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Santa Cruz County is blessed with the natural beauty of our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Our unparalleled beauty is renowned throughout the world and draws visitors to our region throughout the year to recreate and enjoy the county for surfing, hiking, mountain and road biking or to enjoy the arts, our hometown shops and restaurants, the wineries and breweries of our coastal communities. Santa Cruz County also has that unique quality to bring people from all walks of life that want to be a part of the fabric that makes our region a special place. One person who decided to make Santa Cruz County home turned out to be the Chamber’s Person of the Year. I hope you will take the time to read about Matt Wetstein and then join us for an evening of fun and festive celebration. Learn more about the 105th Annual Dinner here: www.santacruzchamber.org/recognition-awards-gala.html In a well-deserved tribute to a transformative leader, Dr. Matt Wetstein, President of Cabrillo College, is named The Chamber’s Person of the Year. This esteemed recognition not only applauds his outstanding achievements but also celebrates his unwavering commitment to education, community development, and advocacy for student success. As the President of Cabrillo College for the past seven years, Dr. Wetstein has played a pivotal role in championing the cause of community college students, particularly addressing issues of affordability and housing insecurity. Serving as the co-chair of the Affordability, Food, and Housing Access Task Force for the Community College League of California, he has actively contributed to major policy briefs advocating for student housing funding and increased financial aid. Under Dr. Wetstein's leadership, Cabrillo College established the first community college partnership with Landed, providing housing down payment assistance for teachers and staff. Notably, he secured $111 million in state-backed funding for an innovative student housing project in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz, further delivering on the College's promise to help alleviate housing insecurity for Cabrillo's students. Under his leadership, the College also implemented an impressive solar canopy solution in many of its parking lots, underscoring the College's commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Dr. Wetstein has been a catalyst for positive change at Cabrillo College, leading initiatives such as the UMOJA learning community that enhances students' educational experience by integrating academics, support services, African-American and Pan-African culture into the student experience, and the Rising Scholars Program for justice-impacted students. With a student population that is now 47% Latinx, Dr. Wetstein's involvement on the Cabrillo Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force reflects a commitment to creating a more inclusive environment for students and the community. Beyond his role at Cabrillo, Dr. Wetstein has been an engaged member of local economic development and non-profit boards, including the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, Santa Cruz County Business Council, United Way, Santa Cruz Symphony, the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, and more. His involvement conveys his commitment to the broader community. Dr. Wetstein's academic track record and leadership extend beyond the realm of community colleges. A strategic advisor to the RP Board representing the CEOs of the California Community College system, he has been a statewide leader in the Research and Planning Community. Additionally, his international reputation as a leading scholar on the Supreme Court of Canada, alongside his wife Cindy Ostberg, adds a unique dimension to his multifaceted career. Approachable and down-to-earth, it's not uncommon to see Dr. Wetstein in a baseball cap—a symbolic representation of his inclusive and approachable leadership style. In honoring him as Person of the Year, we recognize Dr. Matt Wetstein's exceptional contributions and anticipate the continued positive impact he will have on education and the community.
Santa Cruz County is blessed with the natural beauty of our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Our unparalleled beauty is renowned throughout the world and draws visitors to our region throughout the year to recreate and enjoy the county for surfing, hiking, mountain and road biking or to enjoy the arts, our hometown shops and restaurants, the wineries and breweries of our coastal communities.
Santa Cruz County also has that unique quality to bring people from all walks of life that want to be a part of the fabric that makes our region a special place. One person who decided to make Santa Cruz County home turned out to be the Chamber’s Person of the Year. I hope you will take the time to read about Matt Wetstein and then join us for an evening of fun and festive celebration. Learn more about the 105th Annual Dinner here: www.santacruzchamber.org/recognition-awards-gala.html
In a well-deserved tribute to a transformative leader, Dr. Matt Wetstein, President of Cabrillo College, is named The Chamber’s Person of the Year. This esteemed recognition not only applauds his outstanding achievements but also celebrates his unwavering commitment to education, community development, and advocacy for student success.
As the President of Cabrillo College for the past seven years, Dr. Wetstein has played a pivotal role in championing the cause of community college students, particularly addressing issues of affordability and housing insecurity. Serving as the co-chair of the Affordability, Food, and Housing Access Task Force for the Community College League of California, he has actively contributed to major policy briefs advocating for student housing funding and increased financial aid.
Under Dr. Wetstein's leadership, Cabrillo College established the first community college partnership with Landed, providing housing down payment assistance for teachers and staff. Notably, he secured $111 million in state-backed funding for an innovative student housing project in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz, further delivering on the College's promise to help alleviate housing insecurity for Cabrillo's students. Under his leadership, the College also implemented an impressive solar canopy solution in many of its parking lots, underscoring the College's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
Dr. Wetstein has been a catalyst for positive change at Cabrillo College, leading initiatives such as the UMOJA learning community that enhances students' educational experience by integrating academics, support services, African-American and Pan-African culture into the student experience, and the Rising Scholars Program for justice-impacted students. With a student population that is now 47% Latinx, Dr. Wetstein's involvement on the Cabrillo Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force reflects a commitment to creating a more inclusive environment for students and the community.
Beyond his role at Cabrillo, Dr. Wetstein has been an engaged member of local economic development and non-profit boards, including the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, Santa Cruz County Business Council, United Way, Santa Cruz Symphony, the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, and more. His involvement conveys his commitment to the broader community.
Dr. Wetstein's academic track record and leadership extend beyond the realm of community colleges. A strategic advisor to the RP Board representing the CEOs of the California Community College system, he has been a statewide leader in the Research and Planning Community. Additionally, his international reputation as a leading scholar on the Supreme Court of Canada, alongside his wife Cindy Ostberg, adds a unique dimension to his multifaceted career.
Approachable and down-to-earth, it's not uncommon to see Dr. Wetstein in a baseball cap—a symbolic representation of his inclusive and approachable leadership style. In honoring him as Person of the Year, we recognize Dr. Matt Wetstein's exceptional contributions and anticipate the continued positive impact he will have on education and the community.