A Lifelong Process
Volume XI, Issue 5, October 27, 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
Santa Monica College Named Among Top 30 Film Schools - SM Mirror (opens in new window)
Coastal Cleanup day calls for a cleaner future — The | Corsair (opens in new window)
SMC Emeritus Fifty Over 50
SMC’s New Math + Science Building