VOTE FOREST
FOOTHILL–DE ANZA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES AREA 5
Dr. Forest Olaf Peterson
Beyond Your Trade Skill
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For Foothill-De Anza College District Board 2024
I am passionate about community college leadership in workforce STEM education. I received my Ph.D. in civil engineering at Stanford and lead a research lab exploring the intersection of AI-based technology and workforce education. I also have leadership roles in the Labor Council and within the California Democratic Party.
As president of the only labor council-affiliated Democratic Party coalition (svworkingblue.org/), I advocate for working families and lead grassroots volunteerism to strengthen the core values of democracy. I am also an appointee to the independent monitoring committee for the County Water Board’s infrastructure bond, an opportunity that allows me to champion environmental protection leadership.
My Goals
My goal as an elected college representative for the region including the Palo Alto public school district is to expand pathways to college education through STEM dual enrollment. One such pathway is Governor Newsom’s 2029 education plan, which prioritizes workforce education and construction workforce apprenticeships within community colleges.
About Forest Peterson
My name is Forest Peterson, and I am a business founder, engineer, parent, teacher, public servant, and construction laborer with a deep understanding of the needs of working people in the Bay Area.
I am uniquely prepared for the Trustee role, given the practical applicability of my academic experience. I understand the value of community college and hold a two-year associate’s for transfer degree in public accounting that I started on at De Anza College. That pathway led to my Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering within the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering.
My research over the past decade has focused on applications of artificial intelligence in project controls and the supporting role of workforce tech education. Critical to my research’s mission is the advancement of workforce education, and I have five widely recognized publications within workforce education. Whether as a researcher, writer, or research program manager, I have played a leading role in shaping workforce educational and career advancement initiatives.
Forest’s public and professional service
- Chair of the flood protection sub-committee at Santa Clara Valley Water District–Safe, Clean Water & Natural Flood Protection: Independent Monitoring Committee
- co-Chair, Digital Twin (Building Information Model and Artificial Intelligence) sub-group of the Committee on Visualization in Transportation at the National Academies’ Transportation Research Board
- Nonprofit Director, The Santa Clara County Construction Careers Association (S4CA)
- President, Silicon Valley Working Blue Democratic Club (associated with the Central Labor Council)
- Executive Board, Movimiento Democratic Coalition
- Steering Committee, Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
- Past public servant: county-wide labor standards investigator in the Division of Equity and Social Justice at the County of Santa Clara
- Past State Delegate to the California Federation of Teachers
- California Democratic Party Caucuses Environmental, Chicano Latino, Progressive, and Labor–a crosssection that covers infrastructure public policy
- ASTM International, Committee E60 Subcommittee on Water Use
- The American Planning Association–Northern California (urban planning)
- California Association of Environmental Professionals–Monterey/Silicon Valley
Paid for by Peterson for Foothill – De Anza College Board 2024
FPPC ID#1461155
Support Forest
For Foothill – De Anza College District Board 2024
You have my highest respect and gratitude for your kind support and generosity in contributions. Outreach to the community requires resources that can only come from those with an interest in the future direction of Foothill-De Anza Community College District which includes nationally ranked Foothill College (#3) and De Anza College (#95) (Read: Current Board; Trustee Elections; 2022 Election; 2020 Election). I would like to extend a very kind thank you for the many contributions made by colleagues, community, and friends. Those contributions are how this campaign started on a pathway to succeed.
Note, that this race has no contribution limits, and this is an open seat with no incumbent. That means any and all levels of financial support.
As a grassroots candidate with a blue-collar background, I value in particular the many small denomination contributions that show widespread support from many people. Every dollar is important. It is your time dedicated to this campaign that drives me to excel so your efforts contribute to an impact. Your effort and contributions make the difference to drive me to public service that makes a difference. I am humbled and driven to work on your behalf.
Kindest Regards,
We Proudly Endorse Dr. Forest Peterson
- Sally Lieber, President of the Board of Equalization
- Paul Fong, fmr. Assemblymember
- Tara Sreekrishnan, Vice President, County Board of Education
- Raeena Lari, County Board of Education
- Julie Lythcott-Haims, City of Palo Alto
- Dolores Morales, City of Hollister
- Lucas Ramirez, City of Mountain View
- Omar Torres, City of San Jose
- Antonio López, Vice Mayor, City of East Palo Alto
- Igor A. Tregub, Sierra Club Exec. Committee
- Olivia Navarro, CA Democratic Party Exec. Board
- Judy Pipkin RN, fmr. CA Democratic Party Organizing Committee
- Dr. Tim MacKenzie, Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford Dept. of Genetics
- Dr. Anthony Kinslow II, CEO, Gemini Energy Solutions
- Dr. Steve Barg, P.E., Principal Structural Engineer, Valley Structural Consulting
- Philip Sossenheimer, M.D., resident physician and Stanford Housestaff Union
- Dr. Anne Palmer, Exec. Dir., Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative
- Service Employees International Union Higher Education Workers
VOTE FOREST
FOOTHILL – DE ANZA COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2024
Get in Touch
(650) 206-8172
information@voteforest.org
Campaign Office
Palo Alto, CA 94306