Solano Community College (SCC) faculty and staff were present at the American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention April 18th – 21st in San Antonio, TX. Professor Jim DeKloe and Dr. Ed Re received recognition for the Award of Excellence for Faculty Innovation. They were the only California recipients of an award at this national meeting.

Professors DeKloe and Dr. Re have been instrumental in the success and growth of the Solano Community College’s biotechnology program. Together, they have pioneered industrial biotechnology instruction, which emphasizes the manufacturing segment of the biotech industry. The program they developed has served as a model for other community colleges throughout the country and is helping to fill the industry need for trained biotech technicians. They are currently using a National Science Foundation grant to develop curriculum to deploy single-use bio-reactors. This equipment grows genetically engineered organisms in a sterile environment which allows them to produce pharmaceutically active proteins. Together, DeKloe and Re have set a new standard for faculty innovation. “This is a great honor that we are excited to accept on behalf of our College, our colleagues, our President, our Board of Trustees, and our community,” said DeKloe

For more information on the biotechnology program, contact Jim DeKloe at (707) 477-8354 or jdekloe@solano.edu