Julie Antilla, a doctoral student in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education (GGSE), is a dedicated student, researcher, mother, and wife. As the youngest of eight kids, Julie was the first in her family to attend a university and the first to receive both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree.
Julie exemplifies the characteristic that would be wonderful to see in all teachers and administrators – a thirst for knowledge. Even though Julie is ABD, she continues to take 4 to 5 classes a quarter to learn from the faculty and engage in conversations with her fellow graduate students.
Julie has spent more than 16 years in the field of education – 10 years as a teacher/coordinator and 6 years as a principal. Julie’s research on the education of migrant students earned her a Diversity Fellowship and a Dissertation Year Block Grant. Her dissertation focuses on the “Literate practices and indicators of value in the Migrant Education Speech and Debate Tournament.” Julie also has a passion for bridging the digital divide by providing increased access to technology and training to use technology as a learning tool.
On a personal note, Julie thoroughly enjoys living in Family Student Housing with her husband, Martin, and her totally adorable, awesome four-and-a-half-year-old son, Joaquin. Her favorite thing to do is visit the Santa Barbara Zoo with her family. She has spent a considerable amount of time traveling, with lengthy stays in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mexico.
When asked to describe her favorite thing about UCSB, Julie replied, “My colleagues in the GGSE! Oh, and reading the GradPost!”