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Phase II Dedication of the Petaluma Campus
September 26, 2008

SRJC’s Petaluma Campus Phase II Dedication was held at 2:00 PM on September 26, 2008, at Rotary Plaza on the Petaluma Campus. Celebrated during SRJC’s 90th anniversary year, the dedication included hundreds of civic dignitaries, community leaders, donors, SRJC students, faculty, and staff members who gathered to celebrate the completion of the massive construction projects and to honor the individuals that Phase II buildings were named for, including former Board Trustees Mike Smith and Herold Mahoney and current Board President Richard W. Call.

Phase I of the 40-acre campus was completed in 1995, and, after 13 years, the $65 million Petaluma Campus Phase II expansion now offers a second major SRJC learning venue to Sonoma County residents, especially south county citizens. The expanded campus can now accommodate up to 12,000 students in the coming years. Phase II includes seven new buildings; four new building complexes and three outlying buildings. With the completion of the Renovation R project now underway of the three original campus buildings, the Petaluma Campus will be fully completed by spring 2009, providing students with classes that are presented in some of the finest instructional facilities in the North Bay. The College is indebted to the citizens of Sonoma County whose overwhelming approval of Bond Measure A in 2002 made the expansion of the Petaluma Campus possible.

For a 24-page special section of the North Bay Business Journal focusing on the Petaluma Campus expansion, contact Public Relations at 527-4266.

Engineering Club Installs Atomic Clock

The Engineering Club members installed the club’s project in the Shuhaw Building on the Santa Rosa Campus, an atomic clock they made that’s accurate to one second per million years. Placed on a beautifully constructed tower, while visible from a far distance, the beautiful work and most accurate clock on campus should be seen up close, says Engineering/Physics Department Chair Younes Ataiiyan. The clock tower is illuminated at night using a solar panel that converts the thermonuclear fusion of the sun (occurring 90 millions miles away) to electricity on earth.

New Shone Farm Foundation Established

The new Shone Farm Foundation was established in fall 2008 to oversee SRJC’s Wine Education Lab. Its new slogan, “Strengthening the Link Between Agriculture and Education,” reflects the Foundation’s key purpose: “To provide students and faculty with the full range of educational opportunities and experiences required of a successful wine education program and to ensure that students obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for successful employment in the wine industry.”
The Foundation serves as the legal entity that fulfills license and bonding requirements to produce and sell wine like other local wineries. Students and faculty will now have full range of harvest and winemaking activities.

The Shone Farm Foundation Board is made up of 11 individuals from varied professional backgrounds. Board officers include:
Teejay K. Lowe, G&G Markets, Chair of the Board
Mack Schwing, WISE Academy, LLC, Vice Chair of the Board
Robert Agrella, SRJC, Secretary of the Board
Doug Roberts, SRJC, Treasurer of the Board

Board members include:
Clem Carinalli, Carinalli Investments
Robert Henry, School & Legal Services of California
Corey Oakley, WOW Event Solutions
Steve Olson, Dean Emeritus, SRJC
Martin Pozzi, Pozzi Ranch
Bill Rodda, American Ag Credit
Dennis Verity, Smith-Barney

The Shone Foundation Board will also oversee the management of the state and federally licensed Gallo Family Wine Laboratory situated at the Shone Farm, which gives students hands-on learning experiences in all facets of grape growing, harvesting, winemaking, and marketing of the finished product. Students and faculty can now produce limited quantities of the first vintage of SRJC Shone Farm wine that will be made exclusively from Shone Farm grapes in the Gallo Wine Lab.

Two Sets of Twins Lead Water Polo

Left to right: Melissa Loper, Allie King, Jessica Loper, Mandy King

It is remarkable to have twins on any team, but SRJC boasts two sets of twins - four champions - who all share the spotlight of SRJC’s championship Women’s Water Polo Team. The four appear in the photo at the Big 8 Conference Tournament Semi-Finals when the Bear Cubs defeated Delta College, qualifying the Women’s Water Polo team for a first trip to the Women’s Water Polo State Tournament in SRJC’s history. This victory advanced SRJC to the Conference Championship game against American River.

All four Bear Cubs were individually ranked in game stats in the state and were awarded the following honors in their freshman season this fall 2007:
Melissa Loper - Team Captain, All State Tournament Team, All American, All Northern California, All Conference
Allie King - SRJC Defensive Player of the Year, All Conference Honorable Mention
Jessica Loper - SRJC Co-Offensive Player of the Year All Northern California Honorable Mention, All Conference Honorable Mention
Mandy King - SRJC Co-offensive Player of the Year, All American, All Northern California, All Conference

Articles about the twins appeared in several newspapers, including the Napa Valley Register: “They are some of the highest quality student-athletes I have ever had the privilege of working with in my years at SRJC, and they will continue to represent SRJC very well in the seasons ahead,” says Coach Jill McCormick.

