San Juan College President Toni Hopper Pendergrass led state higher‑education officials on a brisk, 90‑minute campus tour Tuesday, showcasing student services, academic facilities and major capital projects as the college prepares a future funding requests.
Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez, members of the Capital Outlay Committee and staff from multiple state agencies visited key areas across the over 1‑million‑square‑foot campus, including student housing, the Health and Human Performance Center, nursing simulation labs, trades programs and the School of Energy.
Rodriguez praised the college for creating “an environment where students want to come to school, want to learn, and want to give back once they graduate,” noting recent state investments such as $5 million for the School of Energy and San Juan College’s designation as the state’s Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy. Pendergrass said the college’s next major request will be funding for phase 2 of student housing, as enrollment and demand continue to grow.
Committee members included Rodriguez; Chief of Staff, Gerald Hoehne; Taña Martinez, Director of Institutional Finance for New Mexico Higher Education Department; Auriella Valles (Ortiz), Communications Director for New Mexico Higher Education Department; Cally Carswell, Legislative Finance Committee, Principal Analyst for Capital Outlay; Jesse Guillen, N.M. Department of Finance and Administration, Bureau Chief; and Luis Campos, Chairman of the Higher Education Capital Outlay Committee.
Dr. Toni Pendergrass, President of San Juan College; Edward DesPlas, Executive Vice President; Dr. Boomer Appleman, Vice President for Student Services; Dr. Michael Ottinger, Vice President for Learning; Chris Harrelson, Senior Director of Physical Plant; and Alicia Schulz, Senior Director of Student Outreach, Advising, and Retention, represented the college on the tour.
Appleman said the flags at SJC were representative of all of their international students and the sovereign nations represented by enrollments.
The Food for Thought was represented by the Trailblaze Cupboard. Now in it’s second year, partnering with Echo, the local food bank is funded by a summer event, Summertime Family Fest, and a Farmington family that matches 100% with donations.
Fresh produce was on the table outside the Cupboard, which was stocked with canned and dry goods. On Tuesdays, from noon – 4 p.m., students are welcome to scan their I.D. and grab a canvas bag.
Pointing to plaques on the wall, Pendergrass said they have nearly 500 students in the honors program, which does not require an application, but students receive $100 to $300 a year for being a part of it.
Pendergrass also noted the Native American Center, the Professional Development Center and the Miss Indigenous photos on the wall. She said the STEM area had been renovated through support from the state. She pointed out the Career Center, the Veteran’s Center and the Planetarium as the group exited to board the tour buggies.
The Health and Human Performance Center has about 1,200 people come through the doors each day, Pendergrass said. The Outdoor Recreation Center offers a wide variety of equipment for backpacking and camping, winter sports, disc golf and volleyball, plus paddle boards, rafts, kayaks and canoes,
The 6,000 square foot facility includes a climbing tower, elevated indoor track, fitness conditioning center, group exercise and dance studio, three-court gymnasium with volleyball, basketball, and pickleball capabilities, outdoor exercise areas, including a disc golf course, an outdoor equipment rental center and a snack bar.
In the same building, the dental clinic has 12 students in each cohort who participate in a mission of mercy once a year, providing free, no questions asked dental care.
The tour continued to the nursing simulation lab where hands-on skills are taught using medical equipment, multiple beds and low-fidelity mannequins.
Pendergrass said they just increased the class sizes by 50%, going from 64 to 96 graduates.
The Student Health Center, which opened in February of 2025, provides both physical health and mental health support services.
Nizhóní Sunrise Suites, a 37,500 square-foot facility, provides space for 150 students. It includes a large great room, full kitchen, laundry rooms and multiple study and break out rooms.
Currently at maximum occupancy with a waiting list, a phase 2 is planned.
The Trades and Technology Building is home to the auto body, automotive service educational program, automotive technology, building trades, cosmetology, diesel technology, drafting, electric vehicle and fuel cell certification, fire science, geographic information systems, MOPAR career automotive program, police science, small unmanned aerial systems, Toyota technician and welding.
The next stop was The Enterprise Center, which helps entrepreneurs, innovators, makers and growing businesses start and scale — with business incubation and acceleration programs.
The Big Idea Makerspace also has 3D printers, a large-format printer and vinyl cutter, a laser engraver and cutter, metalworking tools, a graphic design studio and a complete woodworking shop.
The last stop was the School of Energy, a 65,000-square-foot facility that offers programs in instrumentation and controls, occupational safety and industrial maintenance. Construction is underway for an expansion of the Sherman Dugan Museum of Geology.
As Secretary since 2021, Rodriguez oversees the department which funds all higher education institutions in N.M., a total of 25. It funds four tribal colleges, the New Mexico Military Institute and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
The most recent funding of $5 million from her department was allocated for the School of Energy.
Rodriguez, on her third tour of the college, said on top of that they put into law that San Juan College is the “center of excellence for renewable energy,” with an additional half a million designated for equipment every year for the college.
Besides capital outlay, the college receives about $37 million a year, based on enrollment and completion, for public service projects, student services, including those specifically for Native Americans.
“What I will say is, San Juan College really creates and nurtures an environment where students want to come to school, students want to learn, and students want to give back once they graduate,” she said.
Rodriguez said her mission is “to make sure programs are implemented in the right way to support students.”
Pendergrass, who confirmed funding for phase 2 of student housing is SJC’s next priority, said working with the community, the employees and all the great leaders is most rewarding.