Rewarded Mockery
Unmasking Retaliation at MCC
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Before we dive into the main story, we ask all faculty members at the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) to complete the Faculty Climate Survey distributed by the State Center Federation of Teachers (SCFT). The deadline to participate is tomorrow, November 11. This confidential survey provides a critical opportunity to assess the performance and satisfaction levels related to the Board of Trustees (BOT), Chancellor Carole Goldsmith, and her Cabinet. Please check your inbox, junk, or spam folders for an email from the third-party platform QuestionPro. If you have not received your survey link, promptly contact SCFT Executive Director Ashleigh Rocker Greene at executivedirector.scft1533@scftunion.org or (559) eight.zero.one 8825.
It is essential that SCFT collects enough responses to ensure the survey results are statistically valid and representative. We strongly encourage you not to delay or overlook this important chance to make your voice heard.
The aggregated survey results will be presented live at the Mega General Membership Meeting (Mega GMM) on Thursday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fresno City College Cafeteria. This in-person meeting is exclusively for dues-paying SCFT members and requires an RSVP. Your participation, even if silent, sends a powerful message of solidarity.
The survey results will inform floor actions at Mega GMM, directing SCFT’s advocacy and engagement with the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, and her Cabinet. These decisions will shape the Federation’s next steps and future priorities.
As a special note, members of The SCCCD Insiders who are faculty will be attending the meeting, so you might even meet us in person without realizing it.
With that, let’s plunge into the main story.
Our reputation for relentlessly exposing administrative corruption, cronyism, and retaliation at SCCCD has divided administrators into four clear categories based on their approach to us:
1. Those who welcome and embrace our scrutiny. These administrators understand the depth of corruption and mismanagement fostered by Chancellor Carole Goldsmith at SCCCD. They consciously distance themselves from these practices and, sometimes, actively work to oppose them.
2. Those who scramble desperately to avoid our gaze, seeking holes to hide in. These individuals are active participants in corruption, fully aware of their misconduct and anticipating, rightly, an imminent reckoning.
3. Those who boldly claim they have nothing to hide and therefore fear no scrutiny. Yet courage and folly share a razor-thin boundary and are often separated by a single decision. And unfortunately, Goldsmith’s dizzying intellect is highly contagious, impeding the critical thinking and prudent decision-making skills of those around her.
4. Finally, the rare masochistic few who desperately crave and seek our attention, and the enduring pain it brings, so much that they practically cast themselves into our spotlight.
In this article, we focus on two administrators who trespassed into this well-marked forbidden territory, earning a real-world lesson in cause and effect: Mr. Cory Burkarth, Director of Marketing & Communications at Madera Community College (category four), and Dr. Ángel Reyna, President of Madera Community College (category three).
Then we’ll offer our forecast of how Goldsmith will address this latest indiscretion by her loyal cronies. Finally, we close with our signature segment, “A Word for Supporters.”
It remains our sincere hope that, one day, administrators will recognize and embrace the imperative to act with integrity and respect, or else find their names in our exposés. For now, that remains an elusive goal.
1. Mockery
Previously, we highlighted the ongoing tensions between faculty and administration12 at Madera Community College (MCC), which culminated in six votes of no-confidence3—three from the MCC Academic Senate and three from the State Center Federation of Teachers (SCFT)—against three administrators: President Ángel Reyna, Vice President Marie Harris, and ex-Dean Justin Garcia. These tensions led to a sham mediation orchestrated by Chancellor Goldsmith, who awarded $161,000 in contracts to her unqualified goddaughter, Ashlee Sian Hernandez, through a company established less than a month prior.4 Despite overwhelming evidence, Goldsmith and Hernandez deceitfully attempted to conceal their relationship.5 Furthermore, Goldsmith, Reyna, and Harris conspired to retaliate against the Academic Senate by unfairly withholding tenure from one of its leaders, Ms. Erin Heasley.
