Message from the Superintendent/President - Remembering Dolores Huerta: A Legacy of Opportunity and Empowerment
10/28/2026
Dear MSJC Community,
Today, we mourn the passing of Dolores Huerta, a pioneering civil rights leader, educator, and advocate whose lifelong commitment to justice, dignity, and opportunity transformed countless lives.
Before becoming a nationally recognized leader, Huerta was a teacher who witnessed firsthand the challenges children faced as their families struggled to meet their most basic needs. She understood that education and opportunity are deeply connected, and she dedicated her life to breaking down barriers that prevented individuals and families from reaching their full potential.
Through her tireless advocacy for farmworkers, Huerta helped bring national attention to the struggles of agricultural families, championing fair wages, safer working conditions, and dignity for those whose labor sustains our communities. Her leadership gave a powerful voice to generations of Latino workers and families, leaving a lasting impact on California's history and Latino culture.
At Mt. San Jacinto College, her legacy holds special meaning. As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2001, MSJC shares her belief in the power of education, inclusion, and empowerment to transform lives and strengthen communities. Her legacy reminds us why our work matters, why access to opportunity must remain at the heart of our mission, and why we must do more than open the doors of higher education. It calls on us to elevate student voices and empower the next generation of leaders and changemakers.
Her enduring words, “Sí, se puede” (Yes, we can), continue to inspire generations to believe in what is possible.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and all those whose lives she touched. May her legacy continue to inspire us to build a more just and inclusive future through education.
Dr. Tawny Dotson
Superintendent/President
Mt. San Jacinto College