Jason Beardsley was appointed Santa Monica College’s Vice President of Academic Affairs in January 2024. Beardsley brings 18 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator to the role of Chief Instructional Officer—including over four years as Department Chair of SMC’s English department, three-plus years as Interim Dean & Dean of Academic Affairs overseeing all academic/instructional departments, and, most recently, as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs.
As SMC’s Chief Instructional Officer, Beardsley provides leadership and oversight for the college’s broad array of instructional programs and services. His portfolio encompasses academic policy, accreditation, curriculum and program development, class scheduling, program review, and more. He oversees traditional/classroom-based, online, and hybrid academic programs, degrees, and certificates (both transfer and career education); noncredit instruction including the Emeritus Program for older adults; not-for-college-credit professional development, personal enrichment, and workforce training offerings through the SMC Office of Workforce & Economic Development; Athletics; the college library; tutoring; supplemental learning instruction and other learning resources.
Beardsley was first hired at SMC as an assistant professor of English in 2010, after working as an adjunct professor. Prior to Santa Monica College, he was an English instructor at Suffolk County Community College and Stony Brook University. Jason was advanced to candidacy for a Ph.D. in English Literature by Stony Brook University and he holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a Minor in English and American Literature (Magna Cum Laude) from California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo. He is a board member of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation and is a member of the Association of California Community College Administrators.
Beyond SMC, Jason is a devoted family man. He has three children with his wife, and enjoys skateboarding, camping, cooking, playing music, woodworking, and running around with his three little ones, who love to dance, skate, and wrestle.