Campus Weekly
SFCC Library presents author Ramona Emerson in a free online reading at 6 p.m. April 22 and a creative session on April 29
Pre-register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFCCWriGenSpring26
SFCC’s Library in partnership with SFCC’s Creative Writing program will present author Ramona Emerson in a free reading at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, followed by a creative session on Wednesday, April 29. This is the third featured author this spring.
If you registered for previous Spring sessions, it’s not necessary to register for the upcoming readings. But if you have not already registered, please do so at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFCCWriGenSpring26
Ramona Emerson
- Reading: 6 p.m. April 22
- Creative Session: 6 p.m. April 29
Bio: Ramona Emerson is a Diné writer and filmmaker originally from Tohatchi, New Mexico. She received her degree in Media Arts in 1997 from the University of New Mexico and her MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) in 2015 from the Institute of American Indian Arts. She has worked as a professional cinematographer, writer, and editor for over thirty years and is currently working on her eighth and ninth film project, Crossing the Line and Through Her Lens. She is an Emmy nominee, a Sundance Native Lab Fellow, a Time-Warner Storyteller Fellow, a Tribeca All-Access Grantee and a WGBH Producer Fellow. Ramona just released her second novel, Exposure, the follow-up to her debut novel Shutter, which was published by Soho Press in 2022 and longlisted for the National Book Award, a finalist for the PEN Hemingway, PEN Open Book and Edgar Awards among others. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she and her husband/producer, Kelly Byars run their production company Reel Indian Pictures. Ramona is also an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico in the department of Film and Digital Arts.
Participant Reading
- 6 p.m. May 6 participant reading
The Participant Reading will allow those who’ve attended the series to share some of their personal writing inspired by the series.
See the full press release about the Spring Writing Generation series.
This semester’s readings have been riveting with terrific feedback from participants. Thank you to SFCC Library Director who has partnered with Stanley “Austin” Eichelberger to present the SFCC Library series.
Nye said, “As a librarian, I love seeing people discover their voices through this series. The Wri-Gen Series invites participants into a welcoming, creative space where they can learn from New Mexico writers, respond to prompts, and build confidence in their writing. The closing reading each semester is always moving and memorable.”
Eichelberger added, “These events are about giving people space and inspiration to write. We’re excited to offer this series that gives the online community an opportunity to engage with creative writers while developing their own voices.”
For additional information about the series, please contact SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1506. For more information about SFCC’s Creative Writing program visit https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/creative-writing/.
Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative (SFCCI) Showcase will highlight student projects from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at SF HEC
Event will highlight work by local students participating in the Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative
Cheer on local students when Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative (SFCCI) presents its third SFCCI Student Showcase, 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road. The event is free and open to the public.
SFCCI is a community partnership, providing challenge-based learning opportunities in digital creativity and coding to learners and educators throughout Santa Fe, with support from Apple’s Community Education Initiative. Since the launch of SFCCI in 2023, more than 2500 students have participated.
The SFCCI Student Showcase is an opportunity for learners and educators working with SFCCI to share their accomplishments in digital creativity with our community. This year’s showcase will feature several mobile apps, learning to code projects, films, and other creative media.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
Above are images from the 2025 SFCCI Student Showcase.
News and Announcements
- Fall registration opens to all on Tuesday, April 21
- HVAC Upgrades Construction begins April 20 and continues through May 29
- Northern NM Healthcare Career Fair connected SFCC students with employers
- Panda Express fundraiser to benefit Dental Health Smiles Club on Thursday, April 23
- OIT Maintenance Alert from 6 a.m. – noon, Sunday, April 26
- DWI Awareness Day event Monday, April 27, in the Campus Center
- Dental Assisting students hosted Dental table clinics
- Celebrate Culture Day Wednesday, May 6 in the Courtyard
- Collective Glass exhibition continues through April 29 in Dean’s Gallery
- Registration for CE Summer classes continues
- Summer registration continues
- SFCC Foundation sponsors Spring in Your Step 5-k run/walk at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 10, at SFCC
- Listen to Richard Eeds’ interview with Monique Anair about the booming broadband industry
- Glass Club Splash Spring Sale is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29-30 in the main hallway
- Save the date: HSE graduation from 5 to 7 p.m. May 19 at FEC
- Check out Community College Month events
- SFCC to have two commencement ceremonies on May 16
- Registration open for Total Immersion Swim Clinic on April 25-26 at William C. Fitness Education Center
- Spring Career Fair was very successful
- Check out the latest Inside SFCC
- Capital High School exhibition continues in the main hallway
- Student Nurse Association will host Vitalant Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in FEC parking lot
- Dental Department accepting applications
- SFCC to host Broadband Networking Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24 at SF Higher Education Center
Fall registration opens to all on Tuesday, April 21
Encourage your friends and family to register for the Fall semester. Also, don’t forget to remind students that the best way to ensure a spot in the classes they need is to register as soon as possible.
Visit https://www.sfcc.edu/get-started/apply-and-register/ for information about applying and registering for SFCC. Call 505-428-1270 for assistance.
HVAC Upgrades Construction begins April 20 and continues through May 29
Click image to enlarge.
HVAC Upgrades Construction
To Begin April 20 to May 29, 2026
Accces to General Services Through Exterior Service Yard Only (See map in graphic above.)
Thank You For Your Patience While We Provide Necessary Improvements.
Contact Facilities and Operations Assistant Director and Campus Planner Andrea Mueller at andreamueller1@sfcc.edu | 505-930-9781.
Northern NM Healthcare Career Fair connected SFCC students with employers
Thank you to Academic Program Director Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy and Community Health Worker Jessica Balladares, Anne Black and Kristen Krell from Northern New Mexico Workforce Integration Network (WIN) for all of their work in coordinating the successful Northern New Mexico Healthcare Career Fair on April 15. The event was presented in partnership with the Northern New Mexico Workforce Integration Network (WIN), SFCC Foundation and the Regional Development Corporation. Thank you to Dean Terri Tewart and the many faculty and staff members who assisted with the event.
SFCC is also grateful to the many sponsors and employers who participated in the event.
Thanks to Ben Lauer from MPR for taking photos at the event. Click to enlarge.
Panda Express fundraiser to benefit Dental Health Smiles Club on Thursday, April 23
Make a purchase at the Panda Express at 3522 Zafarano Drive, on Thursday, April 23, to support SFCC’s Dental Health Smiles Club.
The fundraising activitiy is supported in part by the SFCC Foundation.
If you are ordering online, please use code 3859595. Or scan the image above and present in person.
For questions, contact Karla Y Martinez-Talavera at karla.martineztalave@sfcc.edu.
OIT Maintenance Alert from 6 a.m. – noon, Sunday, April 26
OIT Maintenance Alert 4/26/26
OIT will be performing maintenance on Sunday, April 26, from 6 a.m.-12 p.m.
All systems will be affected by intermittent outages.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the OIT Service Desk at 505-428-1222.
DWI Awareness Day event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 27, in the Campus Center
SFCC Community,
You’re invited to join us for Drive While Intoxicated (DWI) Awareness Day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 27 in the Campus Center.
This event will highlight the importance of DWI awareness through a blend of educational information and interactive impairment activities designed to be both impactful and engaging.
