Vasconcello's education odyssey
Tracey Tate
Issue date: 5/14/09 Last update: 5/18/09 at 11:10 AM PST
Section: Features
Making the choice of going to college shouldn't be struggle. But for Tina Vasconcellos Ph.D., Dean of Matriculation and Student Support Services at Laney College the challenge of being female, half Latina and a first generation college student made the decision difficult to explain within her family circle. The cultural focus was on getting a "good" job by working hard, not by obtaining a good education. However, today Vasconcellos has her doctorate and a great job. The road wasn't always smooth, but with hard work and determination, she reached her educational goals.
Vasconcellos' educational journey is one that is inspirational to other community college students. Like many Laney students, Vasconcellos worked throughout her college years. Even as she pursued her master's and doctorate degrees, she worked full-time. While pursuing her doctorate program she faced the additional challenge of being the best parent she could be for her three-year-old son.
Vasconcellos began at the community college level and progressed to obtaining her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Cultural Consciousness. From there she received her master's in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and her Ph. D. from Colorado State University with a focus on community college leadership.
Her desire to be surrounded with a diverse community of students made the Peralta Community College arena an ideal match for her career objectives. Regarding the diversity of Berkeley City College and Laney College, Vasconcellos said, "I love the richness that this diverse group of students brings to the college. I have gained a lot from my students over the years.
"When looking at where I wanted to make the move into administration, I knew that I wanted a diverse community of educators as well as students. For me, it is this diverseness of thought, socioeconomic background, and ability that fosters innovation and creativity."
Here at Laney College, Vasconcellos' duties include management and support of several students services, including veteran's affairs, transfer center, EOPS and CARE, student activities, assessment and orientation, student employment, articulation, counseling discipline, and student discipline. She is also responsible for supervision of graduation and the awards banquet. Active on several college-wide committees, she is overseeing the student center building project, which is still in the planning phase.
Vasconcellos' educational journey is one that is inspirational to other community college students. Like many Laney students, Vasconcellos worked throughout her college years. Even as she pursued her master's and doctorate degrees, she worked full-time. While pursuing her doctorate program she faced the additional challenge of being the best parent she could be for her three-year-old son.
Vasconcellos began at the community college level and progressed to obtaining her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Cultural Consciousness. From there she received her master's in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and her Ph. D. from Colorado State University with a focus on community college leadership.
Her desire to be surrounded with a diverse community of students made the Peralta Community College arena an ideal match for her career objectives. Regarding the diversity of Berkeley City College and Laney College, Vasconcellos said, "I love the richness that this diverse group of students brings to the college. I have gained a lot from my students over the years.
"When looking at where I wanted to make the move into administration, I knew that I wanted a diverse community of educators as well as students. For me, it is this diverseness of thought, socioeconomic background, and ability that fosters innovation and creativity."
Here at Laney College, Vasconcellos' duties include management and support of several students services, including veteran's affairs, transfer center, EOPS and CARE, student activities, assessment and orientation, student employment, articulation, counseling discipline, and student discipline. She is also responsible for supervision of graduation and the awards banquet. Active on several college-wide committees, she is overseeing the student center building project, which is still in the planning phase.
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