Dr. Kindred Murillo named Interim President/Superintendent of SBCC for 2021-22

At their meeting on August 26, the Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees announced that Dr. Kindred Murillo has been selected to serve as Interim Superintendent/President of SBCC. The contract will be for a one-year appointment beginning September 7, 2021.

Board president, Dr. Peter Haslund, praised Murillo’s experience and selection, “I think we have a winner! Kindred Murillo is a thoroughly experienced Superintendent/President who models the idea of collaborative engagement in the decision-making process. I really look forward to working with her.”

In a recent interview, Dr. Murillo outlined her goal for the coming year: “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. 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) and 13 years as superintendent/president for two districts (Lake Tahoe, Southwestern). She retired this year after nearly four years leading the Southwestern Community College District, with 28,000-students and five locations, where she was widely recognized for advancing racial equity and student success, increasing employee diversity, and launching the Advancing Teaching Equity Academy. She also led a successful facilities bond program that modernized and expanded the central campus and college centers to ensure inclusive spaces for student learning.

Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. Murillo was a regional manager for Southern California Edison and served as a councilmember and the first mayor for the newly incorporated Town of Yucca Valley.

Dr. Murillo holds a doctorate and master’s degree in organizational leadership and organizational development, respectively, from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Redlands. She is a proud alumna of Barstow Community College where she earned an associate degree in liberal arts.