Women We Admire announced The Top 50 Women Leaders in Education for 2025. Julia Heck, AVP for Student
Life & Support Programs and Dean of Students at CSU Channel Islands was among those
selected. 
While women make up a significant portion of the education workforce, they remain underrepresented in senior leadership positions, with persistent gaps in both leadership opportunities and compensation. These leaders are essential to shaping the culture, vision, and success of educational institutions, serving as community builders who empower others and drive positive change.
Heck is a seasoned higher education and student affairs professional with over a decade of experience and is a catalyst for positive individual and organizational growth. Joining Â鶹´«Ã½ in February 2024, Heck has oversight for the Dean of Students office, Counseling & Psychological Services, and inclusive Student Services, including the Latinx Cultural Center, Black Cultural Center, Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Center, and the Housing and Residential Education departments, as well as Disability Accommodations and Support Services.
Heck is a Certified Student Affairs Educator with a specialization in student conduct administration and is currently completing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Eastern Michigan University. She earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Higher Education, and Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She also holds numerous specialized training certificates, including in strategic higher education finance and planning, diversity and inclusion, and student affairs law and policy.
Before she arrived at Â鶹´«Ã½, Heck served in the Office of the Ombuds at Eastern Michigan University for 10 years, most recently as the university ombudsman for seven years. She also served as co-chair for EMU's First Gen Forward Initiative, developing institutional programming and support resources specifically tailored to aiding first-generation college students in their success, retention, and degree completion. She served as an institutional representative for EMU for the Michigan American Council on Education Women’s Network, where she developed professional programming and networking opportunities for women-identified professionals across the institution. She has also been significantly involved in professional associations, including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. In 2024, she was recognized by the American Association of University Women with the Young Leader Award, and in 2023, she received the Undergraduate Fellows Champion Award from NASPA Region IV-E.
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