Elijah Ball for City College Board of Trustees

As a campus planner who works with colleges across the country, I know that with a vision and a plan, we can make City College one of the best community colleges in the country.

I moved to San Francisco at 18, became the first in my family to graduate college, and built my career helping educational institutions like plan for the future. I’ve helped seven colleges nationwide and four California Community College Districts stabilize, modernize, and build strength. The challenges CCSF faces are solvable, with a clear plan I know we can fix them.

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Background

My mother left high school after having my older brother, then returned years later to earn her diploma and build a stable career. My grandmother, an educator, taught me to read and write when my parents couldn't afford preschool. Their example showed me how education can transform a family’s future. That lesson carried me from SFSU to Cornell, and ultimately made me the first person in my family to graduate from college.

Experience

I've worked with seven colleges nationwide and four California community college districts, helping leaders, faculty, and communities turn priorities into real plans for facilities, investment, and growth. That work has taught me how to ask the right questions, weigh tradeoffs, and keep decisions focused on student success.

The Case for CCSF

City College is one of San Francisco's most important public institutions, opening doors to degrees, careers, English language learning, and lifelong education. Its challenges around enrollment and financial stability are solvable. I've seen what works when institutions commit to steady oversight and put students first, and I'm ready to bring that experience to the Board.