Welcome Isidro Farias, Our New Vice President for Facilities Services
Please join me in welcoming Isidro Farias to Saint Mary’s College as our new Vice President for Facilities Services! Isidro’s first day will be February 8, 2023.
Isidro is an exceptional talent with deep experience. He has spent nearly three decades utilizing his architecture background to influence unique professional spaces, and he brings to our campus a blend of experience as an architect, educator, respected colleague, and experienced project director. As a first-generation college graduate, Isidro offers a unique perspective that informs his work and helps him to understand student needs.
Isidro has dedicated more than a decade of his professional career to higher education. He worked at UC Berkeley in a role that allowed for innovative thinking and techniques to solve complicated environmental design issues, for example, and he also served the California State University System’s Maritime Academy where he helped realize many exciting, specialized projects.
In early 2018, Isidro joined the California Community College System as a Director of Capital Projects and was responsible for the oversight of a $265 million capital project bond for the College of Marin while leveraging public/private partnership opportunities. He was responsible for the management and completion of large-scale projects such as an aquatics and fitness center/dive center complex, event center, a new $100 million learning resources center that’s currently under construction, and other academic, housing, and auxiliary projects.
Even during off-hours, Isidro is an advocate of higher education and is always seeking ways to inspire students; he volunteers his time, for example, to develop after-school high school programs, summer programs, and a summer academy where students earned college credit.
Isidro is a lifelong California resident who was raised in the Central Valley. He attended California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture and earned a Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley. He and his wife of 20 years are proudly raising two young children. He enjoys traveling abroad with his family and volunteering in his community.
I would once again like to express my appreciation for Chief Information Officer Francisco Chavez for his work as Interim VP for Facilities Services. Thank you, Francisco!
I’m also grateful to Mike Matoso, chair of the search committee, as well as our committee members for their work:
- Mike Matoso, VP for Intercollegiate Athletics (Committee Chair)
- Francisco Chavez, Chief Information Officer and Interim VP Facilities Services
- Alice Baldridge, Faculty, School of Science
- Brian Middleton, Student Life (Residential Life)
- Roy Wensley, Dean, School of Science and Co-Chair Sustainability Committee
I know that Isidro will be a tremendous asset for our campus community, and he offered some insight himself as to why he’s looking forward to joining Saint Mary’s.
“I was attracted to Saint Mary’s College for a number of reasons, including the College’s mission, strategic plan, and master plan,” he commented. “It’s evident that Lasallian core principles are embedded in every aspect of the institution, and being part of a strong community is very attractive and draws me to be part of it.” Both of his children, he added, have transitioned from public schools to Catholic institutions, and he says he has seen what a difference a Catholic education has made in their education.
“I’m looking forward to being part of Saint Mary’s and doing my part to contribute in achieving the mission of this great institution,” he said.
Welcome aboard, Isidro! We’re happy to have you.
Sincerely,
Richard Plumb, PhD
President