Office of the Chancellor

The Chancellor is responsible for setting and communicating expectations for educational excellence and integrity throughout the District and support for the effective operation of the colleges. The Chancellor acts as liaison between the colleges and the governing board, and provides for the fair distribution of resources, control of expenditures, strategic institutional development, District-wide strategic planning, accreditation, and long term financial stability of the District and colleges.

Dr. Julianna M. Barnes has over 30 years of experience in higher education and joined the South Orange County Community College District as Chancellor on August 1, 2022.

Prior to this, Dr. Barnes served as President of Cuyamaca College. Under her leadership, the college emerged as a leading college in equity and innovation. Early adopters in developmental education reform, the college was awarded the John W. Rice Diversity and Equity Award and was recognized nationally by Excelencia in Education.

Dr. Barnes is known in the higher education arena to be an inclusive and engaged leader who has fostered strong internal and external relationships, providing the foundation for equitable student outcomes, a positive campus climate, and a healthy organization. Prior to her presidency, Dr. Barnes served as Vice President, Student Services at Cuyamaca and Mesa Colleges; Dean, Student Development & Matriculation at SD City College; and Dean, Student Affairs & Matriculation at Miramar College. She also served in various positions at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in San Diego State University’s (SDSU) doctoral program.

At the regional, state, and national levels, Dr. Barnes serves on several boards and presents at numerous conferences. Of note, she serves on the board of directors for the Community College League of California (CCLC), and as vice president of the south for the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) Board.

Dr. Barnes received a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and a Master of Arts in education/multicultural counseling from SDSU, plus a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and minor in teacher education from UCSD. She is a lifelong southern California resident and is proud to be the mother of two adult daughters.

Chancellor Barnes is impressed with the deliberate, equity-minded, student-centered approaches in the SOCCCD and was honored to join our extraordinary learning environment and contribute to the next generation of learners.