April Chapman Appointed Dean III

April Chapman was appointed Dean III, Public Safety Training Center, effective July 1, 2008. A graduate of SRJC, April completed her bachelor's degree at St. Mary’s College in Moraga in management and a master’s degree at the Sonoma State University in psychology, organizational development. She also has a paralegal certificate from Sonoma State and is a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Master Instructor. April brings to the position over 30 years experience in public safety, having started her law enforcement career in 1972 as a cadet with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department.  In 1976 she became a Police Officer with the City of Petaluma for two years. Returning in 1978 to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, she was a Deputy Sheriff for 10 years and a Detective in the Violent Crimes Division. In 1988 she became a District Attorney Investigator, retiring as a Sergeant in 2007. She started teaching law enforcement programs at SRJC in 1984, and served on P.O.S.T. committees. She has worked as the Public Safety Training Center Director of In-Service and Corrections Training since March 2006.

Shone Farm’s Sauvignon Blanc
“Best San Francisco Sauvignon Blanc”

In the June 20, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle’s Wine Section, “The Chronicle Wine Selections of Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc of 2007,” the Benziger Shone Farm Russian River Sauvignon Blanc was featured as one of the finest: “This single-vineyard effort from a parcel in Forestville, which also serves as an agricultural teaching facility for Santa Rosa Junior College, was perhaps the most serious effort we found, and the best of the tasting. ” The Shone Farm wine was the only three star out of the 45 wines tasted by the panel, and of which only 14 wines made the newspaper list. This is the same wine that won “Best of Class Sauvignon Blanc of the 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Fair,” says Bob Fraser, Chair of SRJC’s Agriculture/Natural Resources Department.

Lorraine Wilson Selected Dean III

Lorraine Wilson joined SRJC’s staff on June 23, 2008, as Dean III of Occupational Education and Economic Development. She completed a bachelor’s at the University of California at Irvine in psychology, a master’s in social welfare administration from the University of California, and brings over 15 years of management experience education, business, and government. She was the National Director for the Marriott Foundation, Dean of Career Education and Workforce Development at the College of Marin, and a director for a 22 agency collaborative. She joins SRJC’s staff after most recently leading a federal demonstration grant for three years to train law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges in the identification and prosecution of elder abuse, which included duties for the Director of Health and Human Services in Marin County.

Kimberlee Messina Appointed Dean

SRJC’s Kimberlee Messina was appointed Dean I, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in May 2008. She was a full-time Instructor of Spanish at SRJC from 1997 to 2007, and served as the Interim Dean of STEM since July 1, 2007. Kimberlee earned a B.A. in sociology and a master’s in Spanish at California State University Sacramento, advanced to candidacy in the doctoral program at the University of California at Berkeley in Hispanic Languages and Literature, and recently earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the joint doctoral program with the University of California at Davis and Sonoma State.  

Cultural Diversity & Health Care Day

On October 15, 2007, 31 SRJC nursing students from 16 countries - who speak 22 languages - participated in the first annual Celebrate Cultural Diversity and Health Care Day. Many students made presentations at workshops; others brought delicious dishes for a multicultural potluck. During the event, students discussed what health care is like in their nations and what folk medicine interventions are practiced in other cultures. Organized to help students become top nurses, participants’ responses were positive: "I feel like I've just participated in a World Health Organization health-care conference" one student said; another added,“ I feel proud, confident; I learned a lot, it was fun and the food was great!”

New Restaurant Management Certificate Offered

SRJC now offers a Restaurant Management Certificate with classes presented by industry professionals Jeffrey Madura, Michael Hirschberg, Dan Berman and Betsy Fischer.

Restaurant Operations focuses on the fundamentals of operating a restaurant. Introduction to Wine in the Restaurant prepares students to successfully integrate wine sales and service into restaurant operations. Beverage Management introduces students to the legal and social responsibilities of selling and serving alcoholic beverages, the promotion and service of coffee, teas and waters, purchasing, cost controls and employee training. Internships and job placement are included in the program. Students can earn an associate in arts degree with a major in restaurant management. Students who successfully complete the program are prepared in skills as entry-level managers in the culinary and hospitality industries. Contact (707) 577-8358 for information.