Evidence indicates that, to this day, Reyna and Harris continue to exhibit hostility toward the Academic Senate and faculty leaders rather than working to mend the fractured relationship. But they are not alone. One of the staunch defenders of Goldsmith, Reyna, and Harris is Mr. Cory Burkarth, MCC’s Director of Marketing & Communications, who has actively opposed faculty voices and perpetuated the hostility at MCC. [image below]
For instance, Burkarth spoke against the vote of no-confidence and in support of ex-Dean Justin Garcia at the MCC Academic Senate meeting on September 27, 2024. [video below]
We strongly concur with Mr. Burkarth’s statement that “perception matters.” However, as we will show, Burkarth’s utterance was an example of Goldsmith-style hypocrisy that is now institutionalized at SCCCD. As the SCFT President remarked during the October BOT meeting, when it comes to administrators, it is always “grace for me but never for thee.” [video below]
Here we highlight another example of that philosophy.
1.1. What Happened
On Friday, October 31, 2025, Mr. Burkarth arrived on the MCC’s campus dressed as usual, without a costume. The photo below, taken either before noon or after 1 p.m. that day (October 31), shows his attire. [image below]
Burkarth attended a potluck event held in room TM-11 from 12 to 1 p.m., which was advertised as a “costume contest” and attended by a select group of faculty, some students, and many classified professionals. [image below]
Burkarth changed into a costume for this event. In the following image, he is wearing a blue shirt and carrying a brown messenger bag [image below]
In the following photo, Burkarth is seen alongside President Reyna on the left, proudly holding the trophy basket awarded for his costume. [image below]
Though some might question the costume’s intent, no one at MCC is confused. Burkarth’s outfit was a deliberate mockery of Mr. Todd Kandarian, President of the Academic Senate and a math faculty member at MCC since 2001. Notably, Burkarth spoke with Kandarian earlier that day but neither sought permission nor informed Kandarian of his plan to impersonate him. As we will prove, Burkarth’s outfit was carefully and meticulously planned.
1.2. Proof
Following widespread outrage, Burkarth has reportedly denied dressing as Kandarian—an unequivocal lie. Such denial fits the pattern of deception expected from administrators operating under Goldsmith’s regime. Therefore, we present irrefutable proof that Burkarth was mocking Kandarian. We have numbered each proof of imitation in the following photo. [image below]
1. Burkarth wore a bald cap matching Kandarian’s mostly bald head. [image below]
2. He sported glasses nearly identical to Kandarian’s. According to many sources, Burkarth doesn’t wear glasses.
3. His Hawaiian-style short-sleeved shirt is a hallmark of Kandarian’s usual attire. [image below]
4. To eliminate all doubt, the word “Math” appears on Burkarth’s right chest, a clear reference to Kandarian’s role as a math instructor. In the image, part of the letter “a” and letters “t” and “h” are visible. Furthermore, Burkarth was overheard referring to himself as “the math guy,” seemingly alluding to Kandarian.
5. Most tellingly, he carried a distinctive 64-oz AM/PM TOOMGIS promotional jug, known to be Kandarian’s signature item for years. [images below]
6. He carried a messenger bag similar to Kandarian’s. [image below]
7. Burkarth wore shorts identical in style to those Kandarian favors.
8. His black sneakers, worn specifically without socks, closely mirror Kandarian’s customary footwear.
A closer look reveals a pillow placed under Burkarth’s shirt to mimic Kandarian’s stature. The outline of the pillow is clearly visible below. [image below]
Both the pillow and the bald cap constitute body shaming, an egregious violation of conduct in any setting, especially within a higher education institution.
Burkarth also deliberately adopted a non-smiling, stern expression to complement his costume. Whereas in every other photo Burkarth is seen smiling, in the costume photos his face conveys a hostile demeanor. Unlike Kandarian, who often jokes and smiles freely, Burkarth’s choice of expression was clearly intended to send a particular message, one that is far from kind, at least depending on one’s definition of “kind.”
