- Santa Monica College Campus Police Chief Johnnie Adams participated in the International March of the Living, commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience and the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice led the largest global law enforcement delegation to participate in the march.
On April 24, 2025, more than 60 law enforcement leaders from the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and Africa — along with members of the Global Consortium for Law Enforcement Training Executives (GCLETE) — joined Holocaust survivors, descendants, and participants from around the world for the annual march from Auschwitz to Birkenau. The event honors the victims of the Holocaust and serves as a stand against contemporary hate and extremism.
Phyllis Greenberg Heideman, president of the International March of the Living, called the law enforcement delegation “a powerful testament” to global efforts to prevent future atrocities.
- Dean for Community and Academic Relations, Kiersten Elliott, received the Leadership Excellence Award from the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA). The award was given at the 49th annual ACCCA conference in February in Monterey, CA. Dr. Willie Duncan, President of Sierra College, received the Harry Buttimer Leadership Award. Dr. Elliott has been a proud member of the SMC community for twenty years. #ProudToBeSMC
- Sybil Alexandrov (Yale University) and Alejandro Lee were invited by Sigma Delta Pi’s Alpha Phi at Texas Tech University to present “No es nula su huella: La diáspora asiática en Hispanoamérica” on April
25, 2025.
- Professor Lee is delighted to share great news from his former and current students:
- Aldo Barrera will continue to be a Cultural Ambassador for one more year, this time in the Canary Islands!
- William (Guillermo) E. Sick has been accepted to the Cultural Ambassadors program and will be in Santander, while Ryan Weeth will be in Castilla and León. ¡Enhorabuena!
- Writing and Humanities Tutoring Center Coordinator Loretta Huizar recently presented at the Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA) conference with colleagues Dr. Trista Payte (Writing Center Director, Mt. San Antonio College) and Crystal Salas (Tutorial Services Specialist, Moorpark College). Their interactive session, “Weeding Out the Racist Roots of Learning Centers” examined
the systemic roots of racism in tutoring to help other learning center leaders develop
culturally responsive student-led tutoring practices.
- Megumi Smith, director of the music percussion ensemble, hosted the 4th annual SMC Children’s Concert on Saturday, May 10, at the SMC Performing Arts Center Music Hall. The venue came alive with the vibrant sounds of rhythm and melody, celebrating music,
creativity, and community in a truly memorable event. This special event celebrated
the joy of music and the spirit of collaboration, bringing together talented students
from music and ALS programs, local artists, and dynamic Japanese taiko groups—Rainbow Taiko and Mugen Taiko—as well as the local art program GET SET MAKE ART. Their performances were nothing short of inspiring, showcasing both passion and
dedication while demonstrating the incredible connections that music creates. The energy in the hall was electric as the audience experienced the powerful beats
of taiko drumming, the creativity of young musicians, and the unity that music fosters
within a community. From soulful melodies to vibrant rhythms, every performance highlighted
the beauty of artistic expression.
- Psychology professor Dorothy Chin has two recent publications, one in the academic research journal Trauma Careon "Race-Based Social Rejection and Mental Health: The Role of Racial Identity" (Race-Based Social Rejection and Mental Health: The Role of Racial Identity (opens in new window) ) and a short creative nonfiction piece "Whitney and Me" in The Syncopation Literary Journal (Creative Nonfiction (opens in new window) ).
- Dean of Equity, Pathways, and Inclusion, Llanet Martín reached out to highlight the outstanding work of Silvana Carrion-Palomaresand her incredible SMC colleagues. Llanet praised Silvana’s leadership on SMC’s NSF grant and her recent presentation at the Council for the Study of Community Colleges, entitled “Advancing Equity Through Practice: Santa Monica College’s Effective Equity-Minded
Professional Development Programs for Faculty.”
