Biography

In 2021, Dr. Sonya Christian became the sixth chancellor of the Kern Community College District. Dr. Christian strives to cultivate district-wide ownership of advancing the district's mission.

Dr. Christian was a math faculty prior to moving into the administrative ranks of dean, vice president, president, and now chancellor.

Extended Biography

An advocate for continued education across social and economic boundaries, Dr. Sonya Christian has worked tirelessly to uphold and further that mission during her tenure as Chancellor of the Kern Community College District.

Christian began her three-decade career in education at BC in 1991, first as a math faculty member and later as division chair, then Dean of Science, Engineering, Allied Health and Mathematics. In 2003, Christian joined Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon as associate vice president for instruction, then vice president of academic and student affairs and chief academic officer. Christian returned home in 2013 after being selected as the 10th President in Bakersfield College’s prestigious history. Dr. Christian was selected as Kern Community College District Chancellor in 2021. 

In 2016, Christian was named "Woman of the Year" by Californian Assemblyman Rudy Salas for her accomplishments as Bakersfield College President. She was also named Woman of the year by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2016); and educator of the year by the Delano Chamber of Commerce (2018).

Christian currently serves as Vice Chair and Commissioner on the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Christian serves on numerous boards including the:

• Campaign for College Opportunity
• Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
• Homeless Shelter Board in Bakersfield
• Equity in Policy Implementation Advisory Board 

Christian earned her bachelor of science degree from University of Kerala in Kerala, India; a master of science in applied mathematics from University of Southern California; and her doctorate from University of California, Los Angeles.