We also believe that the sad face Burkarth was holding might have been in reference to Kandarian’s comment made at the September BOT meeting listing a slew of conditions at the District that made him sad. [video below]
According to the evidence we have outlined, either Mr. Burkarth shamelessly, maliciously, and without consent mocked Mr. Kandarian, or there exists at MCC another “math guy” who is bald and heavyset, wears Hawaiian shirts and shorts, sports black sneakers without socks, dons black-framed glasses, carries a messenger bag, and uniquely owns an AM/PM TOOMGIS jug. Thanks to Burkarth’s painstaking attention to detail in replicating this distinctive look, we confidently assert that Kandarian is the only person in MCC’s history, or indeed in all of humanity, who fits this one-of-a-kind persona.
Thus, Burkarth’s reported denial of impersonating Kandarian is a blatant lie.
1.3. Violations
Since we started publishing our investigations, we have consistently offered administrators two simple and clear guidelines to avoid being featured in our exposés:
1. Don’t disparage us, faculty, or classified professionals.
2. Don’t retaliate against anyone who speaks up.
Despite these explicit warnings and our proven commitment to the relentless pursuit of those who violate them, Burkarth has knowingly and brazenly defied both principles, perfectly illustrating Alexander Pope’s timeless admonition:
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
Here’s how Burkarth breached these fundamental rules:
1. Disparagement: We were previously made aware that Burkarth has repeatedly disparaged not only us but also faculty and classified professionals. For example, at the end of his speech at MCC Academic Senate on September 27, 2024, Burkarth said the following in reference to the no-confidence resolution:
“I close my remarks by saying, you know, 470-word resolution, the word ‘students,’ don’t appear once.”
First, no-confidence resolutions rarely contain the word “students,” particularly those addressing administrations that are violating the Academic Senate’s rights.
Second, Burkarth’s statement is disparaging of faculty and a rephrased version of “faculty don’t care about students.” Let’s make it crystal clear: if an administrator even alludes to that preposterous notion, they face our exposure.
Despite this and other evidence of Burkarth’s disparagement, we chose to forgive those lapses. However, Burkarth has consistently put himself at the center of controversy and his latest transgression is simply unforgivable.
2. Retaliation: Burkarth retaliated against Kandarian for speaking up. In our article, “Depth of Deceit 2,” we made our expectations crystal clear to administrators as follows:
“Our warning remains simple: Just say NO! Do not retaliate. Avoid any actions that could remotely be interpreted as retaliatory. Treat those who have courageously spoken out with utmost respect and professionalism. It is your responsibility to ensure no perception of retaliation arises, intentionally or otherwise.”
Even though we can, we need not prove Burkarth retaliated because the burden was on him to avoid any appearance or perception of retaliation, and he failed spectacularly. And as Burkarth said himself, “perception matters.”
Even a single violation earns an administrator a spot on our “menace list,” a designation that guarantees our unwavering focus. Burkarth, however, has repeatedly committed both infractions, solidifying his place both on the list and under our scrutiny.
1.4. Public Outcry
At the November BOT meeting, Mr. Todd Kandarian and several faculty members from across the District addressed Burkarth’s demeaning mockery and Reyna’s condonement of it.
Kandarian candidly shared his long-standing struggle with weight management and described how Burkarth’s costume was a deliberate act of ridicule, mockery, and retaliation. He reminded the Board that President Reyna endorsed this bullying by posing for a photo with Burkarth in costume, but, as we will explore later, Reyna’s complicity is far worse.
Kandarian argued that Burkarth’s mockery was retaliatory and a response to Kandarian’s leadership in opposing President Reyna’s administration at the October BOT meeting, an opposition well within Kandarian’s legitimate mandate as the President of the Academic Senate.
