More About Katya Armistead

Katya is a proud alum of UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 1988 and later returned to complete her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2012. Katya’s educational journey includes a Master’s Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University, which she obtained in 2007.

With over 33 years of experience in higher education, Katya began her career at UC Santa Barbara in the Office of Admissions. During that time, she spent 17 years guiding junior and high school students on their paths to college and university.

As a mother to two sons, Katya’s deep commitment to education was further extended to her family, with both sons graduating from Peabody Charter School, Santa Barbara Junior High, and Santa Barbara High School. Katya was actively involved as a parent volunteer at all three schools, ensuring she supported their educational journeys.

Katya’s community involvement is equally significant. As a participant in the Katherine Harvey Fellows program through the Santa Barbara Foundation, Katya helped establish the non-profit Youth Making Change, now part of The Fund for Santa Barbara. This initiative empowers junior and senior high school students to engage with the issues facing our county and support youth-led organizations.

In addition, Katya served for ten years on the board of Family Service Agency, including three years as chair, and has been a mentor for over eight years with CADA’s Fighting Back Mentor Program. Katya is a board member and facilitator of the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) with Leading From Within, a nonprofit dedicated to leadership development. Katya also serves on the Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) board, which supports economic growth and empowerment in our community.