Celebrating Leslie Bryan and Erma Jean Sims

Two of CFA’s beloved member leaders recently retired from the CSU system – and union friends and colleagues celebrated them during Fall 2022 Kickoff.

Leslie Bryan, a former officer of CFA, and Erma Jean Sims, a long-time co-chair of CFA Native American and Indigenous Peoples Caucus and chapter president at CFA Sonoma, retired after sharing decades of their lives in higher education, helping students live out their dreams.

Bryan was a theater arts professor at CSU San Bernardino, while Sims was an education professor at Sonoma State.

Friends laughed through the good memories and recalled favorite stories to honor the two loved leaders.

“Sure going to miss you, compañera. May your retirement days be filled with relaxation, joy, and moments with loved ones,” wrote Theresa Montaño to Sims.

“Thank you for many wonderful years of working together,” wrote Cecil Canton to Sims. “You have earned an honored place in CFA’s pantheon of heroes.”

“Thank you for everything you have done for (the San Bernardino) chapter and CFA statewide over the decades!!” wrote Dorothy Chen-Maynard to Bryan. “Enjoy your grand babies and all the free time you have to yourself.”

“You were the best partner I could have asked for when I became Lecturer (Associate Vice President),” wrote Meghan O’Donnell to Bryan. “Your kindness, generosity of spirit, wisdom, and endless support made me feel like I could do this thing, even when times were challenging, or the stress became overwhelming.”