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Volume 65, Issue 2
The voice of De Anza since 1967
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
lavozdeanza.com
Trustees approve AI degree
PHOTO BY TOMMY NGO
Interim President David Wain Coon responds to questions about his time at De Anza College and his vision for the college in his office on May 12.
College gets new president
Trustees appoint former College of Marin president David Wain Coon By Gordon Yang LA VOZ STAFF
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees appointed David Wain Coon as interim De Anza College president on April 17, following President Omar Torres’ resignation earlier that week. Coon accepted the position and will began virtually on May 4 before working inperson on May 11, Chancel-
lor Lee Lambert emailed to college employees. Coon was San Jose City College’s interim president from October 2024 to June 2025. He was also president at Evergreen Valley College from 2005 to 2010, then at College of Marin until 2023. Chancellor Lee Lambert said Coon was selected over former West Los Angeles College President James Limbaugh, who retired in December 2025.
Lambert also said the selection process “reflected strong support from the hiring committee” and prior experience, in both the Bay Area and in basic aid districts. “He’s familiar with the Bay Area,” Lambert said. “When you add all that up, it’s not a surprise (that the committee chose him).” Coon will also co-chair the district-wide Somos Uno Task Force on Resource Allocation with Foothill College
President Kristina Whalen, which focuses on adapting to the district’s local property tax-based funding. Torres resigned 465 days into his term, making him the shortest-term president in De Anza history: • Robert DeHart: 1967-92 • Martha Kanter: 1993-03 • Brian Murphy: 2004-18 • Lloyd Holmes: 2020-24
See "President" on page 3
PHOTO BY GORDON YANG
The Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees approved AI degree and certificates for the 2026 - 2027 during its meeting on April 6 at Foothill College.
Six pathways created to prep students for job market By Gordon Yang LA VOZ STAFF
The Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees approved six new artificial intelligence certificates and associate degree April 6 that will take effect in the 2026-27 academic year. New offerings include: • AI in Business Certificate of Completion requires 84-96 hours • Applied Artificial Intelligence certificate or degree ◦ Certificate of Completion requires 222 hours ◦ Certificate of Achievement requires 20-23 units ◦ Certificate of Achievement, Advanced requires
40.5-44 units ◦ Associate in Science requires 40.5-44 units • Applying AI at Work: Build Solutions with a Human Touch Certificate of Completion requires 96 hours Ram Subramaniam, De Anza College Vice President of Instruction and former administrator in charge, said the AI certificates cater to students who return from their careers. “We are still finding industry and institutional resources to ensure our programs fully meet state academic requirements,” Subramaniam said about finalizing the AI curriculums. Board Vice President Laura Casas said she “applauds” the college for its new AI courses but that the curriculum comes at “a scary time.” “My own son was laid off due to AI, so we need to give our students all the tools
See "AI" on page 4
New housing replaces office complex Fruen said. “These (new
units) are all coming City approves planned homes minutes housing in beneath that. … At one and (million), there's very from campus; Panera, Voyager displaced alittlequarter in the city that you can
By Gabe Manglona LA VOZ STAFF
PHOTO BY GABE MANGLONA
Patrons dine outside Voyager Craft Coffee on Stevens Creek Boulevard on May 4.
OPEN AI WORKSHOP NEWS — 5
The Cupertino City Council passed a proposal to replace the Stevens Creek Office Center, including Voyager Craft Coffee and Panera Bread, with 122 for-sale housing units at its April 7 meeting at the Cupertino Community Hall. “Cupertino is a worldclass center of innovation and opportunity,” Housing Action
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Coalition Advocacy and Operations Association Witt Turner said. “But the chance to own a home here has become a real vanishing reality for families and workers …. This project is a necessary and logical solution.” Harvest Properties proposed the plan to the Cupertino Planning Commission on March 24, calling for a “Use Permit, Tentative Map, Architectural and Site Approval and
Q&A: NEW PRESIDENT FEATURES — 9
Tree Removal Permit,” according to meeting documents. These permits were approved at the April 7 meeting. The development would bring 66 small-lot single family homes and 56 townhomes, including 24 affordable units, to the 6.9-acre site. As of now, the project has no set timeline. “The median price right now of a single-family home built in the 1960s is $3 million,” Councilmember J.R.
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find.” Director of Harvest Properties Kevin Choy said the project became feasible after Apple, which owned 65% of the plot, vacated the office buildings. Choy also said the project addresses a regional housing supply imbalance. “For-sale homes have been severely underproduced in this
See "Housing" on page 4
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