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FALL 2024 UPDATES
Matthew Long, Ed.D. Executive Dean
Wrapping Up Fall 2024....
As the semester comes to a close, I want to thank everyone for your hard work and commitment throughout the past few months. Fall 2024 has been a season of growth, collaboration, and progress for our campus community. If you’d like to reflect on some of the highlights and updates from earlier this semester, I encourage you to revisit the Campus Updates Session we hosted.
Scan the QR code to access the session and review key initiatives, projects, and achievements. Let’s carry the momentum of this semester into the new year. Wishing you all a restful and joyful break, and I look forward to what we’ll accomplish together in 2025!
Fall Enrollment Growth at SRJC Petaluma
Petaluma demonstrated strong growth in student enrollment this fall semester. The campus achieved a 22.24% increase in unduplicated headcounts, totaling 3,018 students. Similarly, enrollments at Petaluma saw a 19.27% rise in units enrolled, with a total of 4,592 enrollments. These numbers reflect the campus's growing appeal and its expanding role in supporting student enrollment within the SRJC district.
This upward trend underscores the campus's commitment to providing accessible and high-quality educational opportunities for our community.
We Need Your Feedback: Help Shape SRJC Petaluma’s Communications and Events!
Your voice matters! We’re conducting a short survey to better understand how you prefer to stay informed about SRJC Petaluma updates and events. By participating, you’ll help us tailor our communication methods and event planning to suit your needs and interests.
This is your opportunity to ensure your preferences are heard and to help make SRJC Petaluma a more engaging and inclusive campus. Please take a few moments to fill out the survey—it’s quick, easy, and vital for building a vibrant campus experience!
What’s Happening in the EOPS Office?
The Petaluma EOPS office is growing! This semester we welcomed two new team members: Daisy Cardenas, our full-time academic counselor, and Dalya Amador Arango, our intake specialist. Both bring valuable experience and are eager to connect with the Petaluma community to support student success.
We’ve expanded our services by adding Thursday evening hours to better accommodate students outside regular hours. Starting next semester, we will align our evening hours with the campus-wide schedule to offer even more flexibility.
Collaboration has been a key focus this semester. We’ve partnered with PUENTE, the Transfer Center, the Student Success Team, and the Petaluma Intercultural Center to offer workshops that support students' academic and personal growth.
We’re thrilled to see more students engaging with our services. The Petaluma EOPS office remains committed to supporting students and serving the campus community with dedication and enthusiasm.
Come visit us – we’re here to help! We’re located in Jacobs Hall, Room 109.
Engaging with Community through a Collaborative Project: a Quinceañera-Themed Art Show
A one-of-a-kind group art show—Quince Project—was organized and curated by Bianey Esquibel; a Petaluma Outreach Specialist that works alongside Elias Carreño at the Intercultural Center.
The opening night welcomed more than 200 guests at the Arlene Francis Center. It featured 16 local, multi-disciplinary artists with unique perspectives regarding the quinceañera tradition.
Noe Naranjo, expresses about his art piece: "In this project, I reflect on my experience as a queer boy, an outsider to the rituals of the quinceañera. Yearning for femininity yet finding no space to express it."
Artist, Amanda Ayala, shares, "For my art piece, I've thought about how I would've liked my coming-of-age ceremony to be, and how grateful I am to be able to take pieces of cherished experiences and embed them into this project."
Find out more: @quinceproject on Instagram.
A display of a handmade quince dress by local quinceañera fashion designer, a quince installation cake, raffle cake, Tacos el Gran Mac, and more!
Highlights from the 2nd Inaugural Diwali Celebration Event
Diwali Celebration 2024 was a dynamic cultural event that was well attended by our Sonoma County South Asian Community, along with student leaders, scholars, and yoga professionals.
K.D McComb - President of Yoga Club for SRJC Petaluma, TA for the Yoga Certificate Program, Recipient of Campus Impact Award.
Ameya Bela – KAD Faculty, Coordinator of the Yoga Certificate Program, Faculty Advisor to the Yoga Club.
