Role: Graduate Student
Industry/Sector: Library Science
Year graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt: 2023
Tell us about yourself.
I am the mother of three beautiful children, who inspire me, and who have been very supportive of my decision to go to college as an older adult. I am originally from Illinois, where I was born and raised, but I have lived in California for most of my adult life. I currently reside on the Central Coast, where I enjoy hiking, amateur nature photography, and reading, especially classic literature. My career experience includes being a retail business owner for many years and the executive director/founder of a local non-profit for several years after that.
What motivated you to enroll in the Leadership Studies program?
After earning three degrees in the areas of psychology and social and behavioral sciences at my local community college, I was planning to continue on for a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Psychology. I really enjoy psychology and human behavior. However, my ultimate goal is to be a librarian, so I decided that I might benefit more from a program that is more interdisciplinary in nature. That’s when I discovered the Leadership Studies program at Cal Poly Humboldt, and I was immediately intrigued. The program offers a wide range of topics, including psychology, but also business, sustainability, social equity, strategy and forecasting, and most importantly, communication and leadership skills. I quickly enrolled and I have been extremely pleased with my decision ever since.
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?
My most significant signature assignment up to this point has been writing a substantial white paper report on how a community can use its public library system to promote sustainability and social justice. Aside from my goal to be a librarian, my professional interests revolve around inspiring change in our world, in the areas of climate and equity.
The specific courses that have been most inspiring to me so far are Leadership 441 – Developing Dynamic Organizations and Leadership 341 – Strategic Planning/Forecasting. Both are taught by Dr. Renato Almanzor, one also in cooperation with Dr. Margaret Jones, two professors who offer us, as students, very positive outlooks on how to use our leadership skills. They encourage us to know ourselves deeply and to be appreciative of all the past experiences that have influenced us and brought us to where we are today. In these courses, I have learned how valuable it is to be a caring and compassionate leader, and most importantly, how to communicate from a place of gratitude and love.
What are your goals after completing your bachelor’s degree?
I will be graduating from Cal Poly Humboldt in Spring 2023. After I complete this bachelor’s program, I plan to go to San Jose State University for a Masters degree in Library and Information Science. I hope to one day be a librarian in a collegiate setting, while also being a community advocate for sustainability and social change.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
My advice to incoming students would be to get to know your cohort of fellow students very well. The program is designed to maximize the benefit of personal and professional support that we can offer each other as students and as people. I have personally formed strong friendships and benefited so much from getting to know the people who are also on this educational journey with me.
Also, trust that the professors want you to succeed and will make themselves available to help you in any way that they can. At the beginning of this program, I felt slightly intimidated by the vast number of degrees that the professors have all earned, combined with all the impressive personal and professional achievements they have accomplished. I thought that I might not be able to keep up, but they have been truly amazing with the way they teach us all, sharing their valuable expertise and encouraging us to have faith in our own abilities and to strive for our goals. I feel fortunate to be learning from them – their collective knowledge, skills, and love for their students make this program beneficial and rewarding.
