Office of the President

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CSM Forward 2028 (EMP)
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Office of the President

College Leadership

Lauren Servais, Vice President of Instruction

Responsibilities: : Chief instructional partner; collaborating with all of instruction to achieve/actualize our mission of liberatory education.
Years at CSM: SMCCD since 2026
Education: Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Arizona; M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Washington; M.A., English Literature, University of Colorado; B.A., English, University of Hawai’i.
Other Interests: Spending time with family, talking story, reading, writing, beach days

Alex Guiriba, Vice President
of Student Services

Alex Guiriba, Vice President of Student Services

Responsibilities: Oversees and provides leadership to Student Life, Student Conduct, Wellness Center, CAREs (behavioral intervention), Title IX (sex and gender discrimination), International Education Program, Child Development Center, and enrollment services, Financial Aid, Admissions & Records, Counseling, Disability Resource Center, EOPS and CalWorks, Veterans Resource Center, SparkPoint and Basic Needs, Promise Program, and Pathways.
Years at CSM: Since 2006
Education: M.A., Education Counseling and Student Personnel, San José State University; B.A., Sociology, University of California, Berkeley; A.A., Broadcast and Electronic Media, College of San Mateo
Other Interests: Spending as much time as possible with his spouse and toddler, golfing, and supporting Bay Area sports teams such as the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and his beloved California Golden Bears

Gerardo Ramirez, Vice President
of Administrative Services

Gerardo Ramirez, Vice President of Administrative Services

Responsibilities: Oversees all College business service programs; coordinates development of the College’s annual operating budgets; advises senior leadership on fiscal and operational issues to assist with strategic planning; prepares regular financial reports for relevant College and District groups; contract administrator for College contracts; oversees KCSM radio station; also serves in the following roles: Co-Chair, Finance Committee; Chair, CSM Safety Committee
Years at CSM: Since 2024
Education: M.B.A., Western Governors University; B.S., Industrial Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Other Interests: Mentoring & tutoring middle and high school students from underserved communities; diversity & inclusion, team building

René Wong, Director Community Relations & Marketing

René Wong, Director of Community Relations & Marketing

Responsibilities: Head of strategic marketing and communications, brand management, messaging, planning, media relations, crisis communications, and oversight of marketing and community relations.
Years at CSM: Since 2026
Education: M.B.A., The University of Texas at El Paso; B.F.A., Graphic Design, The University of Texas at El Paso
Other Interests: Books, music, in-line skating, all types of racket sports, cooking, and catching a Giants game at Oracle Park

David Galvez,
Director of Equity

David Galvez, Director of Equity

Responsibilities: Overseeing and strengthening equity work at CSM by working with faculty and staff to integrate research-based practices in the interest of equity; professional development; developing and facilitating equity workshops
Years at CSM: Since 2022
Education: M.A., Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; B.A., English, UC Berkeley

Alex Claxton, Dean
Planning, Research, Innovation & Effectiveness

Alex Claxton, Dean of Planning, Research, Innovation and Effectiveness

Responsibilities: Leading the College's Planning, Research, Innovation, and Effectiveness (PRIE) office and serving as the Accreditation Liaison Officer. Overseeing strategic planning, data analysis, institutional assessment, and collaborative innovation in alignment with college and district goals
Years at CSM: Since 2026 (and 23-24), District since 2017
Education: Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology, Colorado State University
Other Interests: Curling, board games, craft beer/homebrewing, and video games

Tarana Chapple, Dean
Academic Support & Learning Technologies

Tarana Chapple, Dean of Academic Support & Learning Technologies

Responsibilities: Oversees academic support programs, interdisciplinary studies, professional development, and distance education to create a thriving academic culture for students and faculty inside and outside of the classroom.
Years at CSM: Since 2018
Education: B.A., Sociology, Hampton University; M.A. Ed., Counseling, Seton Hall University
Other Interests: Performing arts, traveling

Francisco Gamez, Dean
Business & Technology

Francisco Gamez, Dean of Business & Technology

Responsibilities: Oversees the academic, administrative, and programmatic portfolios within the Business and Technology division
Years at CSM: Since 2021
Education: B.A., Sociology, CSU East Bay; M.P.A., CSU East Bay; Ed.D., Organizations & Leadership, University of San Francisco
Other Interests: International travel and baking

Krystal Duncan, Dean
Counseling, Advising & Matriculation; Title IX Coordinator

Krystal Duncan, Dean of Counseling, Advising and Matriculation; Title IX Coordinator

Responsibilities: Supervises and supports Counseling Faculty and Staff including General Counseling, Transfer Services, Career Services, Welcome Center, Disability Resource Center (DRC), Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), CARE, and CalWORKs. Coordinates Sexual Misconduct and Gender Equity cases, and serves on the Behavior Intervention Team.
Years at CSM: Since 1999
Education: B.S., Human Development, Cal Poly SLO; M.S., Counseling, San Francisco State University
Other Interests: Traveling and learning about local culture, food and activities; enjoys reading books and literature on personal and professional development; supporting people through transitions and understanding the growing changes and needs in our environment

