Dr. Jeff Milem, Dean and Professor at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School of Education, has joined the Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) Partners in Education (Partners).
Partners connects businesses and individuals with schools and youth-serving nonprofit organizations that serve them, in order to improve public education in ways that support a more vibrant economy, the health of our community and the well-being of local children and their families. The Board of Directors involves leaders within Santa Barbara’s Education community such as University presidents and chancellors (including UC Santa Barbara’s Chancellor, Henry T. Yang), school superintendents, business owners, CEOs, and Directors, and the Mayor of Santa Barbara, Cathy Murillo.
The non-profit, in addition to welcoming newcomers onto the Board of Directors, has also made recent changes to its Leadership structure. Dr. Susan Salcido, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools, became President to the Executive Committee, and Doug Ford, longtime Board member and founder of D.D. Ford Construction, became Vice-President. Jesus Terrazas, manager at Merryl Brown Events and alum of the Partners’ Internship Program, joined Dean Milem as a new Board member. Read more about their recent appointments here.
In addition to his leadership in higher education, Milem has had a noted research career in the field of racial dynamics in higher ed, helping colleges and universities enhance equity, access, and success for all students. Partners has a long-standing relationship with UC Santa Barbara, and under Milem’s leadership, thousands of students and faculty members have volunteered in school and afterschool programs over the years. Many education students gain their required field experience through Partners while also benefitting their community.
Each year, Partners in Education coordinates thousands of volunteers—mostly professionals from local businesses—to participate in guest speaking, career days, mock job interviews, resume coaching, and even classroom or afterschool tutoring. Partners fulfills needs in K-12 schools and youth programs through the coordination of volunteer and business resources. The organization was formed by local business and education leaders in 1977, and is administered by the Santa Barbara County Education Office. Thanks to the power of partnerships, more than 276,000 volunteer hours have been utilized at K-12 campuses and youth-serving nonprofits across Santa Barbara County, more than 12,300 computers have been delivered to families in need, and 660 plus high school students have received paid job readiness training and internship experience in the workplace. For more information, visit: partners.sbceo.org