Plus, enjoy some free popcorn while you’re there!
We look forward to seeing you.
Office of Student Engagement
Dental Assisting students hosted Dental table clinics
Each year, SFCC’s Dental Assisting (DA) program students host Dental table clinics. The students work on the assigned projects along with professors, learning proper research protocols and techniques, and then present poster and oral explanations of their learning.
The term “table clinic” typically implies an interactive display. The community is invited and the attendees evaluate the presentations on criteria such as quality of poster, quality of oral explanations, uniqueness of the project, and the application of the information to clinical dentistry. The goal is to help DA students explore something innovative or emerging in the dental field and share their insights in a professional and engaging way. This project allows students to demonstrate their research skills, critical thinking, and communication skills. This year the event was from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 at SFCC’s Health & Sciences building Bio-wall area. The event was well attended by the campus community and off-campus community. Thank you to the SMILES Club for hosting the snacks at the event.
To learn about the SFCC’s Dental Programs, please email: aamna.nayyar@sfcc.edu or call at 505-428-1258. Visit: https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/dental-2/
See a brief video from the event below:
Celebrate Culture Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 in the Courtyard
Dear SFCC Students, Faculty and Staff,
You’re warmly invited to join us for Culture Day at the Santa Fe Community College from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, in the Courtyard.
Dear SFCC Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Come celebrate the vibrant cultures that make up our SFCC community! This special event will bring us together through live cultural performances, interactive activities, and resource tables featuring campus departments, student clubs and community organizations.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Culture Day is a chance to connect, learn from one another, and celebrate the diversity that enriches our campus. Whether you stop by for a few minutes or stay for the full experience, we would love to see you there.
Let’s come together in the spirit of community, culture, and celebration.
We invite you to wear attire that represents your country or heritage.
The best outfit will be awarded two tickets to Sky Cinema.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Warmly,
Office of Student Engagement
Collective Glass exhibition continues through April 29 in Dean’s Gallery
SFCC’s Art on Campus opened Collective Glass in the Dean’s Gallery (Fine Arts lobby) on April 9 and the exhibition will continue through April 29.
The exhibition showcases glass artwork from students and instructors from Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), along with work by artists from Liquid Light, Prairie Dog Glass, Tesuque Glass and members of the New Mexico Glass Alliance. The show features functional bowls, platters and vessels, jewelry, and games, along with sculptural fine arts. Collective Glass continues through Thursday, April 23.
About the Collective Glass pop-up
More than 30 artists are featured, including Barbara Bloomberg, Willi Haye, Luetta Donalds, Russell Frye, Amy Griffith, Deborah Gerrity, Elodie Holmes, Gurudaya Khalsa, Debra Meyer, Josephine Lazarus, Spooner Marcus, Patrick Morrissey, Jayne Nordstrom, Jazmin Novak, Jeff Phillips, Andrea Polli, Ellen Premack, Fred Roensch and Linda Mae Tratechard.
“Our exhibitors range from new learners to advanced professional artists,” said Roensch, an SFCC student studying glass sculpture. “The final pieces are often visually stunning surprises when they come out of the kiln.”
Glass artists use a range of techniques such as casting, fusing, blowing, and painting glass. SFCC instructor Patrick Morrissey said, “Many of these artists have been working in glass for twenty or more years and are using new processes. In glass, many techniques are possible and the artists who experiment are always sharing new ideas.” IAIA adjunct faculty member at the Alan Houser Sculpture Studio Russell Frye said, “Many more students get the chance to work in glass now, are taking a serious interest, and are loving this old but new medium available in a college setting.”
SFCC Pop-Up Shows/Exhibitions
SFCC’s short-term pop-up shows are showcased in the Dean’s Gallery in the front lobby of the Fine Arts Center.
Pop-up shows in Dean’s Gallery are available for viewing during regular campus open hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visitors who stop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday can also see the current exhibition in the Visual Arts Gallery.
For more information, contact Director of Art on Campus Linda Cassel via email at linda.cassel@sfcc.edu or by phone at 505-428-1501.
Thank you to Dean James “Jim” Wysong, Ed. D., and film adjunct faculty member Milton Riess for sharing these wonderful photos from the opening! Click to enlarge.
Registration for Continuing Education Summer classes continues
Kids Camp returns along with new Arts Academy programming.
SFCC announces registration is open for Summer 2026 Continuing Education (CE) classes. The Summer 2026 Continuing Education catalog features an expanded lineup of classes and the long-awaited return of summer Kids Camps, offering week-long programs designed to inspire young learners. The Summer CE term begins on May 26.
The catalog is available online at https://www.sfcc.edu/continuing-education/, in print at the college and Santa Fe Higher Education Center as well as Santa Fe public libraries. Call 505-428-1676 for registration assistance. Summer offers a great time to soak up the season with creative learning, hands-on experiences and outdoor adventure.
Kids Camps return
After a hiatus, SFCC Continuing Education is excited to reintroduce summer Kids Camps for ages 5 to 14, with immersive week-long programs in art, culinary arts and outdoor adventure. These engaging camps give young learners the opportunity to explore creativity, develop new skills, and make friends in a supportive, fun learning environment during the summer months.
“Reintroducing Kids Camps is an exciting moment for Continuing Education and for families in our community,” said Benjamin Lincoln, Director of Continuing Education at Santa Fe Community College. “These camps are designed to spark curiosity and creativity while giving young learners a memorable and enriching summer experience.”
Continuing Education forges new partnerships
The Summer 2026 catalog also celebrates a new partnership with SFCC’s School of Art and Design to launch the Arts Academy at SFCC, a collection of noncredit arts programs offering advanced-level instruction for learners seeking to refine their creative practice.
Continuing Education’s work is strengthened by partnerships across Santa Fe, including The Four Seasons Resort Santa Fe, CHOMP, Johnny Vee and the Las Cosas Kitchen Shoppe, Revolution Bakery, Sky Railway, Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum, Dance Station, The Reel Life, The Wilderness Institute, The Hut, the City of Santa Fe and NMSU Extension Service.
The Continuing Education department also benefits from collaborations with SFCC campus partners including Energy Smart Academy; Culinary Arts; Film & Photography; School of Art and Design; Art on Campus; Media Arts; Printmaking and Book Arts; the SFCC Library; Woodworking; Ceramics and the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center.
“With the support of our partners across campus and throughout the community, Continuing Education at SFCC continues to expand opportunities for lifelong learning, cultural connection and professional growth,” Lincoln said.
The Summer 2026 Continuing Education Catalog features a wide variety of personal enrichment and professional development courses including art, culinary arts, outdoor exploration, language learning, digital media, wellness, and professional skills.
Online registration for Summer 2026 Continuing Education classes begins at 9 a.m. April 13 at https://www.sfcc.edu/continuing-education. In-person registration is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 131 at SFCC, 6401 Richards Avenue. Call 505-428-1676 for registration assistance during the same hours and days as in-person registration. The print CE catalogs should be arriving in mailboxes on April 20.
Registration for the summer term continues
Registration for the summer term is now open. Encourage your friends and family to consider taking classes this summer. An extensive range of in-person, online and hybrid classes are offered in the summer.
