Eric Hawkins and Joshua Keith have joined the Providence School Board of Directors. The independent school offers Christian faith-based education to preschool-grade 12 students in Santa Barbara.
Hawkins leads software engineering for AppFolio, a local business providing software for the real estate industry. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Hawkins studied engineering and computer science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In between degrees, he worked in Los Angeles, designing satellites for DirecTV. He has lived in Santa Barbara for 18 years and has worked with various companies in engineering leadership positions.
Hawkins and his wife Tisha have two daughter who have attended Providence since preschool.
“I have seen firsthand the positive impact Providence has on our kids, developing not only their intellect but also their character,” Eric Hawkins said. “I want to help the school grow and thrive in order to touch the lives of even more kids.”
Keith is a member of Laguna Capital Management, Inc., a local investment and financial planning firm. He attended Westmont College for two years before transferring to the University of Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, graduating with honors.
After six years with Goldman Sachs in their Chicago office, Keith left to study at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where he earned an MBA. He returned to Santa Barbara in 2009 to join the family investment practice.
Serving in the community is one of Keith’s passions. He chairs the YMCA Good Friday Breakfast Committee and has served on other local nonprofit boards, including Network Medical and Child Evangelism Fellowship.
Regarding joining the Providence Board, Keith said he is excited for the opportunity to serve and contribute at Providence, “a special place where students are challenged to pursue academic excellence in the classroom, encouraged to know their worth in Christ, and trained for a life of glorifying God and making a difference in the world.”
The current Providence School Board of Directors includes Matt LaBrie, chair; Jason Eldred, vice chair; Brett Wilson, secretary; Kelly Marsh, treasurer; Betsy Coffin, Kelli George, Eric Hawkins, Joshua Keith, Jim Stretchberry, Karen Yonally and Kari Zeni.
Providence School is currently accepting applications for enrollment for the 2022–23 academic year. Visit www.providencesb.org to learn more.