Kandarian also highlighted Goldsmith, Reyna, and Harris’s attempt to withhold tenure from Erin Heasley, framing it as part of a broader campaign to silence faculty voices and their leaders, one that we have repeatedly exposed and offered evidence for in the past. [video below]
Mr. Max Hembd, President of the Clovis Community College Academic Senate, condemned bullying and rightly noted that bullies often target others to mask their own weaknesses—a reflection, we argue, of the District’s toxic atmosphere under Chancellor Goldsmith’s leadership, rotten to its core with bullying, retaliation, and abuse. Hembd posed a poignant question: “Is this us? Is this what we have fallen into?” We answer unequivocally: no, this deplorable culture is what Goldsmith and the Board have created.
Hembd shared his personal philosophy, telling his children that remaining silent in the face of bullying is complicity—a principle that underpins The SCCCD Insiders’ mission to oppose the entrenched culture of bullying and retaliation fostered by Goldsmith and the Board. [video below]
Ms. Lynette Cortes Howden, former President of the MCC Academic Senate, praised Kandarian’s unwavering dedication to students, colleagues, and the institution. She expressed shame that Burkarth chose to ridicule Kandarian with a fat suit and condemned President Reyna’s involvement. [video below]
Ms. Kate Husain, President-elect of the MCC Academic Senate, described the toxic work environment sustained and perpetuated by the Board’s protection of abusive leadership. She cited Burkarth’s bullying of Kandarian, Reyna’s approval, and the coordinated efforts of Harris, Reyna, and Goldsmith to retaliate against faculty leader Erin Heasley, as well as shielding ex-Dean Justin Garcia’s abusive conduct. Husain confronted the Board with a stark challenge:
“This is the reality of the district that you have created. I wonder if the cost is worth it to you: The cost of sacrificing your employees; the cost of compromising the district’s values every single day; the cost of lying to protect evil people; the cost of writing off the upswell of voices begging you to do better, treat people better, [and] act with genuine kindness as just attacks on your identity. I, as a queer brown woman, as a mother, as an educator, ask you: is it worth it?” [video below]
Ms. Rebecca Snyder, President of the Academic Senate at Reedley College, characterized Burkarth’s actions toward Kandarian as unconscionable. [video below]
Burkarth has proven himself as a disrespectful bully who mocks others’ bodies without consent, shaming them in the harshest ways possible for their personal struggles. Like all bullies, he is also a coward. Burkarth’s reported denial of dressing as Kandarian, adds poorly attempted deceit to his offenses.
2. Reward
Initially, we questioned whether President Reyna was genuinely complicit in Burkarth’s act of mockery. It seemed possible that his photo with Burkarth was merely a lapse in judgment and that he was unaware of the costume’s unmistakable mimicry of Kandarian. [image below]
However, further evidence reveals a far more troubling reality. The prize Burkarth holds in the photo, a gift basket, was awarded to him for winning the costume contest at the potluck. Our investigation uncovered that five MCC administrators served as judges: President Ángel Reyna, Vice President of Administrative Services Matthew Richmond, Interim Dean of Students Nickolas Valencia-Lucio, Director of Institutional Research, Assessment & Planning Elizabeth Villalobos, and Director of Financial Aid Gary Nicholes. [images below]
We have confirmed that all five administrators were fully aware that Burkarth’s costume mocked Kandarian and were so impressed by it that they awarded him first place. Below is an image of the judges’ table during deliberations. [image below]
MCC’s organizational chart confirms that Burkarth reports directly to President Reyna. While all the administrators involved share blame for endorsing and awarding Burkarth’s demeaning body shaming through a bald cap and pillow-stuffed shirt, Reyna’s responsibility is greatest, as both MCC’s top leader and Burkarth’s immediate supervisor.
Reyna and other administrators’ action is in direct contravention of SCCCD’s Code of Ethics memorialized in Administrative Regulation 3150, which states:
“With respect to faculty and staff, an administrator in the community college district has the responsibility...to challenge unethical behavior in a timely manner.”
Reyna not only did not challenge Burkarth’s unethical behavior of mocking Kandarian but he literally rewarded it.
