Jimmy Ojeda Pedraza

About Me

 Hello! My name is Jimmy Ojeda Pedraza and I serve as a Counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Coordinator of the Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Resource Center (CLCRC) and El Centro.

Hometown

I was born and raised in a small town called Ojai in California (about 40 minutes from Santa Barbara) to Mexican immigrant parents.

Education

 I am a proud alumni of Ventura College (Go Pirates!) where I received my A.A. in Sociology, UC Davis (Go Aggies!) where I received my B.A. in Sociology and a Minor in Education, and Sacramento State (Go Hornets!) where I received my M.A. in Sociology. 

Interests & Specialties: 

First-generation college student experience, Latina/o/e students, student-centered counseling services, study techniques, and goal setting. 

Approach to working with students?

My counseling and leadership approach is student-centered, focusing on developing their Forms of Capital (Bourdieu,1986). Whether that be Social Capital via meeting with and using campus resources, Cultural Capital via the programming events at the CLCRC/El Centro, or Economic Capital via the EOP grant, financial aid, or scholarships.  At EOP we provide a holistic approach to student success and don’t forget that you belong here!

Languages: Bilingual (Spanish - English) communication and translation skills. 

Why do you love working at EOP?

Before joining UC Santa Barbara I was an Adjunct Professor at multiple surrounding colleges teaching Introduction to Sociology, Research Methodology, Social Inequalities, and Pop Culture courses. My research interests examined the experiences of historically underrepresented students navigating the higher education landscape. Through my work in EOP, I can put my knowledge into practice and make a positive impact on students' educational trajectories. 

What I can do for students:

I am here to help students get connected to all the resources UCSB offers in addition to academic counseling and student success. I hope to make students feel heard, seen, and supported in El Centro and the CLCRC!