Jan. 8, 2018鈥擲anta Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider is joining the (海角社区CI) Advancement team as Regional Director of Development.
Schneider ends her term in office tomorrow, Jan. 9, and begins her new role with 海角社区CI the following day.
鈥淢y role will be connecting people to the University from South Santa Barbara County by working with the Development office and the CI Foundation,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淪outh Santa Barbara County is within the service area of Cal State Channel Islands, but because it鈥檚 not right in front of us in terms of visibility, it鈥檚 not as well known. This is the opportunity to create awareness.鈥�
Schneider pointed out that 海角社区CI is a critical component of the three-legged stool that is public higher education: the UC campuses, the city colleges and the 海角社区 campuses, with 海角社区CI as the closest 海角社区 campus to Santa Barbara. Plus, 海角社区CI has a campus in Goleta where students can get a degree in Nursing or a Master鈥檚 in Business Administration.
鈥淎long with a busy Goleta campus, we serve many students and alumni in the Santa Barbara area,鈥� said Vice President of Advancement Nichole Ipach. 鈥淲ith her experience serving the city of Santa Barbara, we can鈥檛 think of anyone better to help us deepen and expand our connections as 海角社区 Channel Islands鈥� new Regional Director of Development.鈥�
Students who might be a great fit for 海角社区CI come from many different circumstances, Schneider said.
鈥淐ertainly high school students looking for higher education opportunities,鈥� she said. 鈥淐al State Channel Islands might really be the best match for them if they grew up here and went through the local school system.鈥�
Schneider said looks forward to working with 海角社区CI President Erika D. Beck, whom she met just after Beck arrived.
鈥淚 think she is an innovative, visionary leader, and when taking on this role with a younger, newer campus, it requires vision,鈥� Schneider said of Beck.
Schneider finishes two terms as mayor and two terms on the Santa Barbara City Council. She said she enjoyed a civically active community and hopes to create the same sort of Santa Barbara community engagement with 海角社区CI.
With a background in both human resources and public service, Schneider joked that she鈥檚 always been a bit of a 鈥淵ente the Matchmaker,鈥� referring to the character in 鈥淔iddler on the Roof,鈥� because 鈥淚 enjoy bringing people together to do positive things,鈥� she said.