A few key positions were filled at Long Beach City College this week, the school announced, potentially impacting curriculum and institutional programs, technical training and the school’s public affairs activities.

Long Beach City College (LBCC) has appointed Michelle Grimes-Hillman as dean of Academic Services and named Mollie Smith dean of the School of Career Technical Education (CTE), in addition to the hiring of Melissa Infusino as director of workforce development, the school announced this week.

Grimes-Hillman will oversee LBCC’s curriculum and institutional programs, college catalog, enrollment management, course offerings and programs, as well as staff and faculty resources, according to a release issued by LBCC.

Meanwhile, LBCC’s technical training programs will fall under Smith’s jurisdiction. Her instructional areas include Child Development, Culinary Arts, Public Services, Family and Consumer Services, Computer and Office Studies, and Trade and Industrial Technologies.

“We’re pleased to welcome Michelle and Mollie, who both come with a wealth of knowledge and experience and are well-suited to help our students achieve success on our campus and in their careers,” said LBCC President Eloy Ortiz Oakley in a statement.

Infusino will administer LBCC’s programs that offer training and professional development for individuals and companies in order to match the needs of regional employers. The Workforce Development department provides free or low-cost training programs to students.

“Melissa is an innovative thinker whose skills and expertise in developing effective programs and building valuable relationships will be an asset to LBCC and its students,” said Oakley in a statement.

Infusino brings more than 15 years of experience in government and public affairs to LBCC. Prior to joining the LBCC team, she was at the Los Angeles Fund serving as the executive director. There, she was in charge of creating and facilitating large-scale, high-impact programs for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Infusino also served as director of partnerships in the LAUSD Superintendent’s Office. Infusino holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola University of Chicago and a Masters of Public Policy from the UCLA School of Public Affairs.

Grimes-Hillman comes to LBCC with more than 15 years of experience serving as a professor of psychology at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. During her time as a professor, she served as the curriculum chair, local senate president and was a participating member of the Accrediting Commision for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). From 2011 through 2015 she served on the executive board of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) in addition to serving in the System Advisory Committee on Curriculum (SACC).

Smith formerly worked at San Diego City College and Palomar College in various career technical education instructional positions. She is active in organizations that advocate for expanding and strengthening career technical education at the local, regional, state and national levels. At the California Community College Association of Occupational Education (CCCAOE), she is legislative advocacy chair. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in organizational psychology from San Diego State University.