By Hector Gonzalez
Special to The Lookout

February 19, 2016-- Former Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board member and now California state Sen. Ben Allen will join a a panel of education experts to discuss “Higher Education: Where We Are Today,” a three-year study by the League of Women Voters California.

The free event will be held Saturday, March 5, at Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Boulevard, in the humanities and social sciences Lecture Hall 165, at 10 a.m., SMC spokeswoman Grace Smith announced.

Featured with Allen, who was elected twice to the school board, in 2008 and 2012, will be Patricia Ramos, SMC's dean of workforce/economic development, Rick Moore, professor of management and researcher at California State University, Northridge, Janet Robinson, leader of SMC's transfer center, and SMC alumna Cinthia Magaña.

Proposed at the league's 2013 state convention, the higher education study examines college funding and affordability, student preparedness, and equity, opportunities and barriers to student success.

“Understanding these issues and their importance is essential for both the membership of the LWVC and all residents of California,” said the nonpartisan voter education organization on its website.

At the Santa Monica event, local panelists will tackle California’s major funding challenges, enrollment limits at UC and CSU campuses, and the “nitty-gritty of transfer and workforce development at SMC,” said Smith.

Moderating the discussion will be Louise Jaffe, chair of the SMC's board of trustees, and Shari Davis, co-director of the colleges Public Policy Institute, which is sponsoring the discussion in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica.

Afterward, audience member will have a chance to pose questions to the panel members.

SMC's Public Policy Institute provides the community at large with nonpartisan programs exploring key economic, social and political issues.

After the discussion, the institute, its community partners, and SMC students will hold the 2016 Voter Registration Campaign kick-off in the college's quad, from noon to 1 p.m., said Smith.

The event will include presentations on how to register voters and encourage them to vote, and will provide the necessary information and materials to canvas neighborhoods or organizations.

Free parking is available in campus parking structures. Reservations is not required. RSVP, email ppi@smc.edu. Seating will be on a first-arrival basis.

For more information visit www.smc.edu/ppi, or call 310-434-8668.