The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law Welcomes New Trustees

Distinguished local attorney Betty Jeppesen (J.D. ‘80), Goleta Water District board member Farfalla Borah (J.D. ’93), and Higher Education veteran Stacey Lydon join governing board of region’s leading law school focused on access, opportunity, and affordability.

Betty Jeppesen, Farfalla Borah, and Stacey Lydon are the newest members of The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) Board of Trustees, the governance body that oversees the region’s oldest and largest independent law school.

A 1980 graduate of the school’s Santa Barbara campus and a member of the CA State Bar, Jeppesen brings to the board more than 38 years of experience as a practicing attorney— experience in real estate, contract, aircraft leasing law, and civil litigation. Currently she owns her own practice in Santa Barbara and is the founding co-chair of COL’s Alumni Council. Other board posts include the Santa Barbara County Bar Association, Santa Barbara Women Lawyers, Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Foundation Board, and the Santa Barbara County Bar Association Foundation Board.

Borah too is a seasoned veteran of governance, currently serving on the Goleta Water District Board. A 1993 gradate of COL and member of the CA State Bar, Borah completed a 25-year career at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2018, most recently serving as UCSB’s manager for employee and labor relations.

Lydon also brings higher education expertise to COL. She is currently the associate director of scholarships and alumni engagement for the University of California Education Abroad Program and has been with the UC system since 2009. Additionally, she serves on the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Advisory Council, the Network for Africa board, and is president-elect for the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara.

“We are privileged to welcome such talented, experienced, and exceptional individuals to the COL Trustee family,” said Board Chair Jana Johnston (J.D. ’03). “I look forward to serving with them.”

Both Borah and Lydon were elected this fall with Jeppesen seated at the board’s annual meeting in May. Jeppesen currently serves as chair of the board’s Advancement and Alumni Committee. Lydon will join her on that committee with Borah assigned to the school’s Academic Affairs Committee.

“What was already a stellar board is becoming even more exceptional,” said COL President Matthew Nehmer. “Our mission centered on access, opportunity, and excellence could not be in more capable hands than with fiduciaries like Trustees Jeppesen, Borah, and Lydon.”

The newest additions join a diverse board of professionals representing numerous disciplines and experiences. Chair Johnston is a partner with Mullen & Henzell. Other trustee attorneys include Vice Chair Carmen Ramirez who serves on the Oxnard City Council; Judge Michele Castillo from the Ventura Co. Superior Court; and Catherine Swysen (J.D. 1994), managing partner with Sanger, Swysen & Dunkle. Trustees from higher education include Dr. Nehmer; Dr. Michael Horowitz, president of TCS Education System; Dr. Bernie Luskin, President and CEO of LuskinInternational and past chancellor of the Ventura Co. Community County District; Don Packham, Chief of Human Resources for TCS Education System; and Dr. Richard Winn, president, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.