Role: Senior Academic Technician
Industry/Sector: Higher Education
Year graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt: 2022
Please tell us about yourself.
My name is Mehran Karimi. I was born in Tehran, Iran. I moved to the Bay Area when I was a sophomore in high school. I then attended De Anza College where I obtained my associate degree and interned as an instructional assistant. In the meantime, I was also coaching high school and club volleyball. My time as a student and intern at De Anza College along with coaching, led to the path of pursuing a career in higher education. With the experience and knowledge gained from my internship and education, I was offered a contract position at De Anza College and later was able to gain a full-time position as a senior academic technician (curriculum specialist). Working in the education system and being part of a team that focuses on building a better future for students has been extremely rewarding. I am very fortunate to be able to pursue the career that provides me with such joy and a sense of fulfillment.
What motivated you to enroll in the Leadership Studies program?
After obtaining my associate degree, I attended San Jose State University. Although I was nearly done with my program, I was not able to finish it due to a schedule conflict with my work. As someone who has always had a full-time job, I could not leave behind my job and career that I had worked so hard for, nor could I financially afford it. The decision was simple – career over finishing my program. However, I wanted to finish school and obtain my undergraduate degree. I wanted to make sure I had a path forward. After doing some research and learning about the fully-online undergraduate programs in the CSU system (which are not a lot), I found what I believed to be the best fit for me. The Leadership Studies Program became my beacon of hope, so I applied to Cal Poly Humboldt, and less than two years later, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree (2022)!
Thinking about the overall program, what has been your most significant course, or signature assignment? What impact did it have on you personally and/or professionally?
Every single course within the Leadership Studies program has been relatable to my professional career, and that I could utilize in real life. I would say LDRS 331 - Leadership Communication and LDRS 341 - Strategic Planning are two that come to mind. Communication is a key aspect of every relationship, system, and organization. We could all be better at communicating in both personal and professional sides of life. How we analyze information and how to relay the information, how we paint a picture of our ideas, and how we portray our feelings are all through communication. Strategic planning starts with direct, on-point, and clear communication. I have been looking at projects and my work through the lens of strategic planning. I have been using my strategic planning skills to map out my projects, both personal and professional, and it has resulted in less stress and a more productive flow for me.
How have you grown as a leader since starting this program?
I have grown to look at things through multiple lenses. Strategic lens, sustainability, data, communication, etc. I have learned that a great leader must view everything through all these avenues and address everything accordingly in order to be successful.
What are your goals after completing your bachelor’s degree?
Now that I have graduated, I am pursuing my master's degree in education online through Cal Poly Humboldt.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
Keep an open mind. Make use of all the resources provided by the amazing instructors because they are applicable and useful in real life. Try to connect, network and collaborate with others. I have learned so much from everyone within my cohort and have shared so many amazing stories.
