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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Now on view at The Cheech in Riverside, a retrospective features dozens of pieces from the pioneering Chicana artist Amalia Mesa-Bains. -
The Altadena Reciprocity Project aims to keep trees from burn sites in the community after the Eaton Fire. -
A team out of Arizona State University is creating 3D models to help fire victims with their insurance claims, and to help bring closure. -
Faculty and student activists say they’re proceeding with caution and camaraderie. -
The Trump administration has threatened to withhold funds from schools who uphold the framework. -
Advocates on and off campus are preparing to help international students. -
Every year, Cal State Long Beach accounting students prepare taxes for dozens of classmates and other community members. -
Since January, the Trump Administration has taken a series of actions that touch virtually every aspect of higher education in Southern California, from campus protests to financial aid. -
Some services will be limited as thousands of employees walk off the job, including many healthcare workers. -
The number of Californians using the FAFSA has been lagging, so the deadline has been pushed back to April 2.
