The Office of Public Affairs & Communications (OPAC) shares the exciting and important story of UC Santa Barbara. In collaboration with audiences and stakeholders both internal and external OPAC provides strategic communications to support the campus at large. Working with media across the country and around the world through traditional, digital and social channels, OPAC strives to generate coverage of — and amplify — the extraordinary development of UC Santa Barbara as a leading research institution and of the people, programs, events and activities that distinguish the campus.
In addition to its public information and media relations functions, the office designs and maintains the UCSB.edu website. OPAC also publishes The Current, UC Santa Barbara’s official news site, which is updated daily with breaking news, research features and events designed to engage the campus community, alumni, peer institutions, prospective students and the general public. The Office of Public Affairs & Communications guides the campus’s marketing efforts, including brand management, along with production and distribution of multimedia content and experiences to engage audiences across digital channels.
Related Resources
The Current
As the university’s official news site, The Current publishes feature articles that highlight the campus’s groundbreaking research and scholarly accomplishments across academic disciplines, from science and engineering to the social sciences to the humanities and fine arts. The Current also is the source for breaking news as well as information on the university’s myriad lectures, conferences, performances and other events.
ucsb.edu
The university’s primary website serves as an entry point for the general public and campus community to learn more about our dynamic and inspirational environment.
Brand Guidelines
UC Santa Barbara’s brand guidelines website provides important details and tools for presenting the university with a unified and distinct voice, look and feel.
Digital Asset Library
UC Santa Barbara’s Digital Asset Library offers a searchable database of campus photography and other digital assets for non-commercial use. Assets are free of charge for staff and faculty members.
Contact Information
Public Affairs & Communications
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2100
Phone: (805) 893-2191
Fax: (805) 893-5834
John Longbrake
Associate Vice Chancellor
Phone: (805) 893-2191
Alex Parraga
Chief Marketing Officer
(805) 893-3028
alex.parraga@ucsb.edu
Shelly Leachman
Editorial Director
(805) 893-4620
shelly.leachman@ucsb.edu
Katie Falcone
Content Marketing Manager
(805) 893-4442
katiefalcone@ucsb.edu
Sonia Fernandez
Engineering/Public Affairs Writer
(805) 893-4765
sonia.fernandez@ucsb.edu
Keith Hamm
Social Science, Humanities & Fine Arts Writer
(805) 893-3207
keithhamm@ucsb.edu
Debra Herrick
Associate Editorial Director
(805) 893-5446
debraherrick@ucsb.edu
Mihoko Jones
Director, Web Services & Technology
(805) 893-2619
mihoko.jones@ucsb.edu
Sarah Kidwell
Internal Communications Manager
(805) 893-8294
sarahkidwell@ucsb.edu
Jane McTaggart
Senior Digital Communications Strategist
(805) 893-2947
jane.mctaggart@ucsb.edu
Matt Perko
Senior Web Designer
(805) 893-4786
matt.perko@ucsb.edu
Kiki Reyes
Media Relations Manager
kikireyes@ucsb.edu
Daniel Smith
Media and Office Coordinator
(805) 893-2191
danielsmith@ucsb.edu
Harrison Tasoff
Science Writer
(805)893-7220
harrisontasoff@ucsb.edu
Ryan Vizena
Web Developer
(805) 893-5171
vizena@ucsb.edu
Jessie Ward O’Sullivan
Multi-Media Producer
(805) 893-4834
jessieward@ucsb.edu