Visit https://www.sfcc.edu/get-started/apply-and-register/ if you need to apply or need registration guidance. You can also call 505-428-1270 or stop by the Student Affairs Office (Welcome & Advising) during business hours.
Register early for the best selection of classes.
SFCC Foundation sponsors Spring in Your Step 5-k run/walk at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 10, at SFCC
Join sponsors SFCC Foundation and State Employees Credit Union for a celebratory 5-k run/walk to benefit Girls on the Run Santa Fe at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 10 at SFCC. Register soon at springinyourstep5k.com.
The $25 registration fee will increase after April 18. There will be a special Mother’s Day surprise for moms.
Girls on the Run Santa Fe is a youth development program for third–fifth grade participants that combines physical activity with social-emotional learning. Led by trained volunteer coaches, the program focuses on building confidence, fostering friendships, and developing essential life skills such as emotional awareness and empathy.
Girls on the Run Santa Fe has been a fixture in the community since 2006, making it one of the longer-established local programs in the area. This marks the first year that Santa Fe Community College is hosting the culminating 5K event.
The season concludes with a celebratory 5K, where participants run alongside peers and mentors, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment, belonging, and personal growth.
Listen to Richard Eeds podcast with Monique Anair about fiber optic technician training and Broadband Networking/Job Fair on April 24
Richard Eeds of KTRC interviewed Director of Workforce Development Monique Anair, Ed.D., about the upcoming fiber optics training program, as well as the second annual Broadband Networking/Job Fair set for 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road. To attend the event, RSVP at https://forms.office.com/r/yt3fGDC1eA.
The upcoming fiber optic technician training is free to New Mexico residents and begins April 20 at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center. Register at https://sfcc.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=7534 or call 505-428-1119.
Listen to the interview at https://santafe.com/pod…/richard-eeds-show-april-8-2026-2/
Glass Club Splash Spring Sale is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29-30 in the main hallway
The Glass Club will have a Splash Spring Glass Club Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29-30 in the main hallway. The student sale features functional bowls, platters and vessels, jewelry, games, outdoor accent pieces and sculptures.
Student artists selling work at the sale: Barbara Bloomberg, Bob Carson, Luetta Donalds, Gurudaya Khalsa, Nina Mastrangelo, Diana Shepherd, Yahne McLemore, Jayne Nordstrom, Andrea Polli, Ellen Premack, Fred Roensch and Leslie Walker Hirsch.
These artists use different hot glass techniques such as kiln work (casting and fusing) and glass blowing. Some artists include other mediums such as metal or stone.
Patrick Morrissey, SFCC Glass Sculpture instructor, said, “Many of these students have worked in glass for ten or more years. They push the envelope exploring new and complementary art processes. The artists share and riff from each other’s works discovering new ways to manipulate and bring out the beauty of glass as an art medium.”
Some of the glass club artists travel abroad. They’ve visited international glass artists and collectives in places like Australia, Japan, and Murano (Italy) to stay fresh with their work.
Save the date: HSE graduation from 5 to 7 p.m. May 19 at FEC
The High School Equivalency (HSE) graduation ceremony will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center (FEC).
The HSE graduation ceremony is a celebration of the HSE students’ hard work and dedication in achieving their High School Equivalency Certificate. It’s a formal event where graduates are recognized for their accomplishments and receive their diploma. The ceremony marks a significant step forward, enabling them to purse further education, advance in their careers, and achieve their personal goals.
For more information, email ACE Program Manager Monica Martin at monica.martin@sfcc.edu.
Check out Community College Month events
April is National Community College month, which recognizes the vital role that community colleges play in building the local workforce and economy. Celebrate with us by coming out to one of our events in April, or by posting on social media about your love of SFCC and community colleges with the hashtags: #CCMonth #SFCCNM #SFCCProud
Check out SFCC’s many April events and learn more about SFCC at https://www.sfcc.edu/ccmonth/.
April is good month to remind your neighbors and friends about the upcoming registration dates for the summer term and fall semester.
- Summer Registration opens to all on Tuesday, April 14.
- Fall Registration opens to all on Tuesday, April 21.
SFCC to have two commencement ceremonies on May 16
President Rowley shared a commencement upate about the two ceremonies in the following email to the campus community on March 25.
Dear SFCC Community,
I’m pleased to share an important update regarding our 2026 Commencement celebrations. This year, Santa Fe Community College will hold two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center.
Over the past several years, we have seen tremendous growth in both our graduating class and the number of family members and supporters who join us to celebrate. To ensure a more comfortable and meaningful experience for everyone, we are introducing a two-ceremony format. This change will allow us to better honor each graduate while providing improved seating, accessibility, and overall event flow.
Ceremony Schedule – Saturday, May 16, 2026
9 a.m. Ceremony
- School of Sciences, Health, Engineering and Math
- School of Fitness Education
1 p.m. Ceremony
- School of Business, Professional Studies and Education
- School of Trades, Advanced Technologies and Sustainability
- School of Liberal Arts
- School of Art and Design
We look forward to celebrating our graduates and their achievements alongside their families, friends, and the entire campus community. Additional event details, including parking, rehearsal information, and livestream links, will be shared in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to create a commencement experience that reflects the pride we all share in our students’ accomplishments.
Warm regards,
Becky Rowley, Ph.D.
SFCC President
Registration open for Total Immersion Swim Clinic on April 25-26 at William C. Witter Fitness Education Center
Register now for a co-sponsored swim clinic for students and our community members. The Total Immersion Swimming Clinic is on April 25 (Effortless Endurance Workshop) and April 26 (Smart Speed Workshop). Registration is open at https://tinyurl.com/2s3bn37m or call 952-807-3774.
Spring Career Fair was very successful
Thank you to all within the SFCC Community who helped make the Spring Career Fair such a success. SFCC particularly thanks Career and General Academic Advisor Katie Studer, who coordinated the event. She extended her gratitude to the many academic advisors who volunteered at the Career Fair, the Office of Student Engagement and Recruitment (who distributed free meals tickets to the first 30 student participants), the Marketing and Public Relations team for promotions, the team from Facilities and Conference services, the many workers from Facilities and Operations for set-up, tear-down and cleanup and General Foods for the support with food for the employers. She appreciated the assistance from all and gave a special shout-out to Director of Advising, Career Transfer and International Services Reynaldo Maestas. She thanked him for helping with planning the event, strategizing with marketing, helping organize tables, supporting employers, and ensuring all attendees felt welcomed.
Katie Studer reported that the Spring Career Fair was the best attended Career Fair that she’s seen in the three years she has worked at the college. “As for the numbers, we had 75 students and 32 community member sign in, so over 100 attendees total. In my experience, actual attendance is much more than those who signed in due to the nature of the space,” Studer said.
She added, “As for feedback from employers, I spoke with many of them and a lot of them shared excitement about the large turnout and that the event felt well-attended. I actually had two employers express they spoke with candidates they are considering hiring. Many of them were pleased they got to speak with interested candidates and had a list of people to follow up with about their interest in working at their organizations.”
The SFCC Career Fair is a win-win for students, the community and employers. Most individuals seek jobs, some talk to employers as part of career exploration and others enjoy the opportunity to network.