Unfortunately, this is no surprise. The Board of Trustees has enabled and supported Chancellor Goldsmith in fostering a culture of retribution and retaliation, granting administrators license to act with impunity. This deeply adversarial and toxic environment persists because Goldsmith believes herself untouchable. In his comments at the November BOT meeting, Kandarian accurately stated:
“If you condone it, you all own it.”
The Board’s ongoing support for Goldsmith and her cronies is visible across the District. They own the culture of deceit, corruption, nepotism, cronyism, retaliation, financial waste, abuse of power, mismanagement, and chaos that has been cultivated by Goldsmith in our District. This incident is yet another piece of irrefutable evidence affirming Montesquieu’s wisdom:
“Once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils, but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”
It is clear the true source of corruption is neither Burkarth nor the five administrators who judged the contest; it is Chancellor Goldsmith. Institutional memory and records show SCCCD has never faced such profound challenges or such low employee morale. This toxic atmosphere is a direct result of Goldsmith’s leadership, a fact the Board stubbornly refuses to acknowledge. Their ongoing inaction on Goldsmith in the face of overwhelming evidence of corruption is not only a dereliction of duty on their part but it is causing irreversible harm to our institution.
3. Prediction
Due to complaints voiced at the November 4 BOT meeting regarding Burkarth’s mockery of Kandarian and most likely in anticipation of our coverage of his misconduct, Burkarth was placed on administrative leave on Friday November 7 and Goldsmith sent an email to MCC employees announcing an investigation.
As we have previously detailed, district regulations are applied at SCCCD on a sliding scale with those critical of Goldsmith receiving severe and undeserved punishment for doing their job or speaking up, and those in close proximity to Goldsmith absolved of any wrongdoing. For example, an administrator like Dean Cyndie Luna, despite orchestrating an unethical and allegedly illegal textbook mandates affecting thousands of students, and filling her pockets, remains fully protected due to her closeness to Goldsmith, while her husband’s company, First String Sports, even received increased contracts and expedited processing from the District. Or consider Vice Chancellor Robert Frost, The Henchman of SCCCD, who allegedly deployed racist jokes and retaliated against employees with impunity. Goldsmith herself has violated various Administrative Regulations and allegedly the law by awarding $161,000 to her goddaughter with impunity.
We anticipate that this will be another protection scheme dressed as an investigation that will end in one of two ways. Either this investigation will be a biased sham, exonerating Burkarth and other administrators, including Reyna, or Burkarth will be scapegoated and fired as the sacrificial lamb to protect Reyna and other administrators. Because the cesspool that is SCCCD’s administration is propped up by Goldsmith’s cronies whose numbers are dwindling, she must do anything possible to protect the remaining loyal agents.
4. A Word for Supporters
We urge all faculty members to complete the crucial Faculty Climate Survey before the November 11 deadline and RSVP to attend the Mega GMM on November 13.
We also call on faculty to push for votes of no-confidence against Chancellor Goldsmith by SCFT and the Academic Senates. Should the Board of Trustees fail to take action against her, we encourage issuing a vote of no-confidence against the Board itself.
To our classified professionals, we ask that you encourage CSEA leadership to conduct a similar survey to gauge member satisfaction with the Chancellor, her Cabinet, and the Board of Trustees. Understanding member sentiment is essential as CSEA negotiations approach. It will provide a clear indicator of how united members are in demanding a fair and just contract.
Faculty and classified professionals, if you want change, demand it now.
State Center Community College District (SCCCD) - Fresno City College (FCC) - Madera Community College (MCC) - Clovis Community College (CCC) - Reedley College (RC) - Dr. Carole Goldsmith - Chancellor Goldsmith - godmother Goldsmith - La Nina Goldsmith - Magdalena Gomez - Danielle Parra - Robert Fuentes - Austin Ewell - Deborah Ikeda - Nasreen Johnson - Destiny Rodriguez - Noel Reyes