About Tim
Tim Jemal is President of the Board of Trustees of the South Orange County Community College District. First elected in 2012, Tim is seeking re-election to serve a four-year term as a Trustee.
In December of 2022, Tim was elected by his fellow Trustees to serve as President of the seven-member Board of Trustees. He is a passionate supporter of our local community colleges. As an elected Trustee for the community, Tim's top priorities remain to ensure our precious tax dollars provide the best possible education to our students.
The South Orange County Community College District includes Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College and the Advanced Technology and Education Park (ATEP). The South Orange County Community College District serves over 40,000 students annually with rigorous academic classes preparing for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, basic skills attainment, career technical education, robust workforce development programs and top-notch athletics. The regional ATEP campus is a comprehensive public-private partnership focusing on providing students workforce development and career technical skills essential for employment in STEM fields and high demand jobs. Developing ATEP, which sits at the center of Orange County, has been a priority for Tim.
Complementing his leadership in higher education, Tim has significant experience as an entrepreneur, small business owner and nonprofit executive. He has helped start and grow many community based-based organizations in South Orange County including organizations that: provide training and jobs to veterans and at-risk people seeking employment; increase environmental education and love for the outdoors for thousands of K-12 students and promote economic development and a better climate for businesses and start-up organizations to grow and create jobs.
Tim currently serves as the CEO of NAIOP SoCal, the leading nonprofit association representing commercial real estate in Southern California. He also serves as President of the non-profit organization, Global ARM. For over 5 years, Tim led and grew the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), an international association comprising over 60 technology associations that, in turn, represent more than 22,000 tech firms throughout North America. Earlier in his career, Tim was the Executive Director of the American Electronics Association (AeA) of Orange County, representing all segments of the local technology industry. He saw first-hand the importance of providing students with technical and certificate programs employers require to compete globally. At AeA, Tim launched the Innovation in Education Awards, an annual event recognizing students and educational leaders throughout Orange County for their innovative uses of science, math and technology in the classroom and community.
Tim's experience includes running an international Voice of the Internet (VoIP) business and teaching Business and Communications courses as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of California-affiliated American University of Armenia.
Tim has been deeply involved in the local community volunteering with the PTA, YMCA, Junior Achievement, Little League, AYSO, the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Pop Warner Football and the Armenian Relief Society (ARS). For nearly four years, he served as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of California, Irvine, Henry Samueli School of Engineering. Tim earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Michigan State University and an MBA degree in International Business from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Tim is married to Gassia Apkarian and they have two children.
