Kathryn E. Jeffery, Superintendent/President
Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., has served as Superintendent and President of Santa Monica College (SMC) since February 2016.
With over three decades of diverse higher education experience, Dr. Jeffery has successfully encompassed roles as professor, career college counselor, and administrator. She is highly regarded for her knowledge and experience in educational leadership, student services and Career Technical Education (CTE). She is a passionate advocate for higher education who is courageous and takes pride in using a student-centered approach to face the challenges and opportunities as a college CEO.
Dr. Jeffery has also served as CEO of Sacramento City College and Hennepin Technical College; Provost/Chief Campus Administrator at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas; Vice President of Columbia College in the Yosemite Community College District; Dean for Faculty and Staff Diversity/Development and Dean for Student Services at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Dr. Jeffery has comprehensive knowledge of community college-related issues, due in large part to her rich professional experience in academic and student affairs programs and services. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Community College Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in Applied Behavioral Studies in Education (Counseling) from Oklahoma State University and a B.M.E. (Bachelor of Music Education) with a major in piano and minor in voice from Oklahoma State University. A lover of the arts – especially music – Dr. Jeffery is also a talented classical musician.
Dr. Jeffery is a member of the President’s Round Table of African American CEOs, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Special Commission on Structured Pathways and serves on the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica College Foundation, the Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, and the Human Relations Council of Santa Monica.