Julia Chih

Julia brings over two decades of experience in education and a fierce commitment to ensuring that all students - especially Black and Brown students - can succeed in college, career, and life. As Chief Operating Officer, Julia leads the organization's strategic growth by partnering closely with the leadership team and overseeing internal operations.

Before joining PBLWorks and as Chief Executive Officer of Aim High, Julia led the strategic planning process to deepen Aim High’s impact on students and increase the number of teachers of color entering the profession. As Interim CEO and COO/CFO at College Track, she led teams in building the operational infrastructure as the organization grew from $17 million to $44 million in revenue, expanded its geographic footprint, and tripled the number of students equipped with the skills to pursue a college degree. While at the National Equity Project, she provided financial and strategic leadership as the organization expanded into ten states and transitioned from a grant-funded to a fee-for-service revenue model.

Julia’s commitment to social justice and educational equity is rooted in her own experience as an immigrant and a first-generation college student. She earned her B.A. in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and a dual master’s degree in Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Julia lives in San Francisco with her husband, two children, Emerson and Maya, and Maya’s cat, Sushi. Her interests include traveling, cooking, camping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.