletic Director (Faculty), Jordana Ybarra-Telias, Program Coordinator, Veterans Resource Center (Classified), Roman Becher (Student)
Name: Lisa Putnam
Primary role at the college: Dean, Library, Languages, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences Division
Years of Service at Ventura: 1 ½ years
Years of Service in VCCCD: 32 years
Alumna of Moorpark College and Cal Lutheran Univ
Children: Son, Joshua (26) daughter, Marissa (24), and son-in-law Wes (28)
Married 27 years; husband Joe (now retired, but worked in the Conejo Valley Unified School District)
Hobbies: Finding ways to get crafty. I love to get together with groups of friends on a regular basis (well, I used to anyway) to create scrapbooks or design cards. It’s more about the socializing than anything else. I’m also looking forward to learning how to quilt once I finish my education.
Favorite food: Hands-down TACOS
Favorite movie: My go-to movies are romantic comedies, but lately I have been exploring different series on Netflix and Hulu. We just finished watching Designated Survivor, and I am finally starting Downton Abbey. I very much enjoyed The Marvelous Mrs. Mazel.
Favorite song: Not sure how to pick a favorite. I enjoy all kinds of genres, but lately I have been listening to Lenny Kravitz. But don’t be surprised to hear me listening to some good ole’ 80s hair bands (Van Halen, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi).
Something fun, interesting, or unique: Although I have spent the last 3 years with my nose in the books (I’m back in school), I really do enjoy traveling. I enjoy the historical significance of different places we visit. When my daughter lived in London for a year (on an internship), we spent a few weeks with her as our tour guide. She took us to see all kinds of places, but my favorite places were the cathedrals – and to be quite honest, I really enjoyed exploring the memorials found on the cathedral floors down in the crypts. My next trip, whenever that might be, will hopefully be to New Orleans or Nashville (or both), hoping to enjoy the music and the food!
Name: James Walker, everyone calls me Jimmy
Primary role at the college: Athletic Director
Years of Service: 6
Family: Wife-Karly (VC alum 2002) and daughters Kaley (4) and Jacey (2)
Hobbies: BBQing, going to Boston Red Sox games, hanging with family
Favorite Food: Tri-tip
Favorite Movie: Avengers-Endgame
Favorite Song: What She Wants Tonight, by Luke Bryan
Something fun, interesting, and/or unique about you: I've been in attendance at Fenway Park (2013) and Dodger Stadium (2018) to watch the Boston Red Sox clinch World Series titles.
Name: Jordana Ybarra-Telias
Primary role at the college: Veterans Resource Center Program Coordinator
Years of Service: January 2, 2021 will be my two-year anniversary
Family: I am a proud VC alum. My wife and I live about 3 blocks from VC and I drive a red Vespa to work. Susan and I have been together for 21 years, legally married since 2018. In 2017 we lost our only child Baylee who was a 20 year old VC student when she passed. We miss her every day and know that she is making people smile wherever she is.
Hobbies: I love being outdoors, gardening, dancing, yoga, hiking, bird watching, eating good food and drinking good wine
Favorite Food: I like everything, especially Mexican cuisine foods and anything that begin with a “B” butter, bread, beer, burgers, burritos, brie, bubbly, etc.
Favorite Movie: Biggest Little Farm
Favorite Song: Right now, I have Giant by Calvin Harris and Aja by Steely Dan on repeat. I enjoy house music and classic jazz.
Something fun, interesting, and/or unique about you: I see things for what they can be and that translates into my love for collecting and repurpose vintage furniture and yard art. We like to use repurpose items to create miniature “scenes” in our garden. We are currently creating several scenes in our back yard including “old west”, Asian Pacific Rim, Europe, Hawaii and Mexico; paying homage to all places we enjoy decorated by things we have collected, adopted or picked up from a “curb alert” LOL.
Name: Roman Becher
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Years at Ventura College: 2nd year
Family Life: Five sisters, two brothers. All are older and have moved out except for my little sister. I have an awesome family and we all get along well.
Hobbies: Building, flying, breaking, and repairing remote control drones, helicopters, cars, and tanks.
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Movie: Baby Driver
Favorite Song: Left Hand Free by alt-J
Something fun, interesting, and/or unique about you: I’m a member of Ventura College’s Swim and Dive team. Through being on the dive team I learned how to backflip on land. I have really been enjoying myself at here VC because I’ve learned a lot and come a long way mentally, socially, and physically.
