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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Core emergency services will remain available, but some appointments will be delayed as 20,000 employees walk off the job, including many healthcare workers. -
Interns work on a project throughout the summer to gain hands-on experience, and participate in other activities related to environmental stewardship. -
All Los Angeles Unified campuses are now 'phone free' during the school day, and students say they’re seeing fewer devices. -
Los inmigrantes indocumentados y las familias de estatus mixto están tomando medidas para hacerse valer y prepararse ante situaciones adversas. -
Completion rates for FAFSA and other support are down compared with last year, though the deadline has been extended for many SoCal students. -
During the latest round of layoffs, the tiny team was among the hundreds let go. And though some parts of the educational program remain, educators across the country mourn what was lost. -
A closed-loop system aims to empower, not replace, professors in subjects including literature and physics. And it appears to be improving student outcomes too. -
Pierce College students made use of the skills they honed in class to help hundreds of large, stressed-out animals. -
Santa Monica College is hosting a distribution event this week to provide free essentials to those who’ve been affected by local fires. -
Undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families are learning how to assert themselves — and prepare for worst-case scenarios.
