Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Student Affairs

Student Services Suggestions Box

Paloma Arnold

Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Student Affairs

Paloma Arnold has worked in Student Services at Santa Barbara City College for over 20 years; she began her career in the Financial Aid office at SBCC and has worked the majority of her career in the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program. At SBCC, EOPS also houses the CalWORKs and Guardian Scholars programs along with three award winning summer bridge programs: SPARC, Running Start and Transitions. Through her work in the Financial Aid and EOPS programs, Paloma has developed a passion for serving students and believes that Student Services plays a very important role in our students’ academic journey. Paloma brings very strong experience and commitment to equity and serving SBCC’s most vulnerable and marginalized students. Paloma is committed to using all of her professional experience, passion and energy to create equitable outcomes for students. Her experience in EOPS informs her perspective and helps her to consider the student experience as central to policy making and leadership.

During these 20 years in Student Services, Paloma feels fortunate to have worked in various capacities including: Student Program Advisor, Associate Professor/Counselor, Director of the EOPS/CARE Program and most recently as Dean of Student Affairs.

In her role as Dean of Student Affairs, Paloma provided oversight for various Student Services departments and programs including EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Guardian Scholars, Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, Academic Counseling, University Transfer Center, Transfer Achievement Program, Articulation, Foster and Kinship Care Education, Enrollment and Retention Services, Dual Enrollment and the Federal Work Study program.

In addition to serving on various college-wide committees at SBCC, Paloma serves as the co-chair of the Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) committee and recently has championed, supported and co-led initiatives to bring to SBCC a Rising Scholars program to support currently and formerly incarcerated students and a Dream Center to support undocumented and mixed-status students at SBCC (opening Summer 2022).

Paloma is a third generation native of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara High School alumnae. In the greater Santa Barbara community, Paloma serves on the Board of Trustees for the Riviera Ridge School (formerly Marymount School of Santa Barbara), the CalSOAP Governing Board, Channel Islands YMCA Youth and Family Services Board, Cottage Hopsital's Community Health Advisory Committee and previously served on the Board of Trustees for Santa Barbara High School's MAD Academy.

Paloma holds a M.A. in Psychology from Antioch University, Santa Barbara and a B.A. in History from UCLA. In 2019, Paloma was recognized as the Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the SBCC Advancing Leadership Association.

Paloma possesses a deep commitment, loyalty and love for Santa Barbara City College and the students we serve and feels privileged and honored to serve as Vice President, Student Affairs.