After more than seven years of dedication and service to Cabrillo College and the Santa Cruz County community, President and Superintendent Matt Wetstein has announced his retirement.
Wetstein will continue working for Cabrillo College until Dec. 31, 2025, to allow the Board of Trustees time to conduct a thorough search for and hire a new president and superintendent.
“Cabrillo College is a special place in a vibrant region,” Wetstein said. “The faculty and staff at Cabrillo are amazing and have built a caring culture for our students. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that I have served as its leader, but after 29 years of service to public higher education from political science teaching to administrative leadership, I am looking forward to spending more time with my wife Cindy and traveling. I will always cherish the friendships I have made at Cabrillo and in the Santa Cruz County community.”
In a notable tenure marked by impactful leadership and community engagement, Wetstein has significantly enhanced Cabrillo College and the broader Santa Cruz County. He spearheaded the recruitment of full-time faculty, enriching educational offerings in key areas such as welding, nursing and ethnic studies, while bolstering mental health services for students.
Wetstein’s leadership shone during crises, notably establishing emergency shelters during the CZU wildfires in 2020 and responding adeptly to flooding in Pajaro in 2023. His role as Incident Commander for Cabrillo’s Emergency Operations Center was crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he ensured the safety of the college community and successfully navigated transitions between online and in-person learning.
Wetstein was instrumental in forming Cabrillo’s Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force, which fostered staff development and increased funding for community initiatives, along with hiring a bilingual marketing professional to enhance outreach. His advocacy on a statewide task force addressing college affordability resulted in pivotal changes in policies regarding food and housing needs for students, influencing basic needs legislation and securing vital funding.
Under his guidance, Cabrillo College attracted over $14 million in federal grants and saw its endowment grow by nearly $30 million through the efforts of the Cabrillo Foundation. He also initiated a renaissance of public art on campus, gaining funding for murals and performing arts events. As a Tri-Chair of the Central Coast K-16 Education Consortium, Wetstein brought $18 million in state funding to support regional economic recovery efforts, particularly in healthcare and engineering pathways.
In addition, he has actively advocated for reforms to the Student-Centered Funding Formula to ensure equitable funding across community colleges in California.
Wetstein’s leadership extended beyond the college, as he served on various nonprofit boards in Santa Cruz County, including the Santa Cruz County Business Council and United Way. His contributions earned him accolades, such as the Aptos Chamber of Commerce 2019 Man of the Year and the 2024 Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year.
Recently, he played a pivotal role in securing $111.7 million in state bond funding, enabling the development of a 624-bed affordable student housing project in collaboration with UCSC, set to break ground in fall 2025.
“Guided by his commitment to the values of compassion, gratitude and humility, Matt has contributed so much to Cabrillo College and the surrounding community during his tenure here,” said Christina Cuevas, Cabrillo Governing Board Chair. “We will miss him, but know that in his time at Cabrillo, he made the College and the community it serves, a much better place.”
Prior to coming to Cabrillo, Wetstein served for six years as the assistant superintendent/vice president of instruction and planning at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. Prior to that, he taught political science at San Joaquin Delta College and also served as the Dean of Planning and Research.
Wetstein is a statewide leader in the Research and Planning Community for California Community Colleges, having spent six years on the board of that organization and two years as President. He also is the co-author of three books on the Canadian Supreme Court, one book on abortion politics in the United States, and has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles on judicial behavior, abortion politics and community college student success.
Following his retirement, Wetstein plans to relocate to Stockton, where his wife and he have a residence.
The Cabrillo College Governing Board will establish a search committee and will begin the process of initiating a search for the next president and superintendent of Cabrillo College, with plans for that person to begin work in January 2026.