Santa Monica College has demonstrated a strong, ongoing commitment to advancing equity in education through two key professional development initiatives:- Equity-Minded Data Coaching, and
- NSF Award #1928737 – Fostering an Equity-Minded Student Success Culture in STEM Through Faculty Development.
This symposium addressed the need for equity-centered professional development that moves beyond theory into practice, aiming for sustainable institutional impact. The session featured two signature programs designed to foster inclusivity, trust, and data-informed decision-making:
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- Hannah Lawler led the presentation on Equity-Minded Data Coaching.
- Brewster, Kristin Lui-Martinez, and Silvana Carrion-Palomaresco-presented on the NSF Grant.
- The session was interactive and engaging, featuring practical exercises from current
professional development models. Attendees were invited to reflect on equity through
focused case studies and real-world applications shared by the presenters.
- Christopher Meeks’ short story "Dietmar and His Very Bad Week" was recently published
in Rosebud Magazine, Issue 71, which is in print and available at Barnes and Noble The story is the first chapter in my recently completed novel, "When a Line Touches
a Curve." Christopher is looking for a new agent for the novel, which is a hurdle.
The writing keeps him going. Christopher is the author of five published novels, three
short story collections, and a multi-produced play, "Who Lives?" The play has been
picked up by a distributor, Uproar Theatrics, which you can read for free at Who Lives? (opens in new window) .
- Nancy Grass and Deirdre Weaver welcomed their newest grandchild and first granddaughter,
Adeline Nova, on March 20. Also, Deirdre and Nancy’s toy store Nanni and Deeda's Toys (opens in new window) won "Best Place to Buy Toys in the Santa Clara River Valley."
- Salvador Carrasco, SMC film production faculty lead, recently had two articles published in Senses of Cinema, considered one of the most prestigious journals of film criticism: The Same Others: Close Your Eyes (opens in new window) (June 2025) and The Straight Shooter: Reassessing David Lynch’s The Straight Story (opens in new window) (May 2025).
Additionally, Prof. Carrasco notes that “SMC short films have been garnering accolades left and right during the spring semester.” Here is the list:
-Official Selection – LA Shorts International Film Festival –Oscar qualifying festival (Ends and Means, No Return, Fear and Tremble)
-Official Selection – World Culture Film Festival – (Fear and Tremble)
-Winner - Best Director - Munich International Film Festival of Shorts (No Return/Sebastian Carrasco)
-Winner – Best Short Film – WorldFest Houston International Film Festival (Wow!)
-Winner – Best Student Film – ETHOS International Film Festival (Wow!)
-Finalist - LA Independent Women Film Awards (Wow!)
-Official Selection – Berlin Lift-off International Film Festival (What Next)
-Official Selection – Rome International Film Festival (What Next)
-Winner – Best Short Film – Golden State Film Festival (No Return)
-Semifinalist – Nashville Independent Film Festival (No Return)
-Official Selection – Latino and Native American Film Festival (No Return)
* * *
SMC in Focus Volume XI, Issue 3
Future Designs
Navy veteran Antonio Renoj graduates having found purpose, community and a creative future at Santa Monica College. Read Article
From Center Line to Byline
Adriana Brady was only two weeks into her tenure as The Corsair's new editor-in-chief when the devastating Los Angeles fires broke out. Read Article
Victoria’s Big Victory
It took eight years, but Victoria Salazar finally received the “thick envelope” from UC San Diego. The 2025 graduating student speaker shares her story of self-reliance, tenacity and hope. Read Article
A New Chapter for SMC’s Creative Writing Program
For the first time, SMC’s Creative Writing Program is offering a 12-unit creative writing certificate for anyone who wants to take their writing to the next level. Read Article
Bragging Rights
A dean receives a statewide award for leadership excellence. A police chief marches from from Auschwitz to Birkenau. An English prof. has a new short story out. Read Article
The Art of the Pivot
Graduating this year with associate degrees in philosophy and general science, Dexter Mack is ready to take the next step toward his dream of studying neuroscience. Read Article