May 21, 2026
Dear SRJC Community,
As we close out the academic year, I find myself reflecting on the resilience and purpose that define Santa Rosa Junior College.
This year, like so many before it, has been full of change and moments that have asked us to stretch and grow. The truth is, our “new normal” can feel like living in a state of constant churn. But even in that churn, SRJC continues to be a steady, reliable presence for our students and our community.
I want to highlight a few students whose journeys this year remind us why our work matters.
- Dani came to SRJC unsure of her place in higher education but found community and confidence through the Puente Program. Majoring in psychology, she discovered her voice as a campus and community leader and served as a Peer Coach, Puente Club President, and an advocate with nonprofits and social justice organizations. Her lived experiences shaped her commitment to mental health, holistic care, and community activism. This fall, Dani will transfer to UCLA to continue her journey toward becoming a psychologist and pursuing her master's degree as well.
- A lifelong combat sports athlete, Luana chose SRJC after realizing it offered the right financial path and the chance to continue her wrestling career as the women’s program was being built this year. What she found was a supportive community where professors, counselors, coaches, and teammates helped her grow academically and athletically. Through scholarships and the encouragement of her family and coaches, she was able to fully commit to being a student‑athlete while working and commuting. Her dedication paid off this spring when she became SRJC’s first Women’s Wrestling state champion with a perfect 4–0 record.
- In their first year as a club, SRJC’s Architecture Studio students earned the Best Construction Award at Cal Poly’s prestigious Design Village competition, standing out among roughly 45 visiting teams. Diego, Brendan, Sofia, Suastegui, Kevin, Bronte, Jeffrey, and other members of the Architecture Club designed and built their structure in just one week before transporting and assembling it for the 48‑hour challenge in Poly Canyon. Despite rain cutting the weekend short, students described the experience of bringing their ideas to life and learning from architecture faculty and peers across the state as one of the most valuable parts of their education.
The stability, hope, and purpose these students found at SRJC is not accidental. They reflect the environment you create every day, shaped by your willingness to engage, to ask hard questions, and to offer ideas for growth.
Looking Ahead: Summer and Fall Engagement
As I reflect on our reorganization conversations, I have seen the way you’ve shown up by attending town halls, offering comments through the online form, and participating in department-level conversations. You are helping us shape the direction of SRJC with honesty and care.
This summer, the President’s Cabinet will review the input from the college community, continue consultations with constituent group leaders, and begin to align our organizational structures and processes. Some examples of the student success data we’re reviewing in disaggregated format include, but are not limited to, enrollment, course and program completion, persistence and retention rates, and student-centered funding formula metrics. These data will be made available on the reorg website soon to ensure consistent and transparent communication.
As outlined in our phases, we’ll be asking for your input again at the start of the fall semester. Your engagement is welcome and essential for our efforts to stay grounded in our mission and goals of the re-organization while we move forward.
Growth, Innovation, and Fiscal Sustainability
I want to be clear: designing and achieving fiscal sustainability does not mean shrinking our mission or vision. It means we are creating a foundation that allows us to grow in the right ways to serve our community’s workforce needs and support the educational goals of our students.
In times of change, it is easy to focus on what might feel like loss. But change also creates space for new ideas, new programs, and new ways of serving students. Through these efforts, we are positioning SRJC to be fiscally sustainable and on a path toward growth. My hope is that you will engage the work with innovation and collaboration, so that we can support diverse points of view to inform our actions moving forward.
A Community Effort
Our community has been a partner in this work. Through community roundtables, advisory committees, and ongoing conversations, they are helping us imagine what SRJC can be for the next generation. Their engagement is a reminder of the respect and pride Sonoma County holds for SRJC and how deeply our community values higher education and the role SRJC plays in their ability to access higher education.
It is an honor to serve an institution with such a long, proud history that plays a vital role in Sonoma County. We are this county’s community college, an honor we respect and value. The summer months offer some time and space for rest and reconnection with the people and places that sustain you. I hope to spend time with my family taking hikes, walking with my dog, and reading. Please feel free to share any book recommendations with me, as I’m always interested in expanding my reading repertoire. I hope you find time this summer to fill your cup, knowing that you have contributed so much to our SRJC community.
Each of you has my deep respect, appreciation, and affirmation that SRJC is better because you are a part of our community. While I may not be able to interact with each of you every day, please know that every connection, big or small, keeps me grounded in our work. There is no other educational institution I would rather be at than SRJC. I am committed to our mission and our community, and I look forward to continuing this work together in the fall.
In Community,
Dr. Angélica Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
707-527-4431, angelicagarcia@santarosa.edu