Theatre Arts Students Honored

Theatre Arts students attended the 2008 Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, an event that recognizes the finest, most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs across the country. This year SRJC student George Scott won the Western Region (California, Nevada, Hawaii, Utah, Arizona, and Guam) for Costume Design for his designs for SRJC’s production of Electricidad. He was also selected to go on to the National Festival in Washington D.C. where he competed with graduate students at the regional and national levels. A number of SRJC students were nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition Scholarship in recognition of their fine performances:
Angela Favreau - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, Electricidad
Ana Karina Sanchez - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, Electricidad
Gabrielle Grady - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, Aida
Carmen Mitchell - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, Aida

Vocational Nursing Students Participate in Countywide Disaster Drill 

On October 25, 2007, dozens of Vocational Nursing full-time students participated with Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Emergency Medical Service, and countywide participants at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in an annual Disaster Drill. The disaster scenario: an earthquake struck with the epicenter in Glenn Ellen, which damaged the Sonoma Valley Hospital requiring transfer of patients to Santa Rosa.

Students role played walking injured, and later took tours of the command center. They also participated in the general debriefing with the staff. Jerry Martin, SRMH emergency coordinator and incident commander, complimented the students’ professional performances. Instructor Peggy Goebel conducted a student debriefing on preparedness, the role SRJC plays in a countrywide disaster, and local and national disaster response.

Freund, Ethington and Nussinow Attend Environmental Education Institute

Philosophy Chair and Director of the college Institute for Environmental Education (IEE) George Freund, Robert Ethington, Director Student Affairs and New Student Programs, and Culinary Arts Instructor Jill Nussinow participated in the “2007-2008 Leadership for Ecology and Economy Program.” The Leadership Institute, based in Sonoma County, is dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future for California’s North Coast. Its goal is to train environmentalists to be future leaders and educate community leaders and the public that the future of the economy and quality of life are integrally related.

The cohort includes 35 students from diverse backgrounds ranging from government and private industry to education and community advocacy groups. Participants meet one day per month between September and May and pursue training through the seminar-style course that includes field trips, presentations by local and regional experts, panel discussions, hands-on exercises, and a group leadership project. Leadership Institute for Ecology and Economy Web site: www.ecoleader.org

Vocational Nursing Students Assist Kaiser Flu Clinics

From October 24 to November 15, 2007, Vocational Nursing students participated for several days a week at Kaiser Hospital in the Flu Clinic. Under the direction of Kaiser Flu Clinic Coordinator Tracy Adams, RN, and Flu Clinic RN Dorothy Tracy RN, SRJC VNs were on the job giving 4000-5000 injections to Kaiser patients (that’s 75-125 injections per VN student). Many SRJC students are bilingual in Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian, among other languages, which greatly helped bilingual clinic patients. SRJC students learned to set up and run the daily clinics, administer the injections, screen clients, and strengthen patient interaction and communication skills.

The VN students were praised by patients and staff for their professional clinic performance, including commendation from Carol Larson, Director of Nursing Services at Kaiser, for helping make the clinic a success.

Instructor Lynda Williams Appears In Science Magazine

SRJC Physics Instructor Lynda Williams appeared in the prestigious Science Magazine, September 12, 2008, issue in an article titled “Creative Ways to Energize Your Career."

Highlighting her innovative approach to physics and technology, Lynda performs on weekends "Carbon Is a Girl's Best Friend" and other technology songs she writes as "The Physics Chanteuse.” Lynda has transformed her skills and training as an instructor into a uniquely stimulating presentation that is humorous, informative, and dramatic. Her academic knowledge combined with her imaginative exploration of science brings many topics to life for students and audiences alike. Contact Lynda at lwilliams@santarosa.edu.

Doug Roberts Named Vice President Business Services

On March 31, 2008, Doug Roberts became SRJC’s Vice President of Business Services. Doug came to SRJC after 14 years the Contra Costa Community College District. Having served as one of the college’s external auditors, Doug was first assigned as Contra Costa's Comptroller/Assistant CFO, and for over four years he served alternately as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance and the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration.

Doug earned his CPA license in 1993, and before joining the community college system, he spent four years as an auditor and six years as a site geologist in petroleum exploration in North America. He currently serves as Treasurer for two SRJC Foundations, and as Treasurer for the Cal Band Alumni Association, having been a percussionist in the UC Berkeley band while enrolled.

Philosophy Instructor George Freund Honored

On August 12, 2008, Philosophy Instructor George Freund was among Sonoma County’s top educators who were spotlighted at the 23rd Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce Education & Business Partnership Breakfast. Bringing business and education communities together to recognize the outstanding contributions made by K-college level teachers, George was honored for the exemplary contributions he’s made to education and the community. His innovative approach to instruction, serving as a positive role model to students, contributing to the community at large, and promoting student achievement are highlights of his success as an educator. Students enjoy George’s innovative curricular approach and the vision he brings to instruction, for example, he developed a new course about the environment, Environmental Studies, which was offered in fall 2008.

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