Each month, Santa Rosa Junior College recognizes excellence on campus with an Employee of the Month Award.
Visit the Employee of the Month Nominations page to find out how to nominate someone you feel deserves this distinction.
Here is a list of past EOM recipients.
Previous recipient: Robin Hernandez - May 2026
August 2026 - Patrice Moore
Congratulations to Patrice Moore, our Employee of the Month! Patrice serves as an Admissions and Records Evaluation Specialist I, where her expertise, compassion, and student-centered approach help students navigate one of the most important milestones in their educational journey.
Patrice was born in San Bernardino, California, and spent her early childhood in Southern California before moving to Kenwood at the age of 11. She graduated from Ursuline High School and went on to earn a BA in Social Ecology with an emphasis in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine, followed by a Master’s in Counseling from Sonoma State University. Prior to joining SRJC in 2018, Patrice worked at Hospice of Petaluma, Santa Rosa City Schools, and devoted several years to raising her three children.
As an Evaluation Specialist, Patrice evaluates transcripts to determine course equivalencies and transfer requirements, provides guidance to students and staff on transfer credit and degree requirements, reviews graduation petitions, and assists with Commencement. She also leads the development of SRJC’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program, helping students receive academic credit for prior learning and experience.
Patrice’s supervisor, Vayta Smith, shared, “Patrice is intelligent, professional, and consistently brings a positive attitude to the office. She is a true team player who is always willing to help her colleagues, but most importantly, she puts students first. She takes the time to understand each student’s unique situation and adjusts her priorities whenever possible to ensure they receive the support they need.”
One of Patrice’s greatest rewards comes from helping students who may feel discouraged about their academic path. “Many students return to SRJC after struggling elsewhere,” Patrice shared. “I help them see that their past coursework still counts for something and assist them in building a path toward meeting their educational goals. It’s rewarding to help someone move from feeling stuck to feeling hopeful again.”
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Patrice has played a key role in expanding the Credit for Prior Learning program. Starting with limited resources, she helped build the program into a successful service that awarded 235 units of credit to 93 students during the 2025–2026 academic year, helping students save both time and money on their educational journey.
Her dedication extends beyond her own work. During the busy graduation season, Patrice regularly assists colleagues by processing additional graduation evaluations to ensure students receive timely decisions. Whether approving a graduation petition or helping a student understand the next steps when additional coursework is needed, Patrice approaches every interaction with empathy, professionalism, and encouragement.
Outside of work, Patrice enjoys landscaping with California native plants, vegetable gardening, visiting art museums, and listening to music from her extensive vinyl collection. She also volunteers as a kitten foster with Sonoma Humane Society and Forgotten Felines and has happily adopted five of her former foster kittens. Patrice and her husband have been married for 28 years and are proud parents of three SRJC graduates who transferred to UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and UCLA. More recently, she has embraced her newest role as a grandmother to her seven-month-old granddaughter.
When asked about being named Employee of the Month, Patrice shared, “What an honor! It is so touching to know that my work at SRJC is recognized.”
Congratulations again to Patrice Moore for her outstanding service, dedication, and unwavering commitment to helping SRJC students achieve their educational goals.