A Lifelong Process
Volume XI, Issue 6, December 15, 2025
At Santa Monica College, we celebrate the lifelong process of learning, which keeps
us ever-evolving and vibrant in all the ways that matter most. The SMC Emeritus Program
turns 50 this year, and to celebrate, there’s a feature on the program’s first-ever “Fifty-over-50” list and a feature on a beloved watercolor instructor
who has ensured his legacy will live on here at the College. Plus, a nurse who is
doing SMC proud, a noncredit course for caregivers, and a dancer who found a new path
as an accountant. Always learning, always growing! #ProudToBeSMC
Fever Dream
A severe childhood illness motivated Jacqueline Cortez to become a nurse, and Santa Monica College helped shape her path.
Preparing the Next Generation of Caregivers
Tomorrow’s caregivers, both paid and unpaid, are getting an in-depth education in gerontology through SMC’s Introduction to Working with Older Adults noncredit certificate program.
Rhythm and Ledger
Dancer-actress Naomi Henderson found harmony between art and accounting at SMC.
Freddie’s World
The beloved SMC watercolor instructor looks back on a career filled with painting, quirky collections and students who feel like friends.
Bragging Rights
Geography students help develop accurate maps. An English professor’s book a finalist for a prestigious contest. A nursing professor responds to an emergency midair.
The Wisdom of Age
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, SMC Emeritus launches the “Fifty-over-50” campaign, a compendium of collective wisdom from those who have made significant contributions to this community, and beyond.
SMC In the News
An Inside Look at SMC’s New State-of-the-Art Planetarium
SMC Appoints Dr. Tania Acosta New VP of Student Success
Giving Thanks(Giving) Day One: A Huge Success
SMC Architecture Students Win Third Place in National Competition
SMC Wins National Recycling Award for Sustainable Materials Program
SMC Opens New Math and Science Building With Public Observatory
Sustainable Materials Management at Santa Monica College
SMC Mathematics and Science Building