Inside SFCC Noteworthy, 2026 Vol. 3

Howard Dittmer sworn in as SFCC Governing Board member             

SFCC welcomed a new member to its Governing Board on Feb. 25, when Howard Roy Dittmer, Ph.D., was sworn in. Retired municipal judge Angela “Spence” Pacheco administered the oath.

Dittmer joins the five-member board in Position #5. A retired engineer and former vice president of engineering and technology at ARPAC, he brings decades of leadership experience in manufacturing and product development and served more than 20 years on the Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board.

Dittmer moved to Lamy three years ago and said he was impressed by SFCC’s strong career and technical education programs.

“Howard brings a broad and highly relevant background in engineering and leadership to the College,” said SFCC President Becky Rowley, Ph.D. “The College welcomes Dr. Dittmer and looks forward to his contributions in advancing SFCC’s mission to empower students and strengthen community.”

“Santa Fe Community College is a valuable resource for Santa Fe and the surrounding communities,” Dittmer said. “I am excited to join the Governing Board and look forward to contributing to the continued success of the College, our students and our community.”

SFCC Dental Department reaches more than 2,200 children during Give Kids a Smile events

Santa Fe Community College’s Dental Department participated in the national Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) initiative throughout February, helping young children build healthy oral health habits through screenings and education.

Events began at SFCC’s Kids Campus with oral screenings and oral health education activities for young children. The outreach continued with Santa Fe Public Schools kindergarten through second grade students. In total, approximately 2,205 children—from 6 months to 8 years old—were served.

SFCC dental assistant and Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) students created fun, age-appropriate activities to help children learn about the importance of oral health while also introducing them to careers in dental care.

The program was supported by donations from the American Dental Association Foundation and Henry Schein, along with assistance from La Familia Dental staff and students, SFCC’s Kids Campus staff, Santa Fe Public Schools nurses and teachers, and SFCC Dental Department faculty, staff and students.

Learn more about Give Kids a Smile.

Learn more about SFCC’s Dental Programs.

Free Environmental Technician training available through SFCC

Santa Fe Community College is accepting applications through April 14 for its free Environmental Technician training program, which prepares participants for in-demand environmental careers.

The intensive five-week program runs April 20 through May 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road. Participants receive hands-on training and industry-recognized certifications that prepare them for environmental technician and hazardous materials management jobs.

The training is funded through a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and supported by partners including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Council, U.S. EPA and AGC New Mexico.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and be unemployed, underemployed or low-income. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply.

Questions? Contact Candice Mirabal at candice.mirabal@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1324.