Thank you to Ben Lauer for sharing these wonderful photos from the event! Click to enlarge.
Writing Generation author Swati Avasthi’s videos of March reading and creative session available
SFCC’s Writing Generation Series featured a reading on March 18 and creative writing session on March 25 by author Swati Avasthi.
Her reading offered selections from her two young adult novels SPLIT and CHASING SHADOWS. During her reading she shared images from the second novel, which incorporates graphic novel elements.
SFCC’s Library and Creative Writing program are presenting the free online Spring 2026 Writing Generation Series, which began in February. Each author reads at an introductory session. In a follow-up Zoom meeting the author engages the participants in a writing exercise/creative session. Attendees can go to any of the sessions by registering just once at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFCCWriGenSpring26.
The following are the upcoming Spring Writing Generation series sessions:
- Ramona Emerson Wednesday, April 22 6 p.m. reading.
- Ramona Emerson Wednesday, April 29 6 p.m. creative session.
- Participant Reading Those who attended the series are invited to share writing that they developed during the series at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 6.
Registrants will receive a Zoom link via email the morning of each event.
Swati Avasthi bio
Bio: Swati Avasthi (SWA-thee Of-US-thee) started writing when she was five, but she took a serpentine career path (working as domestic violence legal coordinator, a law student, a theater director and stage manager) before she returned to writing. Her first novel, SPLIT (Knopf, 2010) received the International Reading Association Award, Cybils Award, received recognition from 15 US state awards committees, and has been translated into four languages. Her second, CHASING SHADOWS received several starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and was listed as a Best of 2013 by Kirkus, Bank Street College, and YALSA. Swati holds a BA from The University of Chicago and an MFA from University of Minnesota. She teaches at Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her two dogs, two kids, and one husband – though he’s worth two.
Read more about the Spring Writing Generation Series in this press release.
SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye and SFCC professor of English and Creative Writing Austin Eichelberger are coordinating the free Writing Generation Series, which began in Spring 2024.
For additional information about the series, please contact SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1506. For more information about SFCC’s Creative Writing program visit https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/creative-writing/.
Check out the latest Inside SFCC
Check out the latest issue of Inside SFCC, which highlights SFCC’s training in fiber optics technology–one of the fastest growing industries in the state.
In the story, “SFCC fiber optic training strengthens state’s broadband workforce,” meet three individuals from around the state who are participating in SFCC’s Pre-Apprentice Opportunity Program. Also, watch a video to learn more about the program.
The issue also showcases Community College Month events. SFCC participates in National Community College Month in April. Also, included in the issue are noteworthy college happenings including the swearing in of board member Harold Dittmer, the service outreach to 2,000 students by SFCC dental students and the upcoming free Environmental Tech training program.
Don’t miss an issue. Subscribe to Inside SFCC here.
Capital High Spring Showcase continues in the main hallway through May 5
The Capital High School Spring Showcase presented by SFCC Art on Campus opened Friday, April 17, in the main hallway. The exhibition continues through Tuesday, May 5.
The exhibition features approximately 100 pieces of selected art from about 80 student artists in grades 9 through 12. The artwork is on display whenever the campus is open.
“The 2026 Capital High art show is a culmination of another great year of art instruction at Capital High School,” Director of Art on Campus Linda Cassel said. “It’s always fun to see the students and teachers come together with family, friends and neighbors to celebrate these young artists and the outstanding work that they have created.”
For more information, contact Director of Art on Campus Linda Cassel via email at linda.cassel@sfcc.edu or by phone at 505-428-1501.
Student Nurse Association will host Vitalant Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in FEC parking lot
Please use the QR code in the graphic above or visit https://bit.ly/sfcc_blood_drive to schedule a time to donate blood.
SFCC’s Student Nurses Association (SNA) Club will host a Vitalant Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center (FEC) parking lot. Please bring your photo ID.
To schedule a blood donation, visit https://bit.ly/sfcc_blood_drive, use the QR code in the graphic above or call 877-258-4825.
Dental Department accepting applications
Accepting application – Dental Programs.
Apply now! – Watch the video of a current Dental Assistant student talking about what she loves about the program.
SFCC Dental Department is accepting applications for:
- Certificate in Dental Assisting (2 semesters)
- Certificate in Advanced Allied Dental Skills (1 semester)
- Certificate in Community Dental Health Coordinator (2-3 semesters)
- Certificate in Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary (2 semesters)
- AAS degree in Dental Health (3-4 semesters)
For details, please visit: https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/dental-2/
For questions and application, please email: aamna.nayyar@sfcc.edu.
SFCC to host Broadband Networking Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24, at SF Higher Education Center
Learn about training for the in-demand broadband jobs. Employers can meet those who’ve earned Fiber Optic Certifications.
SFCC will host a Broadband Networking/Job Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road. More than 300 certified Fiber Optic Technician graduates will be invited from across New Mexico to attend. The event is free and open to all New Mexicans interested about careers, education and training for New Mexico’s growing broadband industry.
Graduates of the previous fiber optics trainings, broadband industry representatives interested in hosting a recruitment table and individuals seeking broadband career opportunities are encouraged to RSVP for the Broadband Networking/Job Fair at https://bit.ly/2026bbjobfair.
The Broadband Networking/Job Fair coincides with the final day of the five-day Certified Fiber Optics Technician training session with BDI Datalynk.
SFCC Contract Training Department has offered Fiber Optic Technician training/bootcamps since 2022. These five-day, hands-on intensive programs give students the opportunity to earn three certifications from the Fiber Optic Association that are recognized throughout the world and aligned to industry standards. These credentials remain valid for three years, after which they can be renewed by students. Students earn the following certifications: Certified Fiber Optic Technician, Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Splicing and Certified Fiber Optic Specialist in Training and Maintenance.
Certified fiber optic technicians are needed in the broadband industry because they bring the specialized knowledge and skills required to ensure that fiber optic networks are installed, maintained, and repaired to the highest standards.
As New Mexico deploys federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding over the next five years the demand for certified technicians who can handle these advanced technologies will continue to evolve and grow. New Mexico received $675 million in BEAD funding to bring internet access to all New Mexicans. Read more about the initiative at New Mexico Connect.
For more information about the Broadband Networking/Job Fair please contact Monique Anair either by email at monique.anair1@sfcc.edu or by phone at 505-428-1060.
Let Campus Weekly share your news!
Let us know about your accomplishments and other news that you’d like to share. Please remember that the deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday to get an item in the next week’s issue. Submit here.
Register for Student Parent Study Hours (free childcare available) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 through May 7
Student parents are invited to focused end-of-semester study sessions during Study & Play, offered Monday, May 4 through Thursday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SFCC Library and Family Study Room. Free childcare is available for ages 1 and up, allowing parents dedicated time to work on assignments and prepare for finals. Infants under 1 may remain in the library with caregivers.
With childcare, student parents will be able to study and work on assignments in the Library before the week of final exams. The kids will have fun playing in the SFCC Library’s Family Study Room! Get ready by registering as soon as possible.
Registration for all participants is required at: https://www.sfcc.edu/parenting-students/student-parent-programs/study-and-play/.
