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Sacramento Professor Advises Future Educators To Pursue Higher Education

Most professors teach at one college. Tamara Chesire actively teaches at three in the Sacramento area, with multiple course offerings in social sciences, Native American studies and anthropology every semester. Not only does Tamara devote her time to instructing students, she is also the lead author on a couple of research papers on American Indian issues, as well as a contributing author to a few others. Tamara's knowledge and leadership proves to be valuable as she also works as the Learning Center Coordinator of Research at the Natomas Center at American River College.

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(Photo Courtesy of Tamara Chesire)

What does your job entail?

"Being an adjunct professor, I teach at a number of different colleges in and around the Sacramento area. I teach social sciences, Native American studies and anthropology at Sacramento City College, anthropology at California State University, Sacramento and anthropology at Sierra College. I also recently served as the Learning Center Coordinator in charge of research at the Natomas Center, one of American River College's outreach centers. I wear a number of different hats. Teaching and student success are at the core of what I do. I usually teach between 6-8 classes (over 200 students) a semester. In addition, I advise students on a variety of topics and provide support for them to be successful in their educational goals."

What parts of your job do you enjoy most?

"I love helping students succeed. It is my goal. I was influenced throughout my education by certain key people in higher education who advised and helped me to succeed when I was in college. I would have given up on higher ed if it weren't for these people. So I owe it to them and myself to give back what they so kindly gave me - care and concern for my success. Paying it forward, helping students to achieve their goals, overcoming barriers by building bridges to success. The title to my published dissertation is 'Barriers and Bridges: American Indian Community College Student Resiliency and Success.'"

What is your education history?

"I've been teaching in higher education for about 15 years. I graduated in the late 1990's with my bachelor's and master's degrees from Oregon State University. I just went back to school in 2009, (while at the same time teaching more than a full load, which is more than five courses) and got my doctorate in educational leadership from California State University, Sacramento in 2012. This program was fantastic because it was a cohort model, and the classes were scheduled during the evenings and on weekends. This program inspired new and innovative ways to think about how to solve different issues facing higher education so that students could obtain their educational goals."

Do you think your education has helped in your line of work?

"Yes! My education has prepared me well, and I feel confident in my ability to be a leader in higher education."

Any advice for someone seeking a similar career path?

"If you want to teach in the social science area of higher education, you will need a master's degree, and please consider a doctorate in educational leadership."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.

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