Lasting Impact, Leadership, and Lifelong Learning at SFCC

SFCC Alum Recognized for Academic Excellence at UNM

Santa Fe Community College alum Ian Widrick-Martinez is being recognized by the University of New Mexico as one of its Fall 2025 Inspiring Graduates — a distinction that highlights students whose academic journeys reflect perseverance, purpose, and impact.

Before earning recognition at UNM, Widrick-Martinez began his higher education path at SFCC, where he completed coursework that helped lay the foundation for his continued academic success. Like many SFCC students, Widrick-Martinez used the college as an accessible starting point — a place to build skills, clarify goals, and prepare for the next step in his education.

UNM’s profile of Widrick-Martinez highlights his dedication to learning and community engagement, underscoring the long-term impact that early educational opportunities can have when paired with determination and support.

Widrick-Martinez’ story reflects a familiar pathway for many SFCC students: starting close to home, taking advantage of affordable and flexible options, and then transferring on to pursue advanced degrees and broader opportunities.

Widrick-Martinez says, “SFCC taught me the importance of building a professional identity early in my education and career. Through my campus engagement in Student Government Association, serving as the student representative on SFCC’s Governing Board and Foundation Board of Directors, and uncovering my passion for public service and nonprofit leadership, I learned how to lead with purpose, accountability, and integrity. Those experiences gave me the confidence to pursue my MPA and shaped the professional values I carry into my work today. My degree may bear my name, but its foundation was built at SFCC.”

SFCC is proud to celebrate alumni achievements wherever their journeys lead — and to remain a launching point for students doing meaningful work across New Mexico and beyond.

Read UNM’s full feature on Ian Widrick-Martinez: https://news.unm.edu/news/fall-2025-inspiring-graduate-ian-widrick-martinez

Vice Chair Piér Quintana Honored for Service

At the December 2025 Santa Fe Community College Governing Board Meeting, President Becky Rowley and members of the board honored Vice Chair Piér Quintana as she concludes her six-year term of service. Quintana’s term officially ends on Dec. 31, 2025, marking a significant period of leadership and transformation for the college.

President Rowley presented Quintana with a commemorative plaque and expressed gratitude on behalf of faculty, staff and students, stating that the college “really, really appreciates your service,” and “you have helped us grow into a better institution and we are really going to miss you.”

Quintana reflected on her time with the board, saying that “this has been six years of my life that have been incredible, but not without their challenges.” She thanked the community for trusting her, her fellow board members and President Rowley for their collaboration, and her family for their support.

During her remarks, Quintana highlighted several key advancements achieved during her tenure, including the establishment of public work sessions to improve transparency and informed decision-making, navigating major pandemic-era challenges and strengthening program review processes, supporting the college’s transition into CHESS to expand access to higher education statewide, advancing Mosaica as a fast-responding workforce development engine, and championing paid parental leave. She noted that SFCC is the first community college in New Mexico to offer paid parental leave and only the second higher education institution in the state to do so, adding that it is “the better policy” and an achievement the college should be proud of.

She encouraged ongoing vigilance in governance as education evolves, noting that “as we find ourselves in a new political and technological era, the role of governance will look different.” She emphasized the importance of continuing to encourage students to think, speak and act for themselves and to “preserve the development of the human brain.”

Quintana closed her remarks by thanking the college community once again and saying, “I’m looking forward to hanging out with you all socially… Godspeed, my friends.”

To enroll, visit the course listing online. For more information, contact instructor Isabel Rodriguez at irodriguez1@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1060.

Continuing Education Spring 26 Registration is Now Open

Spring 2026 Continuing Education Catalog Now Available
SFCC’s Continuing Education program has released its Spring 2026 Noncredit Class Catalog, featuring 87 new courses and expanded partnerships with local organizations such as Revolution Bakery, The Railyard Performance Center, and The Four Seasons Resort Santa Fe. The catalog introduces new weekend and evening options—more than 40 courses designed to make lifelong learning more accessible for working adults.

This semester also welcomes acclaimed author Elaine Koyama, who will teach Making Memoirs Memorable, a course exploring the art of storytelling through lived experience. Registration for Spring 2026 Continuing Education classes is now open. View the catalog and register at sfcc.edu/ce or call 505-428-1676.