Office of Admissions | Diversity Initiatives & Special Programs

A Letter from the Director of Diversity Initiatives & Special Programs

Marcus Mathis
Assistant Director for Diversity Initiatives

Greetings from the Diversity Initiatives unit in the Office of Admissions!

As you embark upon your college career, you are beginning a journey that will teach you valuable lessons, create wonderful memories, and push you harder than you ever thought possible. Selecting the right college can be demanding, but the rewards are many.

Three primary components go into this important decision:
Academics, Environment, and Community.

UC Santa Barbara continues to be at the forefront of academics and the creation of new knowledge.

Among the 90 majors and 40 minors at UCSB, you’ll find a broad range of highly regarded academic departments ranging from Aquatic Biology and Electrical Engineering to Political Science and Communications. Most importantly, UC Santa Barbara has a strong undergraduate focus. As an example, we allocate $200,000 every year to fund undergraduate research.

Thinking of life after graduation?
UC Santa Barbara has an outstanding track record of moving students into graduate school with our pre-law and pre-health programs, and preparing them to enter their profession with our active Career Services department.

When it comes to our environment, UC Santa Barbara is unfairly blessed!

The campus is nestled between the blue Pacific Ocean and lush Santa Ynez Mountains, approximately 90 minutes from Los Angeles and five hours from the Bay Area. In this beautiful, sunny location, students enjoy many outdoor activities, from fishing and hiking to swimming and mountain biking. The temperate climate lends itself to studying outdoors and relaxing walks along the beach. Then in just an hour and a half, by train or car, you can access the resources and cultural richness of Los Angeles, before retreating again from the smog and stress.

Finally, our community can truly help make college the best part of your life.

The University is a residential campus where 80% of our students live within a mile of Storke Tower, the center of campus. This creates a strong sense of shared purpose, as most of your classmates will also be your neighbors. As a result, the Black community on campus is highly supportive and closely knit. It’s where many long lasting relationships begin. As you read through the Black Book and get to know us better, take note of all the clubs that our students are active in, the events that they participate in, and the passion that they have for their school and community. As a UC Santa Barbara alumni, we've participated in this community as students, and now help it grow in the Office of Admissions. I think we are making something special here.

Please join us and make the most of an exceptional opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to Nathaniel or myself if you have any questions, or would like to visit our campus!