Professional Development

Professional Development Day, Spring 2025

Everything you need to know about Professional Development Day

Graphic for 2025 Spring Professional Development Day theme: Strengthening Student Success - Centering Relationships

We loved seeing you at our Professional Development Day on Thursday, March 20, 2025!

Schedule:

8 - 3:45 p.m.

From 8 - 8:25 a.m., coffee and tea was served in the SMC Main Campus Pavilion (Corsair Gym).

Lunch was from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. in the cafeteria and will be from our caterer, Corsair Cafe. 

The theme for Spring Professional Development Day was Strengthening Student Success: Centering Relationships.

The theme Strengthening Student Success: Centering Relationships is designed to create a space for reflection and growth as we explore meaningful ways to enhance our connections within the college community. Our keynote speaker, Ruben Canedo, will facilitate discussions and activities designed to foster mutual understanding, empathy, and trust among colleagues, contributing to a more supportive and inclusive work environment.

In addition to his keynote, he facilitated a smaller workshop where participants can build out their ideas learned from his facilitation and apply the key concepts in their roles, teams, and the larger SMC community.

Although there was a small amount of HyFlex/Zoom options in the afternoon, we wanted to encourage everyone to come to campus! We can all build better connections when we share common space and spend time together. Please note, though certain workshops were designed with a specific employee group in mind, in the spirit of professional development, every session was open to all employees at SMC.

Lunch was from 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. To make sure we have enough food for everyone attending, we asked for people to RSVP for lunch. Thank you for understanding.

We gave final numbers to our caterer, Corsair Cafe. For anyone who didn't RSVP, meals were available on a first come, first served basis. 

Thank you to everyone who helped us with set up the day before or with sign in or lunch check in the day of! We couldn't do it without the help of our village!

Please fill out our post event survey!

Opening Addresses and Schedule 

Session Time Title and Description Link/ location

8:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Addresses

  • Welcome by Brian Rodas, Ashanti Blaize, and Abigail Orosz 
  • Sara Nieves Lucas will give a meaningful land acknowledgment.
  • State of the College Address by Dr. Kathryn Jeffery, Superintendent/ President
  • Remarks by Cindy Ordaz, Jamar London, & Scott Silverman

SMC Main Campus Pavilion (Corsair Gym)

This was held in person and recorded for future viewing.

Watch Opening Session

Coffee and Community in the Pavilion (Corsair Gym) from 9:45 - 10:20 a.m.

Strengthening Student Success: Centering Relationships

Session Time Title and Description Link/ location

10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Burning the Fields, Turning the Soil: research and strategies to shape our new times.

Presenter: Ruben Canedo

Join us for an educational and energizing keynote experience with Ruben E. Canedo. Ruben will integrate new research and publications that will help train our communities on dignity, corrections, and indigenous liberatory practices. Specifically, we will learn how to use these in the context of public higher education and our day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

By the end of this session, we aim to make it clear that:

  • We will not be submissive to these new political times
  • We will energize our full agencies to shape our times towards our ideal present-futures! 

SMC Pavilion (Corsair Gym)

In person only.

Lunch Event in the Pavilion (Corsair Gym)

Lunch was provided from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Please join us in person in the Pavilion (Corsair Gym) for a delicious lunch from Corsair Cafe.  If you didn't RSVP for lunch, any remaining meals were available on a first- come, first- served basis.

After you finish your lunch- or while waiting for the line to shorten- spend some time with the adorable PUPPIES on campus! Get ready to oooh and ahhh over our furry friends.  

ALSO! Please join your SMC colleagues for some (unofficial) college community- building after your work day today! 

Time: 4-5:30 p.m.

Location:  The Cloverfield | 3300 Airport Ave. Santa Monica (right next to the Bundy campus)

We’ve got a section reserved, so pop on by this (no host) event!

In the meantime, enjoy the plethora of afternoon workshops starting at 1:30 p.m.! See more below.

Breakout Sessions Schedule

Check out our breakout sessions by clicking the yellow + signs below.

General Questions and Guidelines

Check out our frequently asked sessions by clicking the yellow + signs below.

Classified Professional FAQ

Check out our frequently asked questions by clicking the yellow + signs below.

Faculty FAQ

Check out our frequently asked questions by clicking the yellow + signs below.

If you have any questions about Professional Development Day, contact profdevelopment@smc.edu.