Jeanne Marie Velickovic, Dean
Creative Arts & Social Science

Jeanne Marie Velickovic, Dean of Creative Arts & Social Science

Responsibilities: Provides support to faculty and staff, supervises personnel and advocates for program needs. Collaborates with others on strategic planning and enrollment management from an equity perspective.
Years at CSM: Since 2021
Education: Ph.D., Government, University of Texas at Austin; M.A., Political Science, University of South Africa; B.A., Political Science and Psychology, University of Pretoria
Other Interests: Music, reading, hiking, traveling, visiting with family and friends

Arielle Smith, Interim Dean Enrollment Services

Arielle Smith, Interim Dean of Enrollment Services

Responsibilities: Oversees and provides leadership in Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, International Programs, Outreach, SparkPoint, Veterans Resources Center (VROC), and the Wellness Center.
Years at CSM: Since 2015
Education: Ed.D., Educational Leadership; M.S., Counseling; B.A., International Studies
Other Interests: Spending time with family and friends, travel, and reading

Dean
Kinesiology, Athletics & Dance

Andreas Wolf, Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics, and Dance

Responsibilities: Kinesiology Dean/Athletic Director
Years at CSM: Since 2006
Education: M.A., San Francisco State; B.A., San Francisco State
Other Interests: Golf, road biking, hiking, music, playing guitar, watching soccer and football, spending time with his wife

Chiara Ojeda, Dean
Language Arts

Chiara Ojeda, Dean of Language Arts

Responsibilities: Oversees the instructional departments of Communication Studies, Film, English & Literature, English as a Second Language, and Modern Languages as well as three instructional Learning Support Centers
Years at CSM: Since 2025
Education: B.A., English, University of Florida; M.A., Literature, University of Central Florida
Other Interests: Outside of work, Chiara enjoys spending time with her dog, Gwen, and her cats, Sophie and Howl. She also enjoys building models, musical theater, and live music.

Christopher Walker, Dean
Mathematics & Science

Christopher Walker, Dean of Mathematics & Science

Responsibilities: Supervises the Division of Mathematics & Science, which includes the following departments: Architecture, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Engineering, Geology, Paleontology, Oceanography, Nursing, and Dental Assisting
Years at CSM: Since 2014
Education: Ph.D., Mathematics, University of California, Riverside; B.A. and M.A., Mathematics, California State University, San Bernardino
Other Interests: Playing golf most weekends all over the Bay area, experimenting with cooking different cuisines for friends and family, and cheering on the San Francisco Giants

Michelle Simotas, Dean
Strategic Partnerships & Workforce Development

Michelle Simotas, Dean of Strategic Partnerships & Workforce Development

Responsibilities: Leads the division of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development, providing vision and leadership to support partnership development, Career Education, Dual Enrollment and Middle College, work experience, Workforce Development, adult education, and CSM Coastside.
Years at CSM: Since 2026
Education: Ed.D. Candidate, International and Multicultural Education, University of San Francisco; M.S. Ed, Online Teaching and Learning, CSU East Bay; MFA, Literature and Writing, Mills College; B.A., English, SFSU
Other Interests: Spending time with her two dogs, friends, and family, traveling, wandering San Francisco, experiencing live music and theatre, and walking in the redwoods

Rob Dean,
Public Safety Captain

Rob Dean, Public Safety Captain

Responsibilities: Oversees Public Safety employees and office, liaison with college administration on needed topics, provide service to students, liaison with law enforcement providers when needed, assist with training various entities on campus.
Years at CSM: Since 2015
Education: B.S., Political Science, University of Idaho; M.A., Counseling Psychology, Notre Dame de Namur; Leadership Certificate, University of Virginia
Other Interests: Family time, sports, history, travel, my Labrador retrievers

Robert Gutierrez,
Facilities Manager

Robert Gutierrez, Facilities Manager

Responsibilities: Oversees and provides leadership in Facilities Operations & Maintenance, which includes Custodial Services, Groundskeeping, and Engineering, to continue our longstanding tradition of “Facilities Excellence” by helping provide a clean, safe, vibrant, and inspiring campus environment for our students, faculty, staff, and community to enjoy and thrive in.
Years at CSM: Since 2019, District since 2013
Education: B.S., Business, Operations Management, California State University East Bay; DBIA certified, CEFP certification (in progress); LEED Associate certification (in progress)
Other Interests: Travel, food, live music, creative arts, sports, helping others, trying new things, spending time with family and friends, AYSO volunteer coach

Welcome Day
August 12, 2026

Fall Classes Begin
August 17, 2026

Labor Day (Holiday)
September 7, 2026

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