Kindred Murillo Selected to Lead Santa Barbara City College in California

The board of trustees of Santa Barbara City College has announced that Kindred Murillo has been selected to serve as Interim president of the college. She will begin a one-year appointment beginning September 7.

Santa Barbara City College enrolls more than 14,000 students on three campuses, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 55 percent of the student body.

“As someone who believes in the power of community colleges to change lives, my goal for Santa Barbara City College is to facilitate the strengths of SBCC to ensure we are focused on every group of students,” Dr. Murillo said. “SBCC has some extraordinary students, faculty, staff and leadership, and I hope to empower them to do great work. That’s what leaders do, create the conditions for everyone to do great work.”

Dr. Murillo has more than 24 years in the California Community College System. Beginning as an adjunct faculty member, she served 11 years as a chief business officer for three districts (Contra Costa, Pasadena Area, Copper Mountain). She was superintendent/president of Lake Tahoe Community College for nine years. She retired earlier this year after nearly four years leading the Southwestern Community College District in Chula Vista, California.

Dr. Murillo earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Redlands in California. She holds a master’s degree in organizational development and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.