Dr. Jeannie G. Kim
Jeannie G. Kim, Ph.D., became President of Santiago Canyon College in January 2023. With over 37 years in higher education, she is a champion for equity, access, and student success, dedicated to dismantling barriers for underserved communities. Dr. Kim has served in leadership roles across the UC, CSU, and California Community College systems, as well as private institutions.
An expert in strategic planning, change management, and organizational development, she is also a global keynote speaker on education and innovation. Her work has influenced state and federal policy and includes advisory roles with Stanford Research Institute’s Innovation 4 Jobs (I4J) Think Tank, Education Advisory Board’s student success platform, CenturyTech’s AI-based learning system, and GainX Global.
As an early adopter of new technologies, Dr. Kim deepened her understanding of technology during her doctoral research at Claremont Graduate University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Education Policy, Evaluation, and Reform, and her experience founding a tech start-up applying machine learning in 2015.
An applied cultural anthropologist with degrees from UCLA (B.A.) and CSU Fullerton (M.A.), Dr. Kim brings a unique lens to institutional transformation. An immigrant from South Korea and a survivor of both personal trauma and cancer, she leads with resilience, empathy, and vision. Her current work focuses on advancing education through human-centered artificial intelligence, ensuring innovation serves people, equity, and community.
In December 2023, Dr. Kim was recognized on the Orange County Register’s list of 125 Most Influential People in Orange County for 2023. In December 2024, Dr. Kim was the recipient of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership Award.
Dr. Kim is the proud mother of three grown children, Nathaniel (28), Elise (26), and Katie (24). Nathaniel is profoundly disabled but loves his family and watching tv. Elise completed her M.A. in school counseling at NYU and is a school counselor at the United Nations International School in NYC. Katie, an ABA therapist will be attending the University of Oregon this fall, seeking a M.A. in strategic communication. She enjoys skiing, soul surfing, biking, crafting, and the occasional sky dive.
For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniegkim/