SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2023) – On Thursday, Sept. 14, the Santa Barbara Community College District Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Jordan Killebrew as the new Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications. This is the first appointment made by the new Superintendent/President, Erika Endrijonas, Ph.D., who began her term on Aug. 1. Killebrew will begin his time at SBCC on Monday, Sept. 25, and looks forward to working with the SBCC team.

“Santa Barbara City College is an anchor institution where access, opportunity and innovation meet to make dreams into tangible realities,” said Killebrew. “I am energized to work on behalf of SBCC to build stronger relationships, be a vessel for education and amplify all the good this vibrant community brings.”

Killebrew comes to SBCC with a communications, strategy and public affairs background. He worked at the County of Santa Barbara District 2 Office with Supervisor Laura Capps as her Communications Director and District Representative. There he worked closely with the Isla Vista community and addressed the mass evictions in the area. Killebrew also worked as Communications Director at the Santa Barbara Foundation for nearly seven years, implementing strategic plans, enhancing fundraising and strengthening relationships.

Additionally, Killebrew has extensive volunteer experience across Santa Barbara County. He founded Project Isla Vista Love, a direct response to the 2014 murders in Isla Vista, which produced the IV Love and Remembrance Garden. Killebrew has co-founded Juneteenth Santa Barbara, the annual event that honors the national holiday with a block party in historically Black locations of Santa Barbara. 

Killebrew has served on the board of the Fund for Santa Barbara and as a co-founder and advisory board member for UCSB Healing Space at Hosford Clinic. He has also served as a member of Music Academy Compeer Committee, is a former board member of both the Endowment for Youth Community and the Santa Barbara Independent Advisory Board, and a former commissioner on the Community Formation Commission to provide structure to build a civilian oversight of the Santa Barbara Police Department. He also formerly served on the Pacific Pride Festival Committee with the Pacific Pride Foundation for over six years.

“I am thrilled to have Jordan join SBCC and our Executive Committee,” said Dr. Endrijonas. “He is ingrained in our South Coast community with vast experience and understanding of the pulse of our region. He is a great liaison to share all the positive and innovative things happening on our campus. I also want to thank Amanda Jacobs, who did a tremendous job as an interim in this role while we searched.” 

Killebrew joins Dr. Endrijonas and the executive committee that includes Paloma Arnold, Vice President, Student Affairs; María L. Villagómez, M.A., M.A. Ed., Vice President, Academic Affairs; Brian Fahnestock, Interim Vice President, Business Services; Dean Nevins, Ph.D., Executive Director, Information Technology; Deneatrice Lewis, Interim Vice President, Human Resources; and Carola Smith, Vice President, School of Extended Learning. SBCC is seeking a Senior Director, Institutional Assessment, Research and Planning, to join the executive committee.