The first 40 years
Thank you for being part of the Santa Fe Community College family as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary. To illustrate our journey from inception to the present, we have invited a group of distinguished community members who were part of the College’s beginnings to share their experiences. I hope you enjoy reading their reflections and perusing the photos from the past four decades.
As the college commemorates its past and forges its future, I am deeply grateful for the vision, dedication, and perseverance of our founders, as well as the countless individuals who have contributed to SFCC’s success over the years. I also want to acknowledge the generations of SFCC students who have made this institution their alma mater, enriching their lives and our community through the invaluable gift of higher education.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
BECKY ROWLEY, PH.D.
President
I was blessed to have been governor at a crucial time in the initial planning process of SFCC. I have long remembered the visit by New Mexico State Representative Ben Luján and other local legislators requesting that I add $5 million dollars to that year’s capital outlay appropriations for consideration by the New Mexico Legislature, then meeting in session in Santa Fe. I was, and remain, a very strong advocate for community colleges as well as for training centers at four-year institutions. I supported additional funding over the years for SFCC and often attended activities there. I am so proud of the accomplishments of everyone involved.
TONEY ANAYA
26th Governor of New Mexico, 1983 – 1987
When I think back to the beginnings of Santa Fe Community College, these words come to mind: vision, persistence, synergy, enthusiasm, and fun. My husband Bill Witter, who at the time was the state director of two-year colleges, was chosen to be the founding president in 1983. He assembled a group of four highly competent and experienced deans, who put together the staff and faculty. Plans for a permanent campus started immediately. By the fall of 1988, on what had been open land for cattle grazing, the beautiful first phase of the campus, with its central courtyard as homage to the Santa Fe Plaza, opened for classes. Tony Garcia, SFCC’s first dean of students, said about Bill and the experience of working with him, ‘His vision was enormous. Even though we believed in him, I don’t think anyone really thought it could happen. Who could have guessed today’s reality is what he saw back then.’
NANCY WITTER
SFCC Foundation Board Member Emeritus, 2010 – 2016
I was thrilled when Santa Fe Community College was first established in 1983. My excitement was not only for myself but for the many others who wanted to further their postsecondary education and didn’t have a community college close by. I immediately became a full-time student, and I have never regretted my decision. One of my first classes was an accounting course with then-instructor Randy Grissom. It was one of several courses I took at the college. Santa Fe Community College was the beginning of my formal postsecondary education. I eventually earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees with several different majors. It was at SFCC that I was inspired to continue my higher level of education. Making the decision to pursue an education is life-changing and essential for a person’s success. From the beginning, Santa Fe Community College has offered huge and varied opportunities to members of our community. I am proud to see its continued growth and development.
NANCY RODRIGUEZ
Democratic member, New Mexico Senate, 24th District,
1996 – present
I began teaching at Santa Fe Community College soon after it was established in 1983. I have continued to teach at SFCC for nearly 40 years as an adjunct and full-time professor. During this time, I’ve had the privilege of teaching over 1,000 students to play the guitar, and as a public speaking instructor I’ve heard over 20,000 speeches. The beautiful college that we share today originated from humble beginnings. When I began teaching at SFCC, we didn’t have a formal campus. I taught classes at locations around the city, including in Santa Fe High School portables, at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, and in empty elementary school classrooms in the evenings. I wasn’t discouraged by this; being part of this new endeavor was exciting. I am so proud to see what SFCC has become on its 40th anniversary. It has transformed into a flagship community college with facilities, programs, and people that are second to none. Here’s to the next 40 years!
ANDREW LOVATO, PH.D.
Professor, Santa Fe Community College, 1984 – present
I was one of three full-time faculty members when the college first opened. Since I taught a 7:30 a.m. accounting class, I can say that I taught the very first SFCC class. It was exciting to be part of a new college. Not everyone gets that opportunity. There was so much excitement among faculty and staff. We were going to get a chance to meet the needs of the community. We had put together a schedule of classes that we hoped would meet those needs, such as accounting, secretarial, English, math and history. I remember going to the old National Guard building where the first registration took place. All of us were astonished by the number of people standing in line. I talked with Magdalene Gonzalez, who was the first person to register for classes. Even though it was a full day of craziness, right after registration was completed, I went to my first burning of Zozobra.
RANDY W. GRISSOM
President, Santa Fe Community College, 2014 – 2017
Before I was elected to the Santa Fe Community College board in 1997, the college won me over by proving to be an incredible local resource to train and provide education for businesses in our community. At the time, I was running Open Hands. I asked the dean and SFCC staff to create a training program for beginning home health aides, and without hesitation it was done! During my time on the board, I have worked with the president and my fellow board members to create a hub of health care provider training. A 2007 bond allowed us to build a health and sciences building equipped with a mock emergency room and computerized mannequins that can simulate any kind of disease or condition. We were able to expand our nursing program, create an EMT program, and develop our respiratory therapy program. Today, we continue to try to address the health care workforce needs in our community.
LINDA SIEGLE
President and Owner, Resources for Change
SFCC Governing Board Member, 1997 – present
