May 15, 2025

Dear SRJC Community

Returning to campus after time away reminded me of something I’ve always known but came to appreciate even more during my healing from surgery: SRJC is a place where we consistently show up for one another and for students, grounded in purpose, care, and community. I’m especially grateful to the President’s Office and Cabinet for their steady support, and to Vice President Kate Jolley for her thoughtful leadership as Acting President. Thanks to her and so many across the District, we continued to move forward with clarity and strength.

That shared commitment is especially visible now—from the energy across our campuses as students prepare for finals and graduation, to the guidance and support provided by faculty, classified professionals, and administrators. Commencement is a celebration of student achievement and a reminder of our collective focus on student success, equity, and belonging. It takes each of us to support students as they cross their finish lines. 

Even as we close out the academic year, we are actively advancing the priorities that will shape SRJC’s future. The recent work to strengthen our participatory governance structure reaffirms our commitment to inclusive, transparent leadership. The 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which will be presented to the Board in June, reflects thoughtful engagement and a shared vision for institutional resilience and student-centered progress. Both efforts have been guided by the leadership and collaboration of College Council and Planning & Budget Council, whose members represent our key constituency groups and uphold our values of accountability and communication. 

Looking ahead, I would like to congratulate the Board of Trustees for their acceptance into the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, President and Trustees Collaborative. This national initiative is designed to strengthen the ability of community college presidents and their boards of trustees to sustain systemic reform that improves student outcomes. The year-long initiative will convene over two virtual gatherings and one in-person gathering, where we will engage with data related to student achievement, local demographics, and regional workforce needs as part of this learning cohort. 

I invite you to join in District Pride events, including pride flag raising ceremonies across the District and the Sonoma County Pride Parade on May 31 (sign up here).  As I shared in my May 5th communication, building community is essential for the entire SRJC community, and especially for the LGBTQIA+ community. I hope to see you at these events. 

Thank you for the work you do every day. We get the honor and privilege to be part of a student’s career, academic, and lifelong learning journey. The month of May brings early mornings, late nights, and a series of celebrations that are culturally grounded and student-centered. This season reminds us what’s possible when we lead together—with care, with clarity and always in community.

In Community,

Dr. Garcia

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• Attended an interview as part of the Aspen Presidents & Trustees Collaborative application
• Attended a reception with the President's Circle organized by the SRJC Foundation
• Attended SRJC Petaluma’s Building Futures event

• SRJC’s EMT Program Leads the State in Certification Success: The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program is setting the standard for student success in California. According to recent state data, SRJC students achieved a remarkable 99% first-attempt pass rate on the state certification exam, well above the statewide average of 67.33%. Notably, among the 44 mid-to-large size EMT programs in California (those with more than 90 students taking the exam), SRJC ranked first in the state.
• Now on Display: The Storyteller’s Hands at the SRJC Multicultural Museum: A new exhibit, The Storyteller’s Hands: Carvings and Teachings of Bun Lucas, is now open at the SRJC Multicultural Museum. The exhibit, which debuted on April 3, honors the life, artistry, and cultural legacy of Bun Lucas – a revered Coast Miwok and Kashaya Pomo elder known for his storytelling, traditional songs, and intricate wood carvings. The opening event brought together members of the local community and Bun Lucas’ extended family in a heartfelt celebration of his enduring influence. The exhibit features more than two dozen of his intricate wood carvings, each one reflecting deep cultural meaning and craftsmanship. Visitors can also view a 25-minute documentary co-produced by the Museum, a collection of photographs documenting Bun’s life, and a personal reflection by Brenda Flyswithhawks about their 1990 travels together to Holland. Special thanks to the volunteers and community members who shared stories, items, and time to bring this exhibit to life. The exhibit concludes on June 26th.

• Record Attendance: SRJC Parenting Students Shine at 19th Annual CARE & CalWORKs Conference: Seventeen parenting students from SRJC’s CARE, CalWORKs, and Bear Cub Scholars programs attended the 19th Annual Region 3 CARE & CalWORKs Conference, held at the College of San Mateo. This year’s theme – Love, Laughter and Lessons: unlocking the joy in your journey—set the tone for a day filled with connection, learning and encouragement. Students participated in engaging workshops, built relationships with other parenting students, and left feeling inspired and motivated to finish the semester strong. This marks the largest group of SRJC parenting students to attend this annual event – a milestone that reflects the growing strength and community of support within these programs.
  
