Gloria Aquino Sosa, Ph.D.
Dr. Gloria Aquino Sosa is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department at Saint Mary’s College of California where she also serves as Program Director of the Higher Education and Student Affairs and Career specializations. She was honored to work as the College’s Chief Diversity Officer and was the faculty co-Director of the High Potential program for seven years. She earned a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Oakland University in Rochester, MI., and is a licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (MI). Aquino Sosa has over 20 years experience in higher education and in clinical mental health settings as an administrator, instructor, counselor, supervisor, and consultant addressing equity and social justice issues. She has co-authored 7 federal and state grants securing over $7.2M in funding for her institutions; each grant was dedicated to increasing access, retention, performance and graduation for historically marginalized and underserved populations. The Caminos a las Ciencias STEM grant led to Saint Mary’s becoming an Hispanic Serving Insitution. Aquino Sosa presents internationally in the areas of strengths based institutional change to support first generation and low income (New Majority) students, educational equity, and social justice in higher education and in counselor education. Aquino Sosa co-created and then directed a nationally recognized, award winning scholarship and peer mentoring program at Oakland University from 1995-2005 dedicated to recruitment, retention, performance, and graduation of new majority students. She provides consultation and training for universities and businesses on topics including self-efficacy as the foundation for cultural proficiency and humility to shape critical pedagogy; the positive effects of intergenerational trauma on student and professional success; and on ensuring equity and inclusion are vital part of the equation for any person, business, or academic entity, particularly in the name of adhering to mission and vision. Gloria’s parents emigrated from Cuba in 1952, and Gloria and her siblings were the first to attend college in the United States.
Please see faculty webpage for full list of publications and presentations:
https://works.bepress.com/gloria-sosa/
Tracy Pascua Dea, Ph.D.
Dr. Tracy Pascua Dea is the Academic Climate Program Director in the Office for Faculty Equity & Welfare at UC Berkeley. She was the former Chief Diversity Officer and Executive Director of Student Services at Berkeley Journalism and the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success and Co-Director of the High Potential First Generation to College Program at Saint Mary’s College of California. Tracy has more than 20 years experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice, student success, and leadership and systems coaching. Her research and teaching focus is on student success with an emphasis on first generation and historically marginalized student populations, strengths-based institutional change, first generation professionals, and the power of narratives for social change.
She has worked with diverse individuals and groups and with internationally recognized programs; co-wrote and awarded two Federal grants totaling $4.2 million; and has presented at international and national conferences. Throughout her career, Tracy has been active in service to the community and has held leadership roles in professional organizations. Her family immigrated to the United States from the Philippines. As a first generation college student, she holds a PhD in Higher Education Administration and BA in Psychology from Saint Louis University, and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She is co-author of NextGenFirstGen.com
Next Generation First Generation™ 