Senior Academic Advisor | PhD Candidate in Education

Email: [email protected]

BACKGROUND:

Originally from Los Angeles, Brittnie is a double racial minority and daughter of an immigrant. She is deeply committed to honoring her family's sacrifices through her work in education and research.

EDUCATION:

• BA: Psychology (Cal State Channel Islands)
• MA: Psychology with emphasis in Cultural Psychology (Cal State Fullerton)
• PhD Candidate: Education with emphasis in Cultural and Curricular Studies (Chapman University)

CAREER INSPIRATION:

"I started working in higher education as a graduate student advisor at Cal State Fullerton, and I thoroughly enjoyed helping other students achieve their educational goals. Through this experience, I determined I wanted to pursue a career in higher education administration. I genuinely love learning and being surrounded by students who are just getting started with their lives. It is a privilege to be part of my students' stories and to do all I can to help them succeed."

WHAT DRIVES HER:

"As a double racial minority and a daughter of an immigrant, I work incredibly hard to excel in my career so that I honor the sacrifices that my family has made to help get me to where I am today. Additionally, since I am in a privileged position as a PhD candidate, I am driven to bring more awareness to existing systems that are keeping people oppressed. I am passionate about making a positive difference in the world in any way I can through my research on oppressed communities of color."

CHALLENGE OVERCOME:

"I haven't necessarily faced a career challenge, but in pursuing my higher education degrees, I was a nontraditional student. I earned my bachelor's degree later in life and always felt like I was behind compared to people I went to high school with. What I came to understand better as I got older is that everyone's journey is different, and just because I was an older student in college didn't make me a failure. You have to adopt the mindset that you are on your own unique path and do not need to compare yourself to others."

CURRENT ROLE:

"My current PhD research focuses on the sociohistorical and political intersectional experiences of mixed-race women of color through critical inquiry and decolonizing approaches."

WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT CHAPMAN:

"I love the close-knit community and supportive environment."

FUN FACT:

"I am a singer. I originally was studying to be an opera singer when I first entered college."