In this edition, we’re highlighting two incredible CCCOER members who are wrapping up their terms on the Executive Council and as Co-Chairs with the Professional Development Committee. Marina Aminy and Lori-Beth Larsen have each contributed their time, care, and expertise to support our community. As they transition from their committee roles – though not from the CCCOER community – we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate their service.
-Heather Blicher
Marina Aminy
As Marina Aminy, Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the California Virtual Campus, wraps up her term on the CCCOER Executive Council, we’re taking a moment to reflect on and celebrate her contributions. Over the past two years, Marina has served as our Executive Vice President and Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee, bringing energy, vision, and a deep commitment to equity and access in open education. From helping organize engaging webinars to leading thoughtful conversations across institutions, Marina’s leadership has helped shape a stronger, more connected CCCOER community. We’re so grateful for her service, and while we’ll miss her in this role, we know she’ll continue to be a powerful voice for students and Open Education.
- Introduce yourself and your role within CCCOER.
Hi! I’m Marina Aminy, and my regular job is as an Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the California Virtual Campus. I’ve had the honor of serving as Executive Vice President for CCCOER for the past two years. In my role, I’ve focused on building bridges across our member institutions, supporting our strategic priorities, and amplifying the incredible work happening in open education across the country. This includes supporting the Professional Development Committee with nearly a dozen high-quality webinars focused on various aspects of OER (including faculty-facing resources, issues in accessibility, statewide initiatives, etc.).
- Have you held any other roles or been on other committees?
I originally joined the Executive Council as Executive Vice President, and that experience gave me a chance to hear directly from colleges and universities about their hopes and challenges around OER. In the past year, I have served as Co-Chair for the Professional Development Committee, where I’ve also supported planning efforts for webinars, community events, and our annual CCCOER Open Education Week programming.
- How many years have you been involved in CCCOER?
As a dean in my former college district, we received support from CCCOER through resources and funding for growing our local program for several years. In my current formal role on the leadership team, I am wrapping up my second year. But, time has flown because the work is so energizing and collaborative.
- What inspired you to get involved with CCCOER?
Open education has always aligned with my personal and professional values around equity, access, and student agency. CCCOER stood out to me as a space where those values are not only talked about, but actively practiced—and where collaboration across institutions feels genuine and impactful. I wanted to be part of that energy. Also, as a college student receiving financial aid myself, I remember the cruelty of having to buy required and recommended textbooks for hundreds of dollars when I was struggling to pay for my own basic needs. I confess that sometimes I avoided purchasing a book altogether if the price was prohibitive, and other times I’d share a book with a friend (which was also not ideal). CCCOER’s mission is to help students in similar situations who cannot afford the $20 or the $200 textbook.
- What’s one project, initiative, or committee within CCCOER that you’ve been a part of and found meaningful?
I’ve found our work to uplift emerging leaders and diverse voices in open education particularly meaningful. Whether it’s amplifying faculty champions or creating space for dialogue around equity and OER, I’ve valued being part of a community that doesn’t shy away from important conversations—and supports real change. The CCCOER Executive Council is a particular impressive group of professionals. This week, in a meeting I’ll be facilitating, our leadership team will discuss ways in which federal mandates are impacting our OER work in our various states and systems. I always find it so helpful to hear from my colleagues in other states and I am often inspired by the creative and thoughtful ways they still manage to carry on their service to students in the face of economic and political uncertainty.
- What’s your favorite part about being a member of CCCOER?
The people, hands down. The CCCOER community is full of educators and leaders who are not only smart and creative, but kind, generous, and committed. It’s one of the few spaces where I feel both professionally challenged and personally recharged. I also love that our students continue to be the north star for our work – OERs have such an immediate and helpful impact on students’ experiences, which in turn is incredibly gratifying.
Lori-Beth Larsen
As Lori-Beth Larsen, English and Reading Faculty and OER Lead at Central Lakes College, transitions from her role as a member of the Executive Council and Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee, we want to take a moment to recognize her thoughtful and consistent contributions to CCCOER. Since 2020, Lori-Beth has brought her caring spirit, quiet strength, and deep commitment to open education to both the Professional Development and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committees. Whether helping shape webinars, participating in meaningful book club discussions, or showing up with genuine warmth at conference gatherings, Lori-Beth has been a steady and valued presence. While her term with the PD Committee is winding down, we’re so grateful that she’ll continue with us as a member of the EDI Committee—and continue to help shape the heart of this community.
- Introduce yourself and your role within CCCOER.
I am Lori-Beth Larsen, instructor and OER Lead faculty at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota, USA. My current role is as Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee.
- Have you held any other roles or been on other committees?
I have been a member of the EDI committee and a member of the PD committee for several years.
- How many years have you been involved in CCCOER?
I believe I’ve been a member since 2020.
- What inspired you to get involved with CCCOER?
I’ve been deeply inspired by the support from this community and the passionate activism aimed at improving education. As a fervent advocate for open educational practices, I find this community both motivational and encouraging.
- What’s one project, initiative, or committee within CCCOER that you’ve been a part of and found meaningful?
I’m not sure if I would point to just one project, initiative, or committee. I have found the EDI book clubs meaningful, the PD webinars fascinating, and the in-person gatherings at conferences soul healing. I have thoroughly enjoyed developing friendships within this community. That is my favorite part of being a member of CCCOER. Making connections with friends in this community has been a true highlight of the last few years of my life. I look forward to many more years of friendships and connections as a member of CCCOER.