Large Concrete Sculpture class offered this summer
The Large Concrete Sculpture class is being offered this summer from noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Registration is open for the class, CRN 10235 (course number 1350). Questions about the class? Contact instructor Charles Rencountre at charles.rencountre@sfcc.edu.
Submit Petition to Graduate by April 20 if you want to participate in Commencement
If you’re completing your studies for a certificate or associate degree either this spring or summer, now’s the time to take the final steps toward graduation.
Follow these steps before April 20 so you can walk at Commencement on May 16.
- Meet with your Academic Advisor to review your progress and confirm you’re on track. Schedule to meet with an advisor as soon as possible here.
- Get approved by ensuring you’ve met all credit requirements.
- Submit your Petition to Graduate (PTG) through mySFCC under “Forms & Documents.” Only include the program(s) you will complete this term.
⭐ Don’t miss out! Submit your PTG by April 20 to participate in commencement.
Be sure to check your SFCC email for your Spring 2026 commencement invitation.
Financial deadline for Student Loans, Special Circumstances and Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals is April 20
FINAL DEADLINE: Student Loans, Special Circumstances and Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals
Don’t leave your funding to chance! April 20, 2026, is the final deadline for the following:
- Direct Student Loan Processing: All applications, corrections, updates, or changes.
- Special Circumstances Appeals: All requests for financial aid adjustments.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeals: Final date to submit appeals to regain aid eligibility.
All documentation must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office no later than this date to be considered for the current term.
Contact the Financial Aid Office:
Location: Student Affairs (Welcome and Advising Center), Room 202
Email: financialaid@sfcc.edu <mailto:financialaid@sfcc.edu>
Phone: 505-428-1268
Gain new skills and make a difference: Join Student Government Association
Make Your Voice Heard at SFCC!
Want to build leadership skills, strengthen your résumé, and make a real impact on campus while promoting your Santa Fe Community College? Join the SFCC Student Government Association!
Serve as a voice for students, promote awareness of student programs, clubs, and student success, connect with college leaders, and help shape campus events. This is your chance to grow, lead, and leave your mark at SFCC.
Please click here to apply Student Government Membership Application – Fill out form
All applicants must submit one letter of recommendation from a previous or current faculty or staff member. Members will be selected through a committee review, and selected members will have the opportunity to be nominated for an executive position, which will be voted on by members.
Step up. Get involved. Lead the change.
Employees
- Defensive Driving Certification Class offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 21 in Room 212
- Ellsworth Galley exhibition by Program Head Jared Weiss continues through May 29
- April is Stress Awareness Month: Meet at LL313 to walk away stress from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays
- CPL offers ways to deepen your teaching practice, explore AI tool and more in April
- Successful Public Speaking Handbook by Andrew Lovato, Ph.D., now freely available through NM OER Consortium
- Shane Tolbert’s Town & Country exhibition continues through May 30, at Cinema Gallery at CCA
- Consider using your EEB credits to take CE classes
- Online Teaching and Learning Training Opportunities in Spring 2026
- CHESS Connection Newsletter
Join the 4 to 5 p.m. online Teams meeting on Tuesday, April 21, if you have questions about the Academic Calendar Proposal for AY 27-28
Reminder to employees: Please see the Teams link in SFCC Connect for an online Teams meeting from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 21. The open meeting for employees is for anyone who has questions about the Academic Calendar Proposal for AY 27-28. Associate Vice President Ivan Lopez Hurtado, Ph.D., invites employees to join him in the online meeting from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.
Marcos Maez participates in reading of Song of the Prison Gate, May 2–3 at Teatro Paraguas
Marcos Maez, SFCC’s Director of Student Engagement & Recruitment, will appear in a staged reading of Song of the Prison Gate, presented by Ironweed Productions in collaboration with Teatro Paraguas, at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3. The award-winning play by incarcerated writer Gary Farlow—winner of the 2025 PEN America Prison Writing Contest—explores the human experience of incarceration through a series of powerful monologues.
Marcos shared, “I am honored to be part of the upcoming production of Song of the Prison Gate, where I will be playing Prisoner 4.
What pulled me into this piece is its humanity. It shines a light on people who are so often reduced to numbers or stereotypes and reminds us that incarceration is not just a system, it is a deeply human experience.
This is one of those pieces that asks us to slow down and really see people. I’m grateful to be a part of telling that story.”
Directed by Alexander Lane and featuring a cast of regional performers, the production supports a nonprofit assisting individuals transitioning out of prison. Tickets and more information are available at https://www.teatroparaguasnm.org/song-of-the-prison-gate
Defensive Driving Certification Class offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 21 in Room 212
As per policy 5-10, everyone is required to take a Defensive Driving Certification Class prior to operating SFCC vehicles.
The next Defensive Driving Certification Class has been scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the West Wing Room 212.
(Please arrive promptly or it will cause the class to go further in time.)
To receive full credit for the class, you must arrive promptly at 8 a.m. and attend the full 4-5 hours.
Please register by calling or emailing:
jackie.Gutierrez@sfcc.edu X 1756 steve.silva@sfcc.edu X 1403
Please provide the following information when you call or email us to make a reservation for the class:
- Full name of individual attending.
- Individual’s New Mexico driver license number; and a copy of the individuals driver’s license if not already on file
- Department Name
Fleet vehicles are a great cost-effective way for employees to travel for work related reasons without incurring any personal vehicle expense and having to wait for a reimbursement.
If you have any questions about the program or the classes, please call Jackie or Steve at the numbers listed above.
Ellsworth Galley exhibition by Program Head Jared Weiss continues through May 29
Jared Weiss, Program Head for Painting and Drawing, has a solo exhibit at Ellsworth Gallery in collaboration with Curate Santa Fe.
Exhibition title: “We Don’t Know Where We Are, We Don’t Know That We Know Where We’re Going”
Ellsworth Gallery, 215 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe.
On view: Through May 29.
Gallery Hours: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Jared Weiss also featured in American Art Collector’s Magazine‘s April issue
The Program Head for Drawing and Painting, Jared Weiss, is also featured in an article in the April issue of American Art Collector’s Magazine. Due to a subscription pay wall, Campus Weekly is unable to share the link. A digitial download is available to purchase at https://www.americanartcollector.com/. Weiss shared the following PDFs from the issue including the cover and two-page spread.:
April is Stress Awareness Month: Meet at LL313 to walk away stress from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays
April is Stress Awareness Month — and We’re Walking Through It Together
April is Stress Awareness Month, and Santa Fe Community College is marking the occasion with a simple but powerful reminder: small steps, literally, can make a big difference.
Meet in front of West Wing LL313 at noon to join CPL Staff Trainer Teresa Williams to take a stress reducing walk. No registration required.
Chronic stress affects both mental and physical well-being, but building resilience doesn’t have to be complicated. This month, we encourage you to pause, check in with yourself, and take intentional steps toward balance.
One great way to do that? Wellness Wednesdays.
Grab a work buddy and join Teresa with the Center for Professional Learning for a 30-minute walk designed to support movement, stress relief, and connection. Whether you need a midweek reset or just a reason to step away from your desk, this is your invitation. All walking speeds welcome, no pressure, just progress.
Take care of yourself this April. Your well-being matters, and you don’t have to navigate stress alone.
