Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón Appointed to SMC Board of Trustees

Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón Appointed to SMC Board of Trustees

Fills Seat left Vacant by Election of Trustee Barry Snell to Santa Monica City Council, Provisional Appointment Has Become Effective 

SANTA MONICA, CA—The Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees (opens in new window) appointed Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón (opens in new window) to the Board, via a majority vote at its meeting on Feb. 4, 2025. At the end of a 30-day period, following a notice posted publicly including to the board’s webpage at smc.edu/botmeetings (opens in new window) , Dr. Castañón’s appointment has become effective and fills the vacancy left by the election of former board member Barry Snell to the Santa Monica City Council.

This seat remains filled until the next regularly scheduled board election in November 2026 when a new four-year term will be filled via the electoral process.

The current trustees of SMC’s board include Dr. Nancy Greenstein (chair), Dr. Sion Roy (vice-chair), Anastasia Foster, Dr. Tom Peters, Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, and Rob Rader. Foster, Dr. Quiñones-Perez, and Rader were nominated for the three offices vacant last year and subsequently assumed office in Dec. 2024 for a full term of four years. The student trustee seat is currently vacant.

In addition to Dr. Castañón, six other community members submitted applications, out of which four individuals were recommended for consideration by the Board’s ad hoc committee. The other three finalists were: Kera Blades, Dr. Karen S. Gunn, and Patricia Nakao.

An SMC alum and former Associated Students President, Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón is a Santa Monica-based small business owner and community leader. As the founder of Elevezé Más, he has over 18 years of experience in education, workforce development, and public policy, specializing in career pathway development, cross-systems partnerships, and people-centered policies.

Dr. Castañón is deeply involved in his community and previously served as vice chair of the City of Santa Monica's Human Services Commission, treasurer of the Santa Monica Democratic Club, and a member of various SMC advisory boards and community-based organizations including House of Haven and Raza Golf Foundation.

“My professional and lived experiences uniquely equip me to address complex challenges, from building inclusive education systems to enhancing workforce opportunities for underserved populations,” he said. “A dedicated advocate for student success and community engagement, I remain committed to advancing systemic change and ensuring a brighter future for all.”

Dr. Castañón prior leadership roles include positions with Goodwill Southern California, L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS), and Para Los Niños. Dr. Castañón’s educational journey includes an associate's degree from Santa Monica College, a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley; a Master of Public Administration and an Educational Doctorate from California State University, Northridge.

The seven-member Board of Trustees—elected by voters in the Santa Monica Community College District, comprising Santa Monica and Malibu—is the governing body for Santa Monica College, which serves more than 27,000 students and provides vital educational services to communities in the region. A student trustee who serves for a one-year term is elected by the students of the college.

For more information, please contact District/Board of Trustees Coordinator Lisa Rose at 310-434-4402 or Rose_Lisa@smc.edu. Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

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