Candidates make final pitches to be on SFCC board

Candidates for Santa Fe Community College’s governing board on Friday made their case at the third of three candidate forums held this week, this one sponsored by the SFCC Faculty Senate.

Candidates for Position 3 talked about what can be done to improve enrollment and retention, the value of education and leadership, and more. Six candidates are running for that seat, with the election set for Tuesday.

Responding to a question about what board members can do to make SFCC grow, Bruce MacAllister said they need to share their passion for education with the community.

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“The board needs to be the one that leads the parade with sharing that passion,” he said.

MacAllister, executive director of Business Excellence Solutions, also talked about developing workplace partnerships, including internships, with community groups. He said the college’s dental program’s relationship with La Familia medical center was a good example.

Stephen Hochberg agreed the college needs to do more to promote itself.

“We need to blow our horn a little better in the community, and I think we can,” he said.

Hochberg said one thing that sets him apart from the others is he’s operated several small businesses that generated a payroll. He also said he has previous experience as a longtime member of St. Joseph’s College, a similarly sized liberal arts school in New York.

Hochberg said that no matter what career path students chose, he felt all should have at least some liberal arts education.

Kim Martinez said she’s talked to students about what they want from their college. Many said they appreciate the tutorial center and would like to see more degree programs offered.

“I also have to bring up the ‘S’ word – sports,” she said. “That could be something to look at to retain students, and for sure it gets our name out there.”

Martinez said the college needs to do what it can to change perceptions and let people know about all the good things SFCC has to offer.

Martha Gandert Romero, a leadership coach who works with community colleges in several states, said being a native of Mora gives her the benefit of familiarity.

“Because I’m a native New Mexican, I can represent the interests of all cultures we have here,” she said. “I know community colleges well, both inside and outside, and can bring a local and national perspective.”

Romero said board members can serve as ambassadors for the college and they need to be visible in the community, and with the state Legislature, to ensure adequate funding.

Andres Salazar is another native New Mexican, having been born on San Juan Pueblo (Ohkay Owingeh). While he said he spent half his professional career at the business administrative level, he also spent a considerable amount of time teaching at the University of New Mexico, Northern New Mexico Community College and Southern Methodist University in Taos.

Salazar said he doesn’t see enrollment as a problem at SFCC, but retention certainly is. He said tutoring and mentoring programs would help.

“The magic wand is engagement,” he said. “We have to have students see the value in education.”

Frank Pearce has lived in Santa Fe since 1981.

A retired Marine and former security specialist and emergency manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he brought a copy of “The Art of War” to the forum, saying the book is a tactical study that is often applied in business.

Pearce said the board can assist the school’s president by listening.

“The main focus we must give as board members is to listen to the president,” he said. “We have to remove the stumbling blocks, so the president can move forward.”