CPL offers ways to deepen your teaching practice, explore AI tool and more in April
Spring is here, and so is a full lineup of learning opportunities from the Center for Professional Learning! Whether you’re looking to deepen your teaching practice, explore AI tools, or simply take a midweek walk, there’s something for everyone this April.
Here’s what’s coming up:
📚 TEACHING & COURSE DESIGN
Teaching in Context
Tuesday, April 7 | 10:00–11:00 AM ➡ Register Here
Tuesday, April 14 | 10:00–11:00 AM ➡ Register Here
Explore how course design can draw on students’ histories, languages, and lived knowledge as Funds of Knowledge. You’ll discover design moves that foster belonging, relevance, and deep engagement in accelerated learning environments.
Programmatic Alignment
Tuesday, April 21 | 10:00–11:00 AM ➡ Register Here
Tuesday, April 28 | 10:00–11:00 AM ➡ Register Here
Demystify course alignment and learn how learning outcomes, assessments, and accreditation expectations can work together. Leave with a practical framework that supports instructional decisions with clarity and confidence.
🤖 AI & TECHNOLOGY
Teaching with AI: Smart Tools That Lighten the Load
Monday, April 13 | 3:00–4:00 PM | Virtual ➡ Join Here
Discover practical and ethical ways to use AI to support everyday teaching and reduce workload. Learn simple strategies for planning, communication, and course design that save time while maintaining quality and integrity.
AI in the Workplace: CoPilot for Everyday Work — Save Time & Reduce Stress
Friday, April 17 | 10:00–11:00 AM | West Wing LL313 or Teams ➡ Join Here
Learn how to use CoPilot to draft emails, summarize documents, and generate routine content. Walk away with actionable strategies to streamline communication and boost efficiency.
📊 INSTRUCTOR INSIGHT
Instructor Insight
Wednesday, April 15 | 3:00–4:00 PM | Zoom ➡ Join Meeting Here
Friday, April 17 | 3:00–4:00 PM | Zoom ➡ Join Meeting Here
Instructor Insight is an early alert tool that draws from your Canvas course activity to help you identify students who may be struggling — before it’s too late. The stronger your Canvas presence, the more powerful your insights.
⏱ WORKPLACE WELLNESS & PRODUCTIVITY
Wellness Wednesdays: Walk, Breathe, Connect, Refresh
Every Wednesday in April | 12:00–12:30 PM
Meet in front of West Wing LL313 to join CPL Staff Trainer Teresa Williams to take a stress reducing walk.
Grab a work buddy and join Teresa for a 30-minute walk designed to support movement, stress relief, and connection. All walking speeds welcome — no registration needed, just show up!
Workplace Essentials: Master Your Minutes — Time Management Made Simple
Thursday, April 23 | 2:00–3:00 PM | West Wing LL313 or Teams ➡ Join Here
Learn practical strategies to prioritize tasks, beat procrastination, and make the most of your workday. Walk away with tools and tips to stay organized, focused, and productive — without feeling overwhelmed.
Small Design Choices, Big Impact: Creating Accessible Digital Materials
Tuesday, April 28 | 10:00-11:00 AM | West Wing LL313 or Teams ➡ Join Here
This training gives hands‑on strategies for identifying accessibility barriers and applying WCAG‑aligned best practices across common tools like Word, PDFs, presentations, and spreadsheets. Participants will build confidence creating, checking, and remediating digital materials that support ADA compliance while improving clarity and usability for everyone.
For more resources and information about upcoming events, visit the CPL SharePoint site. Please note that you must be logged into your SFCC account to access it.
Shane Tolbert’s Town & Country exhibition continues through May 30 at Cinema Gallery at CCA
Shane Tolbert’s exhibition Town & Country
Opening: 5-7 p.m., Friday, April 10
Exhibition Runs: April 10 through May 30
Where: Cinema Gallery, Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA), 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe
About the exhibition:
In Town & Country, Shane Tolbert SFCC Academic Director of the School of Art, presents a new body of paintings and collages that unfold through layering, interruption, and revision. The works are built from poured acrylic, collage fragments, masking, and drawn interventions. These elements accumulate decisions over time. Earlier gestures remain partially visible beneath later ones. Each surface carries the sediment of its own making.
Tolbert’s use of plastic sheeting introduces moments of decollage. Poured paint is first cast onto plastic, then lifted and transferred onto the canvas. There, it behaves like a displaced skin. These passages interrupt the surface and preserve earlier states. This creates a tension between adhesion and removal, image and residue.
Painter’s tape is applied, painted over, removed, and sometimes retraced. It moves through the paintings like a temporary scaffold. These linear traces often appear late in the process. They map structure across fields of volatile color and gesture. What begins as improvisation gradually suggests architecture. Then, it loosens again into atmosphere and movement.
The title Town & Country hints at the shifting boundary between the constructed and the open. In Tolbert’s work, diagrammatic lines drift across painterly weather. Blocks of color behave like structures one moment and eroding terrain the next.
A parallel practice of walking informs the work. Fragments encountered along the way—packaging, images, and remnants of daily life—enter the collages and sometimes the paintings. These found elements and photographs quietly anchor the work in lived experience. Observation and movement through the world become part of the studio process.
Tolbert’s paintings do not depict that world. They operate with the same logic—layered, provisional, and constantly revised. Meaning accumulates through time rather than arriving all at once.
Successful Public Speaking Handbook by Andrew Lovato, Ph.D., now freely available through NM OER Consortium
Andrew Lovato, Ph.D., has a book that has just been published by UNM’s Pressbooks through SFCC’s involvement in the New Mexico Open Educational Resources (OER) Consortium. The book’s title is Successful Public Speaking Handbook. The book is freely available online at: https://nmoer.pressbooks.pub/successfulpublicspeakinghandbook/.
Successful Public Speaking Handbook was developed for Public Speaking courses (COMM 1130) at SFCC. The text is designed for students and faculty engaged in public presentations and introduces the theory and fundamental principles of public speaking.
It emphasizes audience analysis, reasoning, the use of evidence, and effective delivery. Students apply these principles through the preparation and presentation of informative, persuasive, and impromptu speeches.
This project was funded through SFCC’s participation in the federal Open Textbook Grant as part of the New Mexico Open Educational Resources (NMOER) Consortium.
SFCC is a subgrantee in collaboration with the University of New Mexico (UNM) and Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) under this federal grant. The $2.125 million in funding helped establish the NMOER Consortium, which aims to empower faculty across
New Mexico to adopt open-access materials and significantly reduce the cost of educational resources for students.
Dr. Andrew Lovato has taught public speaking to college students for nearly four decades. He was selected as Santa Fe’s City Historian in 2024 and hosts a weekly radio program, Our Santa Fe, on KSFR 101.1 FM. He earned his Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in Intercultural Communication from the University of New Mexico in 2000 and was named a Fulbright Scholar in 2008.
Dr. Lovato is the author of Santa Fe Hispanic Culture: Preserving Identity in a Tourist Town (University of New Mexico Press, 2004),
The Year Zozobra Escaped (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2011), and The Big Book of Blues Guitar: The History, the Greats—And How to Play. He has also contributed to several other books on New Mexico history and culture and has delivered lectures for organizations including the Santa Fe Fiesta, the Institute of American Indian Arts, and the Newcomers Club of Santa Fe.
