From the President
Thanks To Our Dining Services Staff and Food Services Update
June 10, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
We will be transitioning our food services later this month to address the sustainability of operations for our campus as we look to the future. As our colleagues in Dining Services prepare either to retire or transition to other college or district positions on July 1, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their dedicated service to our students. Whether this was through developing menus, prepping food, cooking, catering, dishwashing, stocking supplies, training student workers, managing operations, delivering administrative support, or other tasks, they have provided sustenance and a standard of consistent excellence in service, the most essential of caring roles for our students and for all of us as employees.
I know that many of you have come to know these colleagues over the years, and several have been at De Anza for decades. I want to name and honor the seven members of Dining Services here, in alphabetical order:
- Clifford Lai
- Crystal Phan
- Ivan Roderiques
- Kimseng Ly
- Maria Serrano
- Patrick Gannon
- Trang My Tran
I encourage you to consider please attending the celebration for Dining Services staff that director Patrick Gannon is hosting next Wednesday, June 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Conference Rooms A&B. Beginning at noon, there will be a short program featuring a video honoring Dining Services staff as well as brief remarks. If you cannot attend, I hope you will find time to stop by Dining Services and personally thank those who have worked there.
Pacific Dining, which serves our sister college well, will begin providing food services to the De Anza College community beginning July 1. To ensure a seamless transition, they will begin overlapping operations with our Dining Services staff this month, learning from our colleagues about campus needs and operations. Pacific Dining brings with them extensive experience serving colleges, and a strong track record of providing diverse, fresh and affordable options for students and employees.
I hope to see you next Wednesday in appreciation of our Dining Services colleagues. Thank you for your continued support during this transition.
Warmly,
Omar
Omar Torres, Ed.D.
President, De Anza College