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Julia Barajas
What I cover
My reporting encompasses everything from research universities to community colleges, with an emphasis on students who’ve been historically excluded from higher education. I focus on issues that could affect students’ learning conditions and post-grad opportunities. This includes new programs and teaching methods; the spread of generative AI; labor disputes; disciplinary proceedings; and access to financial aid. I also highlight campus resources and events that are open to the broader community.
My background
Up until 12th grade, I was never assigned anything written by a person of Mexican descent, despite growing up in L.A. County, where Latinos make up nearly half of the population. So when a brochure for East Los Angeles College appeared in the mailbox, I tried out dual enrollment and took an introductory Chicano Literature course. Our class read everything from Tomás Rivera’s “... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him” to Bernice Zamora’s “Notes from a Chicana ‘COED.’” And what I learned there — about writing, about history and about myself — stayed with me. It informed my decision to major in literature and Latin American studies when I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, and it continues to shape the work I do now.
My goals
I aim to help all college students chart a course of success for themselves, guided by their own curiosities and ambitions.
Best way to reach me
If you’re worried or excited about something related to SoCal higher ed, I’d love to hear about it. You can reach out by email at jbarajas@laist.com. If you have a tip you'd like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @jbarajas.68. You can follow this link to reach me there or type my username in the search bar after starting a new chat.
Stories by Julia Barajas
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Students fear that budget reductions at the federal level could threaten their professional futures.
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Federal funding cuts and immigration policy were two significant issues among many that local educators navigated in 2025.
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L.A. Community College District launched a guaranteed basic income program in 2024. LAist checked in to see how students are doing and what they’re planning for the future.
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Members of Teamsters Local 2010 say the university system is backtracking on a previous salary agreement
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Education researchers say happier teachers are more likely to stay and that stability can be good for long-term learning outcomes.
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Cal State Dominguez Hills students, faculty rally to save 6 'essential' programs from chopping blockIf approved, the plan also would cut an estimated 40 jobs.
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Some teachers are making the switch from private preschools to transitional kindergarten. Others come from upper grades. Many are needed.
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Professor Terence Keel teaches students to examine autopsy reports and death records — and to think critically about how in-custody deaths affect families and society.
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A quick guide to dealing with road closures and snowy conditions.
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The system’s Board of Regents voted Wednesday to implement the changes.
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Thousands of University of California campus and health center employees are on a two-day strike after stalled negotiations.
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California has made a new grade, transitional kindergarten, available for four-year-olds. LAist reporters spent a day in three schools to find out what students do in class.
