SMCCCD Board of Trustees with Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez, CSM President, SMCCCD Chancellor Melissa Moreno, and Half Moon Bay Mayor Joaquin Jimenez.
College of San Mateo (CSM) celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday, October 17, with the grand opening of its new Coastside campus in downtown Half Moon Bay. The ribbon-cutting ceremony drew community members, local officials, students, and college representatives, all excited to mark CSM’s return to the Coastside after a decade-long hiatus.
Located at 650 Mill Street in the heart of Half Moon Bay’s historic downtown, College of San Mateo Coastside is a much-needed resource for the Coastside community, where access to higher education has been limited. Half Moon Bay, known for its rich agricultural history and vibrant cultural roots, has faced unique challenges connecting residents to post-secondary education. With the new CSM Coastside campus, students now have local access to vital programs and career training opportunities, reducing the need to travel long distances for education.
CSM President Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez opened the ceremony with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the land and its original stewards, the Ramaytush Ohlone people. Switching seamlessly between English and Spanish, he emphasized the college’s dedication to serving every community member. “Today is much more than just the opening of a new building; it is about opening doors to brighter futures and new beginnings for all,” Dr. Pérez stated. “This facility is a response—it is one way that College of San Mateo commits to this long-time relationship with the city of Half Moon Bay to ensure that every person, every family, and every dream on the Coastside can thrive and bloom.”
Add caption in posting: SMCCCD Board of Trustee (Area 1) Dr. Lisa Petrides, CSM President Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez, and SMCCCD Chancellor Melissa Moreno.
San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) Chancellor Melissa Moreno highlighted the importance of bringing education directly to the community. “This new space represents our important priority to bring college to the people,” she said. “We built three beautiful campuses atop three beautiful hills that not everyone can access. This is why it’s so important to bring the classroom into the communities we serve and where transportation fails us.”
SMCCCD Board Trustee Dr. Lisa Petrides, a longtime Coastside resident, expressed her pride in the collaborative effort that led to the facility’s opening. “I’ve never been so proud to be a Coastside resident,” she remarked. “You told us you wanted us here, and now we are embedded here. We are here to stay.” She further emphasized the college’s mission: “We believe that education is a human right, and everybody deserves access.”
Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, founder of the transformative nonprofit organization Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS), spoke passionately about the facility’s impact on local families. “This has been a dream in the making for years,” she said. “What would it be like to change the face of education in our community? Today, this is what that looks like. It starts with access; it starts with opportunity.”
Karen Decker, Economic and Community Vitality Manager of Half Moon Bay, highlighted the collaborative journey that led to this day. “This is a dream come true,” she said. “Three years ago, 17 Coastsiders formed a task force as part of an economic initiative sponsored by the city of Half Moon Bay. One of those recommendations was to bring the college back to the Coastside. The leadership of College of San Mateo caught wind of this, and it sparked a series of events leading us to today.”
SMCCCD leadership and community members came together to cut the ribbon, marking the beginning of a new era of educational accessibility and community empowerment on the Coastside. Guests were then invited to tour the facility, exploring the classroom and meeting spaces designed to support the academic journeys of Coastside residents.
Dr. Pérez emphasized the collective effort behind the new facility. “This facility is the result of a collaborative effort among the Board of Trustees, community leaders, local businesses, and CSM’s dedicated team,” he said. “We are thrilled to open a campus that reflects our commitment to equity and inclusion, empowering the Coastside community by providing the education and training needed for success in today’s economy.”
The celebration continued with media interviews and networking opportunities. Attendees expressed excitement and optimism about the positive impact College of San Mateo Coastside is expected to have.
Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez, CSM President, with Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS)
“This is just the beginning,” Dr. Hernandez-Arriaga noted. “We’re going to have the first graduation of our students here. We’re all going to be here; we’re all going to come. Thank you for believing in us, College of San Mateo.”
College of San Mateo Coastside is an extension of CSM’s main campus, approved by the SMCCCD Board of Trustees. The facility represents the college’s commitment to advancing equity and fostering economic mobility through education, particularly for underserved populations along the Coastside in San Mateo County.
By situating the facility in Half Moon Bay, CSM aims to eliminate transportation barriers and provide programs that are directly responsive to community needs. The college plans to continue evolving its offerings based on ongoing input from residents and community partners.
For more information about College of San Mateo Coastside, please visit: https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/coastside
