Cabrillo College’s superintendent/president search committee has chosen Dr. Jenn Capps to lead the school. Committee Chair and Trustee Christina Cuevas said she and Capps have reached a tentative agreement, with a projected start date of Jan. 20. The Cabrillo College Governing Board is expected to vote on Capps’ contract at its Jan. 12 meeting.
Dr. Jenn Capps
In a press release, Cuevas said the committee was “very excited” about recommending Capps, citing her leadership on innovative academic initiatives and her experience building partnerships with tribal nations, advancing sustainability efforts and strengthening workforce development programs. Capps currently serves as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she has led major institutional changes since 2020.
At Humboldt, Capps co-led the self-study that helped the campus become the California State University system’s third polytechnic university. She also played a key role in securing a $458 million state investment to expand workforce-aligned academic programs, boost enrollment and improve student success. Under her leadership, the university earned the Seal of Excelencia, an award recognizing commitment to Latino student achievement.
Before her work at Humboldt, Capps was dean of the College of Professional Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver. In that role, she expanded public and private partnerships in fields such as health, technology and hospitality, which strengthened both community engagement and the college’s financial stability. Colleagues have described her leadership style as student-centered and strengths-based, with an emphasis on communication and transparency.
Capps holds advanced degrees in counseling psychology, is a licensed professional counselor and has expertise in juvenile rehabilitation and crisis response.
In a statement, Capps said she was “thrilled” to join Cabrillo College and thanked the search committee and governing board for their work. She said meeting faculty, staff and students during the interview process confirmed for her that Cabrillo is “an incredible place.”
“I look forward to working with the Cabrillo team on continuing to further student success and develop innovative programs that will advance the college,” she said.
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Francisco ‘Paco’ Estrada Named Area V Trustee
At its December meeting, Cabrillo’s Board of Trustees voted 4-2 to provisionally appoint Francisco ‘Paco’ Estrada to the Board seat representing Area V. Trustee Area V includes the city of Watsonville and the southern portion of Freedom.
Estrada will fill the seat that was vacated by the untimely death of Manuel Bersamin, who was provisionally appointed in September 2024 and was elected to the Board in November 2024.
Francisco Estrada is named Area V Trustee.
Estrada was sworn in by Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco, and will fill the position until the next regular election of the Board of Trustees in November 2026.
Estrada is currently an analyst at the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director of Development for the nonprofit organization FoodWhat?! based in Santa Cruz. Paco was elected to Watsonville City Council, where he served from 2018-2022, and he served as Watsonville Mayor in 2019. He also was an associate instructor of History at Hartnell College.
“I’m honored to serve on the Cabrillo College Governing Board,” said Francisco ‘Paco’ Estrada. “Former Trustee Manuel Bersamin was a friend and colleague — I’ve always admired the profound impact he had on student lives. As a lifelong Watsonville resident, I look forward to continuing that deep commitment to students, faculty, and staff, and will work hard to honor the immense legacy left by former Trustee Bersamin.”