Antioch University Santa Barbara

10/14/2026

“The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

At Antioch University, in the pursuit of equitable education, we recognize that every adult learner’s journey is not one-size-fits-all, but a unique one that is built upon reality instead of the assumption that life must be paused to pursue a degree.

Our Undergraduate Studies program is designed for students to bring their own experiences within their workplaces, communities, and personal lives into the classroom. Throughout the program, the mission-centered curricula challenges students to examine power structures, highlight traditionally marginalized voices, and take action for justice in their own communities, fields, and personal lives.

You can learn more about our Undergraduate Studies program and its offerings here:
https://www.antioch.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/

10/09/2026

October is ADHD Awareness Month.

ADHD is a neurodevelopment condition that affects a person’s ability to maintain attention, regulate activity levels, and control impulses. ADHD symptoms can look very different from person to person, and how they appear in an individual can shift over time. While we have a better understanding of ADHD today, there are still gaps.

An important part of raising awareness for ADHD is breaking down stigma and educating ourselves on the ways ADHD can present itself; it has three presentations: Predominantly inattentive (PI), predominantly hyper-impulsive (HI), or a combination of both. As a result, there is a gender split within all of the subtypes of ADHD, symptoms differing between children and adults.

In his dissertation, “What's in a Name? The Influence of an ADHD-Inattentive Type Label on Perceived Social Competence as Viewed by Mental Health Professionals and Teachers,” PsyD graduate Jason Arkin determines whether the presence of an ADHD-PI label influenced adult perceptions of a female adolescent’s social competence.

“With all of the research that exists, there still is a gap that necessitates examination. Girls with ADHD-PI are often overlooked for treatment. Many assumptions are placed on children in the absence of a real understanding of the diagnosis and how it actually impacts them. Because teachers and mental health professionals are so influential in a child’s life, it is important to know exactly how they perceive the children they are trying to help.”

Read the full dissertation here:
https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/96/

10/07/2026

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
– William Butler Yeats

Since 1852, we've believed education should help people win victories for humanity, including yours. This commitment to provide accessible, learner-centered education that empowers individuals to lead purposeful lives can be found in every program, every assignment, and every classroom (in-person or online) discussion.
Our Undergraduate Studies program reflects those values, building upon adult learners' professional experiences and personal passions to prepare graduates not only for career advancement, but for meaningful contribution to their communities.

Learn more about Antioch’s Undergraduate Studies program and how you can transform your future here: https://www.antioch.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/

10/01/2026

174 years ago, our founder, Horace Mann, envisioned education as a vehicle to create a more socially just world.

Cynthia Cain Fitzgerald, a graduate of the Master of Arts in Individualized Studies, took to the podium during the 2026 commencement ceremony to emphasize the importance of seeking, learning, and staying true to their values – aka, the “Antiochian Way.”

09/28/2026

Education thrives off of community and inclusion.

Mariangelica Duque may not have pursued her original path in the Master of Clinical Psychology program, but her alternate path brought her belonging, in a space where she could celebrate her culture while learning alongside her cohort.

Class of 2026, we hope you can continue cultivating safe spaces and embodying the Antiochian spirit in all that you do.

09/24/2026

: In their dissertation “Phenomenological Experience of Mexican Curanderismo,” Yoseline Paulett Lopez Marraquin, PsyD, explores how curanderismo (traditional Mexican folk healing practice) could be a possible compliment with traditional Western psychotherapy to better serve Latino/a communities.

By using the lived experiences of curanderos/as, “the principal investigator gathered information about the treatment provided in Curanderismo and gained a deeper understanding of participant's lived experiences during such healings.”

“This study also aimed to understand how individuals made the choice to seek treatment with a curandero/a, as well as if a deeper understanding of such treatment could help the mental health field be better informed care providers to the Latino/a community. Phenomenological research methodology was used in efforts to grasp how the participants, as individuals, experienced Mexican Curanderismo.”

“In psychology, one should be open to the cultural folk tales, myths, and legends. Understanding this valuable and historical context can help clarify misconceptions that might have emerged from fear, ignorance, and/or poverty. I believe that educational ignorance and poverty of resources are limitations in clinical psychology because they prevent Latino/a mental health from growing, thus making this an inherent issue in Western psychology.”

Read the full dissertation here: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/503/

09/21/2026

Katherine Maia Mangzagol, the commencement student speaker representing the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program, described her experience with her cohort as watching garden fully bloom -- shaped by love and loss; gratitude and grief; and the ebbs and flows of navigating adulthood.

Together, they have spread their roots into the communities they are called to serve.

As our graduates go out into the world, we hope they can continue cultivating their gardens and growing into the changemakers they strive to be.

Congrats, Class of 2026!

09/18/2026

Still reeling with excitement over yesterday's commencement ceremony!

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. May your path of greatness continue as you make a change in the world, in your community, and within yourself 💫

Stay tuned for more post-commencement photos!

09/17/2026

TODAY’S THE DAY! 🎓

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We can’t wait to usher in a new chapter with you.

Commencement will be held at 2 pm PST, at the Arlington Theatre.

If you’re unable to attend in person, check out the Commencement Livestream here: https://at.antioch.edu/ausb-2026-commencement-livestream

09/16/2026

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!

Grad look: in progress 🌠 🎓

Three days until the Class of 2026 walks the stage!

📆 Thursday, September 17

🕰️ 2 pm PST

🎟️ Arlington Theatre

If you can’t celebrate with us in-person, check out the Commencement Livestream here: https://at.antioch.edu/ausb-2026-commencement-livestream