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, OPAC also publishes The Current, UC Santa Barbara’s official news site, along with UC Santa Barbara Magazine. 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 including the UCSB.edu website.

Related Resources

physics student in lab

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.

Visit The Current

UC Santa Barbara Magazine

UC Santa Barbara Magazine

UC Santa Barbara Magazine highlights our dynamic and idyllic university by covering the many people, programs, scholarly pursuits and discoveries that make UC Santa Barbara a world-class institution. Through news items, interviews and features on topical issues, we keep alumni, scholars, researchers and thoughtful readers informed about the cutting-edge ideas and innovation at the heart of our campus. Reporting on our alumni and campus communities, their expertise and their experiences both right here and well beyond, we offer insight into the rich complexity and impact of one the world’s top public universities.

Read UC Santa Barbara Magazine

ucsb homepage

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.

Visit ucsb.edu

brand guidelines excerpt

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. 

Review brand guidelines

photo from digital asset library

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.

Browse digital asset library

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