December 18, 2023
Dear SRJC Community, 

As we near the end of 2023, I want to thank you all for the remarkable work you have done this year. It has been an honor to serve as your Superintendent/President since July and I am grateful for the welcome you have shown me during my first semester at SRJC.  

The achievements we have accomplished together in just one semester give us much to celebrate. We’ve advanced work in evaluating our shared governance system, submitted our accreditation report and held a follow up visit, identified new executive leaders, and completed our guided pathways plan. We continued to serve our students, like with the opening of Polly Hall, and celebrated their successes with various graduations, awards, and athletic achievements. You have shared so much with me this semester through the nearly 30 Voices sessions we’ve held. I am humbled by your honesty and desire to improve on SRJC’s legacy of excellence together. As I think back to all the work we have undertaken this semester, it’s no wonder we are all ready for a rest during winter break! 

While I am proud to finish the year with you, I am even more eager to start 2024 together. I love the celebration of the new year. I love the notion of giving ourselves space to set new goals or re-center ourselves with renewed intent. I love the promise of fresh starts and new beginnings. 

This is always a hopeful time, as we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. I hope 2024 brings us the courage to reflect and evaluate our decision making, especially to make choices in the best interest of students. I hope 2024 will see SRJC students thrive academically and emotionally. I hope our faculty, classified professionals, and administrators will contribute meaningfully to addressing critical opportunities and challenges. I hope our community will serve as a model for change by demonstrating how we can disrupt systemic poverty when we make higher education accessible for all.   

My family and I could not ask for a more beautiful setting for this next chapter of our lives or friendlier people to call our new neighbors and friends. Thank you for welcoming us and making Sonoma County feel like home. 

I wish you a joyful and rejuvenating winter break and look forward to a bright 2024 with you.  

In community,  

Dr. Angélica Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
707-527-4431, angelicagarcia@santarosa.edu