SMC President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery Announces Intention to Retire December 31, 2026

The following email was sent by SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery to the District (college employees) at 6:29 p.m. on September 3, 2025.

Dear SMC Colleagues:

Earlier this evening, I shared in an official notification to the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees my intention to retire, effective December 31, 2026. Please note that every sentiment expressed in my email to the Board of Trustees (pasted below) applies to each of you, too. I remain grateful for the years that I have been able to serve Santa Monica College, and am committed to helping the College transition in the months ahead.

In this communication, I have also included an email acknowledgment from the SMC Board Chair Dr. Nancy Greenstein, which I received in response to my notice to the Board.

Thank you for the partnerships we forged together in furthering SMC’s lifechanging mission,

—Pasted Content Begins Below—

Email received from Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Chair of the Board of Trustees, in response to my early notice of retirement:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Superintendent and President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery for her years of dedicated service and leadership. Throughout her tenure, she has guided Santa Monica College with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to student success. As Dr. Jeffery begins this next chapter in her life, we thank her for her service and dedication. We wish her joy and fulfillment in retirement, confident that her impact will continue to be felt for many years.

Email from me, sent to the Board of Trustees at 5:18 p.m., today, Wednesday, September 13:

Dear SMC Board of Trustees:

It is with deep gratitude that I share my plan to retire as Superintendent/President of the Santa Monica Community College District, effective December 31, 2026. Since my arrival on February 8, 2016, I have been honored to engage enthusiastically with students, colleagues, and community members across Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles region, as well as with sister community colleges and universities across California and the nation. Together, we have championed the vital role of higher education in expanding access and opportunity for students in our region and beyond.

Throughout my tenure, I have worked to ensure that our traditionally underserved student groups are at the center of all college activities and services—striving to close performance gaps, eliminate disparities, and foster equitable outcomes. I have sought to promote professional development for all employee groups, encourage open and collaborative conversations across constituencies—even when topics are difficult—and honor the invaluable contributions of faculty, classified professionals, managers, and, above all, our students.

To allow the Board of Trustees ample time to recruit and hire a new superintendent/president, I am providing this early notice of retirement. In the meantime, I remain committed to serving the Board, my SMC colleagues, our students, and the broader community to the best of my ability.

I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of serving Santa Monica College. The trust and confidence placed in me by the Board have sustained and guided my leadership through both opportunities and challenges. My love for higher education has only deepened with each year of service, particularly through my time at SMC. I look forward to what we can yet accomplish together and to the bright future that lies ahead for both the College and myself.

Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President
Santa Monica Community College District