Consider using your EEB credits to take CE classes
Use Your EEBs for Continuing Education Classes
Did you know that SFCC faculty and staff can use Employee Educational Benefits (EEBs) to take Continuing Education (CE) classes?
To get started, log in to your MySFCC account and access SFCC Connect (Intranet). From there, select “Online Forms” and then “Office of Human Resources (OHR)” to submit your EEBs for the semester. Be sure to select “Yes” in the CE information box and list the classes you’d like to take.
SFCC faculty and staff may use Employee Educational Benefits (EEBs) to cover tuition for Continuing Education (CE) classes (up to $324 per semester). Employees are responsible for course materials and a $12 semester registration fee.
Summer CE registration opens April 13.
Online Teaching and Learning Training Opportunities in Spring 2026
The SFCC Online Teaching & Learning (OTL) Department is excited to share a range of internal and external online teaching and learning opportunities designed to support innovation, professional growth, and online instructional excellence.
TO REGISTER:
Contact: julia.dunkin@sfcc.edu / 505-428-1168
Office: Online Teaching and Learning / otl@sfcc.edu / www.sfcc.edu/otl / 505-428-1166
CHESS Connection Newsletter – April 9, 2026
The April CHESS Connection highlights key progress and engagement across the Workday Student (SIS) project. A major milestone was reached with the completion of Workset D, including Customer Confirmation Sessions and End-to-End testing to ensure core student processes function effectively. The CHESS team also shared insights at the Higher Education Collaborative Conference, emphasizing the importance of communication, governance and change management alongside technology to support student-centered transformation.
The newsletter also encourages broad participation in a Readiness Survey (April 9–17) to gather feedback and strengthen training and communication efforts ahead of implementation. Additional updates include welcoming a new Data & Analytics Consultant, recognizing a CHESS Superstar for outstanding contributions, and promoting ongoing opportunities for engagement through Change Agent roles, support hubs and feedback channels.
Read the full issue here.
New employees: We’d like to get to know you!
Staff Senate is encouraging new staff employees to come to an upcoming Staff Senate to introduce yourselves.
Campus Weekly would also love to introduce new staff and faculty members. Please send us your name, job title, when you started at SFCC, brief bio and photo (it can be a selfie!) to Submit News.
If you’re new to SFCC, we’d love to introduce you to the our community. We’re happy you’re working with us at SFCC!
Ongoing news and events
- Writing Generation author Swati Avasthi’s videos of March reading and creative session available
- Lab for Acoustic Window III, an installation by Cary Cluett, continues through April 30 , in ripple effect gallery (Room 723D)
- Watch videos of Jamie Figueroa’s Writing Generation reading and creative sessions
Writing Generation author Swati Avasthi’s videos of March reading and creative session available
SFCC’s Writing Generation Series featured a reading on March 18 and creative writing session on March 25 by author Swati Avasthi.
Her reading offered selections from her two young adult novels SPLIT and CHASING SHADOWS. During her reading she shared images from the second novel, which incorporates graphic novel elements.
SFCC’s Library and Creative Writing program are presenting the free online Spring 2026 Writing Generation Series, which began in February. Each author reads at an introductory session. In a follow-up Zoom meeting the author engages the participants in a writing exercise/creative session. Attendees can go to any of the sessions by registering just once at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFCCWriGenSpring26.
The following are the upcoming Spring Writing Generation series sessions:
- Ramona Emerson Wednesday, April 22 6 p.m. reading.
- Ramona Emerson Wednesday, April 29 6 p.m. creative session.
- Participant Reading Those who attended the series are invited to share writing that they developed during the series at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 6.
Registrants will receive a Zoom link via email the morning of each event.
Swati Avasthi bio
Bio: Swati Avasthi (SWA-thee Of-US-thee) started writing when she was five, but she took a serpentine career path (working as domestic violence legal coordinator, a law student, a theater director and stage manager) before she returned to writing. Her first novel, SPLIT (Knopf, 2010) received the International Reading Association Award, Cybils Award, received recognition from 15 US state awards committees, and has been translated into four languages. Her second, CHASING SHADOWS received several starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and was listed as a Best of 2013 by Kirkus, Bank Street College, and YALSA. Swati holds a BA from The University of Chicago and an MFA from University of Minnesota. She teaches at Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her two dogs, two kids, and one husband – though he’s worth two.
Read more about the Spring Writing Generation Series in this press release.
SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye and SFCC professor of English and Creative Writing Austin Eichelberger are coordinating the free Writing Generation Series, which began in Spring 2024.
For additional information about the series, please contact SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1506. For more information about SFCC’s Creative Writing program visit https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/creative-writing/.
Lab for Acoustic Window III, an installation by Cary Cluett, continues in ripple effect gallery (Room 723D) through April 30
ripple effect presents:
Cary Cluett – Lab for The Acoustic Window III
Installation on view Thursday March – Thursday April 30
Opening Reception Thursday March 5, 4 – 6 p.m.
https://www.carycluett.com/ripple-effect
Lab for the Acoustic Window III is an immersive, multi-sensory installation using visual and acoustic space to study the effect of acoustic and visual isolation. His goal is treat the space as a separate chamber, isolating the acoustic connection with the hall space while maintaining the visual ‘window’. This idea stemmed from a 1960’s television series Get Smart, wherein there was the “Cone of Silence”; a hilariously impractical gadget intended to insure private conversations but which comically makes it impossible for those inside to hear one another while outsiders can hear everything. Cluett takes this as a challenge to morph this gag into a functional idea. In previous iterations he’s been able to create acoustic isolation wherein those inside can hear the outside but those outside can see but not hear those inside. His goal in this iteration is to turn ripple effect into a space that hugs, or holds, the sound inside the space. Stay tuned for upcoming performances that play with this idea.
Watch videos of Jamie Figueroa’s Writing Generation reading and creative sessions
SFCC Library in conjunction with SFCC’s Creative Writing program began the Spring Writing Generation (Wri-Gen) series on Wednesday, February 18 with a powerful and engaging reading by author Jamie Figueroa. On February 25 she led an inspiring creative writing session.
SFCC’s Library and Creative Writing program are presenting the free online Spring 2026 Writing Generation (Wri-Gen) Series featuring esteemed authors. SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye and Assistant Professor Stanley (Austin) Eichelberger are coordinating the series. Each author will read at an introductory Zoom session. In a follow-up Zoom meeting the author will engage the participants in a writing exercise/creative session. Attendees can go to any of the sessions by registering just once at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFCCWriGenSpring26. The sessions begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and will feature these writers: Jamie Figueroa (Feb. 18 reading; Feb. 25 creative session), Swati Avasthi (March 18 reading; March 25 creative session) and Ramona Emerson (Apr. 22 reading; Apr. 29 creative session).
Jamie Figueroa
Bio: Jamie Figueroa is a critically acclaimed writer whose work interrogates lineage, colonial legacy, and the poetics of place. A passionate storyteller drawn to the sacred, the broken, and the luminous, she believes in the power of story to reclaim, reimagine, and heal—and is most alive when helping others uncover the language of their own truths. With deep roots in her Boricua/Puerto Rican (Afro-Taíno) heritage and a life lived in northern New Mexico, she explores themes of lineage, memory, and cultural reclamation through her writing.
