March 26, 2025
Dear SRJC Community,

After an extensive and thoughtful search, I am pleased to share that I will be recommending Alia Dunphy to serve as Santa Rosa Junior College’s new Vice President of Human Resources. Pending approval at the April meeting of the Board of Trustees, Alia’s first day will be Monday, April 21, 2025.

This was a challenging position to fill, requiring a rare and unique combination of deep technical expertise, empathy, and strong leadership. I am confident Alia brings the right blend of skills and experience to serve our community well.  Thank you to the many faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and students who participated in the process. Whether you served on the interviewing and screening committee, attended candidate forums, or submitted feedback, your involvement was pivotal in informing this decision.

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. She has also served as an Associate Faculty, Director of the Multicultural and Diversity Center, Dean of Students, Chief Negotiator for the faculty and classified unions, and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Beyond higher education, Alia has worked with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, the Wiyot Tribe, and the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C., as an Anti-Poverty Fellow. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA from Cal Poly Humboldt, where she was also a student-athlete. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Organization & Leadership in Higher Education from the University of San Francisco. 

In recognition of her service, Alia received a Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Public Service from Congressman Mike Thompson for her work with the Wiyot Tribe through AmeriCorps VISTA.

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. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her college-aged daughter and her energetic labradoodle, Sammy. 

I want to thank the Human Resources team for your resilience and steady support during this transition. Your behind-the-scenes work has been essential to SRJC’s continued progress. I appreciate your professionalism, adaptability, and care, and I look forward to building upon the strong foundation you’ve helped to shape.

I am also deeply grateful to Vice President Kate Jolley for stepping in as Interim Vice President of Human Resources these past few months. Amid significant change, Kate led with empathy, clarity, and focus, advancing key initiatives and supporting the team with grace and strength. Her dedication to SRJC and her colleagues is evident in all that she does.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Alia to SRJC and thanking Kate for her leadership.

In Community,  

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