K.D. and Ameya teamed up in our passion for yogic teachings and community outreach and hosted the second inaugural Diwali Celebration at SRJC Petaluma.
It is thrilling to the students to have K.D. as a resource, and to have the support of SRJC Petaluma for this Celebration. K.D. is well versed in Sanskrit and in Hindu storytelling, and she has worked hard to create this Diwali Celebration based on a multi-media, interactive storytelling of the great India epic Ramayama: the story of King Rama and the victory of good over evil.
The kind and knowledgeable lineage Brahmin priest, Pandit Viswanathan led the Sanskrit language Diwali ceremony.
Radhika Sitaraman, the president of the Petaluma Sri Shakti Temple explained the ceremony.
Executive representatives from Mandala Publishing were present; they allowed us to display the original artworks of B.G. Sharma. The publisher gave K.D. copyright permission to present 60 slides of B.G. Sharma's classical Rajasthani art depictions of the Ramayana in the auditorium, and gifted the Yoga Certificate program with several books, and continue to build the yoga library with new book releases given as gifts.
At least a dozen Yoga Student-Teachers took leadership roles in hosting our guests, volunteering for registration, food service, event production, auditorium tech, traditional floor mandala art-making (rangoli). Student engagement was lively and inspired as they learned many aspects of this major international holiday and how it relates to Yoga practices, philosophy, and traditions. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all the guests.
Experience Shepard Fairey: On The Wall at the Herold Mahoney Library Gallery
Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in Shepard Fairey: On The Wall, an extraordinary exhibit running through April 11, 2025, at the Herold Mahoney Library Gallery. Whether you’re planning a visit with students, colleagues, family, or friends, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy this dynamic showcase of Fairey’s iconic work.
This semester, the Herold Mahoney Library proudly partners with internationally renowned artist Shepard Fairey and the OBEY Giant team to bring this exhibition to life. Fairey’s commitment to making art accessible in everyday life resonates deeply with the library’s mission to ensure information is available to all.
Enhance your experience with the exhibit’s companion book display, featuring thought-provoking titles related to the themes explored in Fairey’s art. Additionally, the online Shepard Fairey Guide provides curated library resources and creative ideas for integrating the exhibit’s themes into coursework or programming.
For questions or collaboration opportunities, contact Librarian Loretta Esparza. Be sure to visit and explore the intersection of art, activism, and accessibility!
Welcome, Nicole Kitchen, Groundskeeper
We offer a warm welcome to Nicole Kitchen, who has joined the Petaluma Campus Facility Operations team as our new Groundskeeper I!
Nicole is a lifelong Bay Area resident who began her educational journey at Santa Rosa Junior College. While at SRJC, she discovered her passion for natural resource management through courses like tree identification and environmental law. She continued her studies at Sonoma State University, where she earned a BA in Geography, Environment, and Planning. For the past two years, Nicole has been contributing her skills to Marin County Parks.
When she’s not at work, Nicole enjoys camping, creating art, baking, and spending time at the beach with her dog. She is also a proud mom to a daughter who will graduate high school this June.
Nicole is thrilled to return to SRJC, combining her love of plants and the outdoors. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome when you see her around campus!
Student Health Services - NEW Hours
Student Health Services’ NEW hours:
9:00am-3:00pm
Monday’s and Wednesday’s.
Special this edition: Partnerships in Action with Café Puente
Mai Nazif serves on the Board of Café Puente, a non-profit organization here in Petaluma.
The mission of Café Puente is to cultivate a vibrant multicultural center where Spanish is the primary language, Latin American cultures are celebrated, and all are welcome.
Café Puente hosts a variety of programs, including art, dance, teaching of indigenous languages, and youth nights.
Besides serving on the board, I also run Spanish language conversation groups for the community and read children's books at events. I feel very fortunate to be involved with an organization that values and celebrates the Latino and indigenous cultures in our local community.
Dalya Amador is also involved! She coordinates the youth program.