Pronouns: she/her/hers
Suzanne Perkin
Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Life
- B.A. Biopsychology, UC Santa Barbara
- M.Ed. with emphasis in Guidance & Counseling, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
Let's Get In Touch
Direct No.
805-893-8698
Email:
suzanne.perkin@sa.ucsb.edu
Scheduling:
Ocean Rey or 805-893-4568
Areas of Responsibility
Facilitates discussion and solution-finding to issues and crises that pertain to the quality of student life at UCSB (particularly outside of the classroom).
Promotes inclusion in and equitable access to the UCSB learning environment for all students.
Liaises between students and University administration by listening broadly to student input and representing student perspectives and interests. Member of the Vice Chancellor's Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team and the Chancellor's Senior Officers group.
Serves as "control point" or executive leader for 11 Student Affairs departments and several special projects, services, and other initiatives.
About Suzanne Perkin
Suzanne Perkin, a southern California native, has dedicated her adult life to education and primarily to the University of California. As a former UCSB student, Suzanne attributes her success in college to one key factor: getting involved. Being a campus tour guide, an Orientation staff leader and supervisor, and working in the Disabled Students Program was how she found her place at this university. Now, as the AVC for Student Life, she gets to oversee the services and programs that bring connection and belonging to students everyday. Nothing could be more fulfilling!
Suzanne began her UCSB career in the Office of Admissions where she served as an outreach counselor visiting hundreds of high schools and community colleges. She spent seven years working professionally for Orientation Programs, and then almost a decade in the Dean of Students Office where she wore many hats, from Policy Analyst to Student Conduct Director, to Associate Dean. Through these roles she oversaw programs, policies, and initiatives that promotes student leadership, accountability, civic engagement, and involvement. She is passionate about education for all, as well as professional staff development and support, and feels lucky to work in a field where she can champion these causes.
Suzanne earned her Bachelor's degree from UCSB in Biopsychology, and her Master's in Education from the University of Dublin, Trinity College and has lived and worked abroad for multiple years. She also holds a certificate in women's leadership in higher education from the Graduate School of Education at UCLA. Marrying her global perspective, understanding of human behavior and psychology, passion for education, and over 20 years of experience in Higher Education, she has been able to bring new perspectives to her work with students, parents, and community members.