LEAP Awards 2024 - LEAP: Learn • Engage • Advocate • Partner

Join us on LEAP day, February 29th 2024, to honor two outstanding community leaders, Katya Armistead and Kristen Miller, at our LEAP Awards. Each year, LEAP hosts a virtual event celebrating two individuals who have positively shaped the lives of the children and families in Santa Barbara County.

Join us on LEAP day, February 29th 2024, to honor two outstanding community leaders, Katya Armistead and Kristen Miller at our LEAP Awards. Each year, LEAP hosts a virtual event celebrating two individuals who have positively shaped the lives of the children and families throughout the Central Coast. In addition to recognizing the extraordinary work of these community leaders, proceeds from the event support our vital community services.

Join us on LEAP day for a special celebration!

Contact Kara Shoemaker, Director of Development, at karas@leapcentralcoast.org.

Become a Sponsor

Contact Kara Shoemaker, Director of Development, at karas@leapcentralcoast.org.

Become a Sponsor

Katya Armistead

Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Student Life at UC Santa Barbara

Katya Armistead—a student-focused administrator with over 30 years of experience—currently serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Student Life (AVC/DOS) at UC Santa Barbara. In her campus leadership role, Katya demonstrates broad concern for issues that pertain to the quality of student life of UCSB students (especially outside of the classroom); facilitates problem-solving and crisis response; promotes inclusion in the campus community and equitable access to UC Santa Barbara learning environment by students of all identities and liaises between students and University administration by listening broadly to student input and representing student perspectives and interests.

Katya completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara, her Master’s in Education from Azusa Pacific University, and her doctorate (Ed.D.) in educational leadership from a joint program between UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is a trained facilitator for The Leadership Challenge Workshop®, teaches a leadership course at the UC Santa Barbara Gervitz Graduate School of Education, and works on special projects, especially around campus climate and diversity. In addition, Katya is involved in several local nonprofits, including her membership in Leading From Within (LFW) board of directors and co-instructor for their Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). She is a co-facilitator for Antioch University’s Women in Leadership Certificate Program, sits on the Board of Directors for Women’s Economic Venture (WEV), and is a senior consultant for Equity Practice Group (EPG), facilitating DEI-related workshops for businesses and nonprofits, as well as a partner with The DH Effect whose mission is guiding individuals, families, companies, and organizations to personal accountability, high-trust relationships and belonging.

Kristen Miller

President and CEO of Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce

Kristen Miller leads the Chamber as President & CEO with over 25 years of experience. Prior to the merger of the Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria Chambers of Commerce, Miller led the Goleta Chamber team since 2002, coming from the Corning, New York Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the Chamber has been a catalyst for business, running robust public policy and economic development programs.

She has continued her professional education with extensive training in visitor services, destination marketing, economic development, and community relations, since her degree from New York University. She has served on several local boards including Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board, Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County, Visit Santa Barbara, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, and UCSB Economic Forecast Project.