The following is a press release from Citrus College:
Dr. Patricia A. Rasmussen, vice president of the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, is being honored with a special presentation at this year’s Los Angeles County Fair.
A longtime resident of Glendora, Dr. Rasmussen will be recognized as a “Community Hero” during Glendora Day at the Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 20. She was selected for the honor because of her decades of service and many valuable contributions to the city.
In addition to serving as Glendora’s representative on the board of trustees, Dr. Rasmussen is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Glendora Kiwaniannes, chair of the Leadership Academy and a member of Equestrian Trails, Inc., Corral 35, a local riding organization. She was also a two-term member of the Glendora Unified School District Board of Education and served as a member of the Glendora Public Library Board.
“Congratulations to Dr. Rasmussen for her selection as one of Glendora’s Community Heroes. Celebrating our local communities, including their outstanding residents and civic, education and business partners, is a long-standing tradition of the LA County Fair,” said Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the Los Angeles County Fair Association. “It is an honor to spotlight those individuals who so selflessly give of their time and talent
Dr. Rasmussen’s Community Hero honor is the newest addition to a long list of awards and recognitions she has received for serving the community. This list includes being named the 59th State Assembly district “Woman of the Year,” receiving the Glendora Coordinating Council Humanitarian Award and being presented with the Kiwanian Distinguished Service Award. In 2013, she received the “Awards of Distinction: Life’s Work” honor at the YWCA’s “Women of Achievement in the Field of Education: Honoring Passion, Dedication and Achievement” ceremony
“Trustee Rasmussen has a long-standing commitment to giving back that is inspirational. It would be impossible to truly measure the effects of her contributions to the community of Glendora and beyond,” said Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, superintendent/president. “On behalf of the entire Citrus College community, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Trustee Rasmussen for being selected to receive this well-deserved honor
While Dr. Rasmussen’s list of service activities is impressive, she has also impacted her community through her extensive experience in education.
Prior to embarking on a career within the community college system, she spent time teaching English and journalism to Glendora students at both the high school and college levels. In 1983, she joined the Citrus College staff and subsequently held several administrative positions, including dean of planning and economic development; administrative dean of planning and institutional advancement; director of development/assistant to the president; and director of public affairs. In these roles, she was instrumental in raising funds that provided scholarships and opportunities for hundreds of students.
“The transformative role that a community college education can play in the life of a young adult is undeniable. Because of this, I consider it an extreme honor to serve as Glendora’s representative on the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees,” Trustee Rasmussen said. “Receiving a Community Hero award for giving back to a community that has given me so much is very humbling. I find it especially gratifying to be presented with this honor for doing work that is so important to me.”
