Dr. Joel Day

Dr. Joel Day’s roots in San Diego District 2 run deep. His grandfather ended his service in the Navy here in San Diego after WWII. Joel met his wife, Lauren, in college at Point Loma Nazarene University. Their two sons, Bobby and Wesley, are the 4th generation of their family to call Clairemont home. And as a family, they attend First Church in Point Loma.

Having earned his PhD in International Politics and Comparative Government from University of Denver, Joel has established himself as a leader and educator. He is a professor of public policy at UCSD, teaching international best practices of governance, and providing a foundation upon which to solve San Diego’s most pressing challenges like homelessness, housing affordability, and climate change.

Joel’s experience as a department director for the City of San Diego means he knows exactly which levers of city government must be pulled to get results. At City Hall, he managed community engagement, public safety operations, and led policy changes on police oversight. In early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Joel stepped up to lead the city response-- focusing on providing our vulnerable neighbors with healthcare, getting folks off the streets and into shelter, protecting critical city infrastructure, and extending support for struggling families.

Joel is committed to public service, to raising the standards of our city, and to ensuring working families have the same foundations of opportunity that allowed him to give back as part of a new generation of leadership.