Candace Jones appointed new superintendent-president of SMC

Santa Monica College (SMC) Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones answers pre-submitted questions during the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus, Santa Monica, Calif. Jones emerged as the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position after advancing alongside another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones answers pre-submitted questions during the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus, Santa Monica, Calif. Jones emerged as the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position after advancing alongside another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones (R) stands alongside her younger sister Tristan Gartrell (L) after the conclusion of the one-on-one conversations at the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus, Santa Monica, Calif. Jones answered pre-submitted questions as the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones smiles at her sister after her last one-on-one conversation at the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus, Santa Monica, Calif. Jones answered pre-submitted questions as the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position after advancing alongside another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

SMC announced Wednesday that Candace Jones will replace retiring superintendent-president Kathryn Jeffery on Jan. 1, 2027, following Jeffery’s retirement Dec. 31. According to a statement from SMC public information officer Grace Smith, the college’s board of trustees voted 6-0, with one board member absent, to confirm Jones during a closed-session meeting on Wednesday.

According to a statement sent to the SMC community, Jones brings more than 18 years of community college and higher education management experience to the college. She currently serves as vice president of administrative and business services at Long Beach Community College and previously worked at Pasadena City College.

Jones became the sole candidate selected by the hiring committee to replace Jeffery after the other candidate withdrew this summer for reasons SMC has not made public.

Board of Trustees Chair, Dr. Sion Roy, said in a statement Jones “is the ideal person to lead Santa Monica College at a time when we face challenges as well as great opportunities.”

Jones will take charge of SMC at a difficult time after the college was placed on enhanced financial monitoring by its accrediting body and laid off 45 full-time employees this summer amid financial difficulties.

“I believe great colleges are built by people who share a commitment to something larger than themselves,” Jones said in a statement, adding that she looks forward to working with the board, faculty, staff and students to build upon SMC’s legacy as a leading institution of higher education.

SMC is currently negotiating a new contract with its faculty union, led by Peter Morse, who said in a statement about Jones’ appointment, “I look forward to working closely with her and I wish her all the best for a very successful tenure here at SMC.”

While Jones did not rule out more layoffs in a previous interview with The Corsair, she pointed to her track record at LBCC and said she had helped close the college’s budget deficit without laying off anyone.

Smith said Jones's starting salary and benefits will be made public and voted on by the Board of Trustees at its next public meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Room 117 of the Business Building on SMC’s Main Campus.