By Stuart Clarke
Eric Roos volunteers his free time to serve San Quentin residents enrolled in Mount Tamalpais College. He oversees the Mt. Tam Computer Lab in the new Learning Center.
With serene humility and his trademark effervescent smile, he conscientiously seeks to ensure that MTC students get the printing needed for school and special projects. Roos also schedules and supervises the Peer Computer Lab Assistants, residents who volunteer to assist MTC students with their computer needs and teach computer skills in various workshops.
“The patience and compassion make Eric ideal for the position,” said lab assistant Angel Alvarez. “The MTC computer lab provides an invaluable service to the college student community, and Eric’s kindness helps welcome those who want to earn a college degree in such a tumultuous place.”
When technological glitches inevitably impede the process, he coordinates with other MTC officials and San Quentin’s information technology staff to restore service. Roos also works closely with other volunteers to ensure that the computer lab is available to residents as often as possible.
“One of the biggest reasons I volunteered is because of my philosophy, there but for the grace of God, go I,” said Roos. “There’s no difference between me and the students I work for.”
Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Roos resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended the University of California, Berkeley and studied history. His focus was on the Soviet Union, specifically the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 Russia.
After college he toured the world with the music group Up with People. They performed at prisons in Europe and nationwide, including the supermax facility in Florence, Colorado. The organization also performed in the 1982 Super Bowl halftime show.
“Those experiences led me to the knowledge and desire that I wanted to be involved in an on-the-ground experience in a carceral setting,” said Roos.
Eventually he decided on a career in advertising. He worked with brands such as Levi’s, Clorox, C & H and Gallo.
He was responsible for branding strategy — helping companies determine how to market their products to target customers. That career took him to picturesque locations like Morocco, Paris, and Hawaii to film television campaigns.
Roos worked in a county jail in an “Own Recognizance” project, interviewing the newly incarcerated to determine if they could be reliable show up for court. The goal was to release as many as possible on their own recognizance.
“I have always been interested in penal reform and social justice,” said Roos.
In 2023, while serving on the Board of Directors for Larkin Street Youth Service, he met and interviewed Nandita Dinesh, former Dean of Academic Administration for MTC, for a position on the Board. However, shortly after the interview, she acquired her appointment with MTC.
“When I left the Board, I contacted Nandita because the MTC job sounded interesting,” said Roos. After a satisfying career in advertising, he hired on in a volunteer capacity with MTC in 2024. With no teaching background, he was made computer lab manager.
“Eric is compassionate and empathetic. He fulfills a service that is needed for the justice-impacted. He is a cut above the rest,” said resident William Earl Tolbert.
When asked what he liked about the job, Roos replied, “Definitely the people. I work with different people every day, the atmosphere in the lab is awesome, and it’s a place where students with all different backgrounds can work together peacefully.”
Now semi-retired, when not selflessly serving the computer lab, he enjoys his free time doing yoga and, most of all, taking long walks on the beach with his beloved Golden Doodle dog, Luke.