She is the author of the novel Brother, Sister, Mother, Explorer (Catapult, 2021), praised by The New York Times Book Review as “a beautifully crafted, poetic book,” and by Publishers Weekly as “brimming with spellbinding prose, magical elements, and wounded, full-hearted characters that nearly jump off the page.” The novel was an Indie Next Pick, longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, shortlisted for the Reading the West Debut Fiction Award, and selected as a Good Morning America Book Club Must-Read. It was also named one of the most anticipated debuts by Electric Literature, The Millions, Bustle, and The Rumpus.
Her genre-defying memoir-in-essays, Mother Island: A Daughter Claims Puerto Rico (Pantheon, 2024), continues her exploration of ancestral memory and cultural reclamation. The book received a starred review from Kirkus and was named one of the Los Angeles Times’ “6 Books to Shake Off Colonialism and Rethink Our Latino Stories.” It has been recognized as one of the most anticipated and essential nonfiction books of 2024 by Ms. Magazine, Elle, SheReads, Lupita Reads, Hispanic Executive, and Latinx Publishing.
Figueroa’s essays and fiction have appeared widely, including in The New York Times, McSweeney’s, Elle, American Short Fiction, Emergence Magazine, Agni, The Boston Review, and Kweli Journal, among others. She wrote her first poem at six, published her first poem as a teenager, and committed fully to a life centered around her writing practice in 1998. A devoted teacher of craft and creative courage, she is on faculty at the Institute of American Indian Arts MFA Creative Writing program and has taught in public schools, colleges, community spaces, and universities nationwide since 2010.
A Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA) alum and faculty member, she has received a Truman Capote Award and was named a Bread Loaf Rona Jaffe Scholar. Figueroa also served on the Carol Shields Prize Authors Committee, helping shape one of the most significant literary prizes for women and nonbinary writers of North America for the initial four cycles of the prize.
Figueroa is currently in her third year of doctoral studies in Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership at Southwestern College, where the heart of her research is on Creative Sovereignty through the lens of a Cuentista/Curandera. Her work poses a profound question to writers at all stages of their journey: “When you sit down at your desk to write, who owns you?”
Read more about other featured authors in the press release.
For additional information about the series, please contact SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1506. For more information about SFCC’s Creative Writing program visit https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/creative-writing/.
Continuing Education Spring 2026 registration continues
New catalog features acclaimed author Elaine Koyama and new weekend & evening classes
Continuing Education proudly announces the release of its Spring 2026 Noncredit Class Catalog, highlighting 87 new courses and an expanded range of programs designed to serve Santa Fe’s vibrant and curious community of lifelong learners.
Building on the college’s strong relationships with community and corporate partners, the new catalog celebrates collaborations with Revolution Bakery, The Railyard Performance Center, Dance Earth Creations, The Four Seasons Resort Santa Fe, Sky Railway, Agua Fria Nursery, CHOMP, The Reel Life and many others who continue to enrich SFCC’s community-based learning.
“SFCC’s Continuing Education thrives because of the shared vision we hold with our partners,” said Benjamin Lincoln, Director of Continuing Education. “Together, we’re cultivating spaces where creativity, skill, and curiosity meet opportunity.”
This spring, SFCC Continuing Education is honored to welcome Elaine Koyama, celebrated author and educator, whose course Making Memoirs Memorable invites students to explore the craft of storytelling through the lens of lived experience.
“Hosting Elaine Koyama in our Spring lineup speaks to our mission of amplifying accomplished voices who inspire others to write, create, and connect,” Lincoln said. “Her work reminds us that education is not only about skill—it’s about story.”
A new highlight of the Spring 2026 catalog is the Weekend and Evening Classes feature, offering flexible learning opportunities for working adults. With more than 40 courses now available outside traditional weekday hours, SFCC Continuing Education is expanding accessibility for those eager to learn beyond the 9-to-5 schedule.
“Our new Weekend and Evening schedule is a direct response to our community,” Lincoln added. “We’re making lifelong learning more inclusive, convenient, and exciting for everyone in Santa Fe.”
The Spring 2026 Continuing Education Catalog includes a dynamic range of personal enrichment and professional development classes—from art, culinary, and outdoor adventure to digital design, leadership, and language studies.
“Education doesn’t end with a degree,” Lincoln said. “It’s a lifelong journey—and our goal is to make that journey accessible, meaningful, and full of discovery.”
View the full catalog and register online at www.sfcc.edu/ce or call 505-428-1676.
Watch Fall 25 Wri-gen videos on YouTube
SFCC’s Library wrapped up the Fall 2025 Writing Generation Series with a participant reading on Nov. 19, featuring original work inspired by sessions led by authors Chip Livingston, Rowena Alegría, and James Thomas Stevens. Watch the full participant reading and explore the complete playlist on YouTube.
2/14/2026, Santa Fe New Mexican, Commentary: So many reasons ‘Amo mucho a mi esposa’
2/13/2026, Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, Out There! – ARTS NEWS – The Next ‘Generation’ Story about Spring Wr-Gen series
02/8/2026, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Smartboard, Feb. 9, 2026 SFCC to host art exhibition for Santa Fe artist”
02/7/2026, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Workforce is key to universal child care initiative” Opinion column by Catron Allred and Chelsea T. Morris
02/2/2026, KOAT, “Free tax help appointments open in Santa Fe”
02/1/2026, Los Alamos Daily Post, “Santa Fe Community College Spring Transfer Fair Feb. 25”
01/14/2026, Santa Fe Reporter, “3 Questions with Local Artist Will Karp” Artist explains how he got his start at SFCC.
01/14/2026, Yahoo.com/Alb. Journal, “MovieMaker Magazine names Albuquerque No. 2 big city to live and work as a filmmaker” Article mentions Backlot at SFCC.
01/12/2026, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Smartboard, Jan. 12, 2026-SFCC to close for Martin Luther King Jr. Day”
01/05/2026, Of Interest, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Smartboard, Jan 5, 2025”
01/02/2026, Santa Fe New Mexican, “First-of-its-kind Santa Fe-funded apprenticeship creating ‘on-ramp’ to early child care careers”
12/18/2025, Los Alamos Daily Post, “Santa Fe Community Foundation Announces Record-Level $1 Million+ In Community Grants”
12/17/2025, Santa Fe Reporter, “25 Things We Love About Santa Fe Right Now – 1 Santa Fe Community College is So Sick”
12/16/2025, Los Alamos Daily Post, “Effective Citizen Advocacy At The Legislature Jan. 10”
12/15/2025, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Smartboard, Dec. 15, 2025-SFCC releases Spring 2026 catalog”
12/10/2025, UNM News, “Fall 2025 Inspiring Graduate | Ian Widrick-Martinez”
12/6/2025, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Santa Fe professor to pen book about impact of anti-trans legislation on education”
12/04/2025, New York Times, “A Native American Jeweler Who Respects Her Materials”
12/1/2025, Santa Fe New Mexican, Smartboard, Dec. 1, 2025- SFCC to host Yuletide Pickleball Palooza
