Julie Jacobson, a full-time academic counselor and psychology instructor, literally grew up at College of the Canyons. As a toddler she attended COC’s Early Childhood Education program while her mother worked at the college. A few decades and two college degrees later, Jacobson returned.

Inspired by her mother’s long career in education, Jacobson always had a passion for helping professions, including counseling, teaching and motivating others to reach their potential. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies and a multiple-subject teaching credential from California State University Chico as well as a Master of Arts degree in psychology from Pepperdine University. Soon after earning her degrees, she was back in Santa Clarita teaching fifth grade. While she found great satisfaction teaching children, she began to consider other possibilities.

“Initially I thought I could only handle younger students, but after having an opportunity to work with teenagers and adults, I realized that I enjoy teaching any age student.” She took an adjunct position as counselor in COC’s counseling department and also started teaching psychology classes at COC and Antelope Valley College. In 2014 she became part of the full-time faculty at COC.

As a counselor and psychology professor, Jacobson gets to learn a lot about people. “I absolutely love working with all types of individuals. I especially enjoy getting to know their backgrounds and culture,” she said. Her desire to help all students improve their success and attain their academic goals, drives her passion for counseling and teaching. Her approach as a counselor and instructor centers on helping motivate students in a way that encourages them to develop a growth mindset and increases persistence.

She is the lead counseling instructor for a class called “Learning to Learn,” which helps foster motivation, teaches students how the brain works, and offers strategies for being a successful student. “It is important that students understand that challenges they face, including setbacks in life or learning disabilities, does not define one’s potential.” She finds it extremely gratifying to have a job that enables her to witness students grow – academically and socially – as they attain goals they may have thought were once out of their reach.

Personally, Jacobson is constantly challenging herself by setting goals that are attainable through small steps. One of her triumphs was trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013, an accomplishment worth boasting about.

Jacobson welcomes the continued learning she experiences while working as a counselor and collaborating with fellow colleagues across multiple disciplines at COC.

Jacobson welcomes the continued learning she experiences while working as a counselor and collaborating with fellow colleagues across multiple disciplines at COC.