• Admissions & Records Launches Parchment for Streamlined Transcript, Diploma, and Certificate Services: In April, Admissions & Records launched Parchment, a new service that streamlines the ordering process for transcripts, duplicate diplomas, and certificate requests. Widely used across California Community Colleges, Parchment offers a familiar, user-friendly interface that allows students to access multiple services in one place. Students who already have Parchment accounts can now use them to order SRJC transcripts, and the system also supports third-party requests—such as a parent ordering on behalf of a student—by collecting the necessary FERPA authorization. The fees collected through transcript orders help cover the costs of producing diplomas and certificates, resulting in cost savings for the District. Looking ahead, Parchment will integrate with Banner, enabling even faster turnaround times for transcript processing.
• SRJC Petaluma and North Bay Organizing Project Celebrate Another Powerful We the Future Conference: On April 18, 2025, SRJC Petaluma, partnered with the North Bay Organizing Project, to host the 8th annual We the Future social justice conference. Nearly 280 participants, including students from six local high schools, gathered on campus for a day filled with energy, reflection, and collective visioning. This year’s theme, "Resist, Reclaim, Reimagine: The Power of Belonging and Solidarity in Action," encouraged attendees to explore bold approaches to community safety, cultural reclamation, and collective liberation. The event featured a powerful keynote screening and discussion with Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger, co-hosts of One Million Experiments, which spotlighted community-based safety strategies in a world without police and prisons. Following the keynote, participants engaged in workshops on topics including youth activism, abolition, climate justice, and art as resistance. A community lunch and resource fair offered time for connection and reflection. Centered on radical hope and solidarity, the conference served as a platform for learning, action, and community building. The SRJC Petaluma campus team extends heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to the event’s success and looks forward to the 9th annual conference in 2026.

• In recognition of Earth Month, SRJC students, employees, and community members were invited to reflect on sustainability through a variety of educational and hands-on opportunities. Supported by our Manager of Sustainability and Energy Programs, David Liebman, this month’s efforts encouraged the entire SRJC community to: reduce our carbon footprint by exploring energy-saving practices and eco-friendly transportation, conserve water through mindful practices and leak prevention, minimize waste by embracing recycling, composting, and upcycling, and support local and sustainable businesses that reflect our shared values.  A series of Earth Month events brought these goals to life, including:
  • SRJC Environmental Forum featuring sessions on climate grief and wildfire resilience;
  • Del Monte Lecture Series with guest speaker José González ("Green Chicano") on reconnecting with nature;
  • Campus Biodiversity Stewardship Workday, offering hands-on environmental care;
  • 7th Annual Climate Action Night, where students showcased sustainability legislation and advocacy.

• Planning for Fall 2025 PDA Day is in full swing! This year’s theme, “Forging Our Future: Defining Our Legacy,” invites us to forge a future grounded in courage, collaboration, and care, while intentionally defining the legacy we are building together. Across our classrooms, sites, and communities, we are navigating a period of transformation. Economic shifts, enrollment pressures, and a changing national dialogue around education challenge us to adapt with clarity and lead with purpose. Education is more than the delivery of knowledge. It is the foundation of empowerment, a catalyst for equity, and a force for long-term impact. This belief shapes our priorities for the year ahead. Since the district-wide call for proposals in early April, we’ve received nearly 50 exciting submissions. The Professional Development Committee will begin shaping the workshop schedule and finalizing event logistics in the coming months.
• We are thrilled that Alia Dunphy began as Santa Rosa Junior College’s new Vice President of Human Resources on Monday, April 21, 2025.  Alia comes to us from College of the Redwoods in Humboldt County, where she spent the past eight years in key leadership roles, most recently as the Associate Vice President of Human Resources.  Her career in higher education reflects a breadth of experience across student services, human resources, and leadership for equitable student success. Alia is known for bringing a compassionate and strategic approach to leadership, qualities that will be invaluable in supporting our employees and navigating an evolving landscape. Please welcome Alia to SRJC!
  
   

• The Foundation recently received another $100,000 donation for the new five-story Fire Tower for the Public Safety Training Center. This brings our fundraising to $ 1.9 million toward the $ 2 million goal, which includes the $1.5 million grant from the State of California.
• We partnered with Student Life & Cultural Programs to host the 21st annual David and Dede Del Monte lecture on April 14th. This year, naturalist José González, spoke about how restoring severed connections between people, land, and culture can foster a more inclusive and sustainable future. A video of José’s lecture is available at  https://bit.ly/HealingSeveredConnections
• Our Building Futures fundraising event in Petaluma was held on Saturday, April 26th to raise funds for the Construction Training Center and the Petaluma campus. Going into the event, we had over $100,000 in sponsorships thanks to the collective efforts of the Friends of Petaluma, and our colleagues on the Petaluma campus. Thank you to our lead sponsor Exchange Bank, and everyone involved.      
   
   

• Strategic Planning: The Strategic Plan Actions Workgroup (SPAW) has developed a set of draft Action Steps designed to guide SRJC in advancing its mission. These proposed steps are currently being shared with key constituent groups for feedback. The draft was shared with the Student Government Assembly and the Academic Senate, with upcoming presentations scheduled for the Classified Senate and the Management Team in May. Feedback from all groups will inform the final revisions. The full Strategic Plan, along with the refined Action Steps, will be presented to the Board of Trustees in June.
• SRJC Reaffirms Eligibility for Future Federal Grants: SRJC received notification from the federal government confirming our eligibility to apply for new Title III and Title V grants, should they become available. Previous federal grants—Lanzamiento, Avanzando, and Transformando—were awarded to the college in part due to this Title III and Title V eligibility.
• AB1705 Study Session: During a special study session of the Board of Trustees, the Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning (IERP) department presented data on the impact of AB1705 on student success. A key highlight was the introduction of a new student success metric called “Throughput,” which measures the time it takes students from their initial enrollment at SRJC to complete transfer-level mathematics or English. IERP is currently developing additional communication materials to better support students, faculty, and members of the local community who are significantly affected by AB1705.