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.
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Advocates want to improve access to grants, loans, scholarships and work study opportunities. -
College affordability experts weigh in on how to protect yourself from mismanagement and stay on track toward cancellation. -
The Trump administration and Congress have taken a series of actions that could greatly affect federal student loan borrowers. -
Author and professor Héctor Tobar reflects on nearly three decades of work. -
California wants to make sure community college students don’t leave money on the table. -
At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, admission to panels with popular authors goes fast, so make a plan for the reservations you most want to secure at the 2025 event on the USC campus. -
Legal advocates say the department’s school wellness checks are a ‘cloak for immigration enforcement.’ -
Students from across the Los Angeles Community College District will be represented. -
So far, about 24,000 more students have applied for help to pay for college compared to this time last year. -
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has voted to create a "Unified Permitting Authority" aimed at cutting red tape for wildfire survivors who want to rebuild their homes.
