Educational Leadership
While I relish working directly with students in and out of the classroom and I am passionate about my research, in 2016 I had the opportunity to have a different kind of impact on my university as an academic administrator. Since that time I have developed an expert working knowledge of academic policies and procedures, assessment and accreditation, program development and review, and interdisciplinary partnerships. My favorite aspect of academic leadership is collaborating with the outstanding faculty and staff from across the university to achieve our institutional goals. I am proud to have contributed to the establishment of our innovative general education program, the approval of several new undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the improvement of student retention and graduation rates, the development of a new strategic plan, and our campus’s successful reaffirmation of WSCUC accreditation. Most of all, I am deeply committed to the mission of California State University, Bakersfield, namely to promote accessible, affordable, and high quality public higher education for students in the Central Valley and Antelope Valley regions, particularly those who are non-traditional, from lower-income families, or from groups under-served in higher education.
In addition to my university role, I have also worked to promote educational attainment across Kern County through my volunteer work with the Women's and Girls' Fund, Girl Scouts of Central California South, and the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District Equity Task Force.
I served as the faculty assessment coordinator (FAC) for both the School of Arts and Humanities (from 2013-2016) and the General Education Program (from 2014-2016). The school and general education faculty assessment coordinators (FACs) provide assessment support to the faculty, with a particular emphasis on promoting common discipline-based and multiple approaches to conducting assessment of student learning. This support is in the form of workshops, attendance at department meetings to discuss assessment, one-on-one interactions with faculty and chair. Much of the support provided centers on the assessment process, i.e., developing assessment plans, choosing and developing the appropriate assessment tool, collecting and analyzing student learning information, and closing the loop. The school FACs serve as a resource to the dean and department in the preparation of the Annual Report and the Academic Program Review. The GE FAC works with the Associate Vice President of Academic Programs to design and implement the assessment of core competencies and university learning outcomes, in reporting on campus assessment activities, and preparing for institutional re-accreditation.
In 2015, I completed the WASC Assessment Leadership Academy, an eleven-month program for fostering leadership in a wide range of activities related to assessment of student learning, from facilitating workshops and supporting the scholarship of assessment to planning, budgeting, and decision-making related to educational effectiveness.
In AY 2016-2017, I served as the interim Associate Dean for the School of Arts and Humanities. Reporting to the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, the Associate Dean assists the Dean in leading the departments and programs to carry out the School’s mission and goals in alignment with the University’s strategic plan. The Associate Dean works with Department Chairs, School staff, and other University administrators to achieve common goals and outcomes. Essential functions include managing the Arts and Humanities Student Success Center, planning and implementing student success initiatives, and curriculum, scheduling, and enrollment management.
In 2018, I joined the Girl Scouts of Central California South as a co-leader of Troop #8043. Established in 1912 by Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low, Girls Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Its mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The curriculum exposes girls to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); entrepreneurship; life skills; financial literacy; and outdoor experiences.
In 2018, I joined the Vision Committee of the Kern Community Foundation Women's and Girls' Fund. Established in 2005, the Fund has combined the resources of more than 500 donors to build an endowment to award grants on an annual basis to community organizations working to improve the lives of women and girls in Kern County. The endowment has reached $2.6 million, and over $500,000 in awards have been granted. The current focus of the Fund's efforts is educational attainment.
After serving as in the interim role for 10 months, I was appointed as Associate Dean of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in May 2019. The Associate Dean of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies reports to the Associate Vice President of Academic Programs. Graduate Studies responsibilities include managing the Graduate Student Center, graduate program development and support, coordinating the culminating graduate student experiences, coordinating graduate admissions, chairing the Council of Graduate Directors, coordinating graduate student probation/disqualification, coordinating graduate student grievances, and serving as program director for the M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Undergraduate Studies responsibilities include managing the Academic Advising and Resource Center, oversight of undergraduate academic petitions, coordinating the California Promise program, coordinating undergraduate student grievances, coordinating the Early and Dual Enrollment programs, and oversight of the special minor.
CSU Student Success Analytics Team 2019-20
After serving as in the interim role for 12 months, I was appointed as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Academic Programs in May 2020. The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Academic Programs reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. In addition to overseeing the academic program planning and review process, I manage 9 units including Academic Operations, Undergraduate Studies, Graduate Studies, the General Education program, the Helen Louise Hawk Honors Program, the Interdisciplinary Studies program, the Graduate Student Center, the Academic Advising and Resource Program, and the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. I also serve as the WSCUC Accreditation Liaison Officer.