Members of SRJC’s newly formed Latino Faculty and Staff Association challenged SRJC administrators to increase diversity in hiring of faculty and staff.

“I want to look out at my peers and see people of color,” said SRJC psychology professor Brenda Flyswithhawks.

The task force, whose goal is to benefit people of color in hiring policies, met Oct. 2 to discuss hiring policies with SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong.

Dr. Chong told task force members that their task force was timely. “I take a look and see the changes in the community and I want to be a part of a college that sees that without diversity you can’t have excellence. I think we can get there, but it’s everyone’s responsibility.”

He said he appreciated that the task force was taking the initiative to start a discussion that hopefully will lead to a stronger and more diverse work force. “This is a challenge among colleges throughout the county, state and country. Santa Rosa always leads in many different areas. I’d like us to be a leader in the diversity initiative,” Chong said.

Although there are other components when it comes to hiring, he said, “I recognize I have influence in terms of policies that are at implemented at this college so I’m here to listen.”

Geoff Navarro, counseling faculty and chair of the LFSA, pointed out the recent lack of diversity in hiring. “Last year alone, out of the 21 full time faculty that were hired, none were Latino. In the last six years we haven’t hired any full time Latino or bilingual counselors,” he said. “In 10 years we’ve doubled enrollment from 14 percent to 30 percent. In terms of vision you’re saying people get it but in terms of action I don’t see it based on the hires and the data.”

Flyswithhawks added, “I hope you don’t feel attacked. We need you. I want students to look up at their teachers and see someone who looks like them.”

Although the task force is made up primarily of
Latinos/Latinas and is called the Latino Faculty and Staff Association, the
body was formed to benefit all people of color.