Yolanda, Program Coordinador at Mt. San Antonio College : Advize Career Interview
A career journey spanning four decades, beginning with a political science degree and a Washington, D.C. internship, led to diverse roles in major corporations and a pivot into healthcare and financial services.
The current position as Program Coordinator at Mt.
San Antonio College leverages extensive experience in leadership development, diversity training, and creating safe learning environments to manage the early alert system, connecting students with vital support services.
Daily responsibilities include digital communication, student outreach, report generation, and collaboration with numerous campus partners.
Patience, institutional knowledge, and compassionate relationship-building are key skills, and the most rewarding aspect is witnessing student success.
While challenges include achieving faculty buy-in for new systems, the love of learning and helping others learn fuels a passion for the education industry, evident in ongoing professional development and mentorship.
A key lesson learned involves addressing the "imposter phenomenon" among students, particularly young Latino and African-American men, to improve engagement with support services.
Entry-level positions like administrative assistants and coordinator roles, coupled with subject-matter expertise for tutoring positions, are available, and a bachelor's degree offers a significant advantage.
The ultimate career lesson is to love the work, embrace change, and actively seek opportunities, reflecting a career path shaped by perseverance and self-belief, breaking boundaries and aiming higher.
This professional's experience offers valuable insights into navigating the education industry and provides a compelling example for undergraduates seeking fulfilling careers.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Yolanda Haro
Program Coordinador
Mt. San Antonio College
UCLA 1990
SIT, Master’s degree
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College
Yolanda's career journey, beginning with a political science degree and a paid internship researching "the status of women in America," led to diverse roles in professional development and training, working with major corporations like General Electric and Gillette, and even traveling to Latin America. A pivot into healthcare and financial services ultimately led Yolanda back to their passion for education, culminating in the current role as Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College where they are utilizing skills gained from "leadership development, diversity training, and creating safe environments."
Main Responsibilities of a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College
Yolanda's main responsibility as Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College involves managing the "early alert" initiative, a system where faculty flag struggling students. The early alert system allows Yolanda to "navigate all the alerts" and connect students with appropriate support services to improve "their" academic success and persistence.
A Day In The Life Of A Program Coordinator At Mount San Antonio College
Yolanda's daily routine as a Program Coordinator involves a blend of digital communication — "checking email" and responding to system "alerts" — and extensive collaboration. This includes proactive student outreach, report generation, and relationship cultivation with numerous campus partners, such as "tutoring, counseling, mental health [and] the Writing Center," reflecting a multifaceted role focused on student support and program success.
Most Important Skills for a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College
Yolanda, a Program Coordinator, emphasizes patience and perseverance in dealing with student responsiveness as crucial skills. A deep understanding of institutional systems, like the "navigate" system, coupled with compassionate relationship-building and the ability to share stories to alleviate student anxieties are also key to success in the role.
Favorite Parts of Being a Program Coordinator at Mt San Antonio College
Yolanda, a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College, finds the most rewarding aspect of her role is "speaking with students" and witnessing their success, "following up with them...and realizing they passed the class" or gained confidence. This impact, even if "in a small way," fuels Yolanda's passion for the work and her collaborations with colleagues and partners.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Program Coordinator At Mt. San Antonio College
Yolanda's biggest challenge as a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College is achieving "faculty buy-in" for new systems, requiring patience, training, and understanding that "not everyone experiences change the same way." This highlights the importance of building capacity and addressing individual learning styles when implementing new technologies and processes within the institution.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Education Industry as a Program Coordinator
Yolanda, a Program Coordinator with 41 years of experience, thrives in the education industry because "I am a life learner," constantly engaging in professional development through conferences and initiatives focused on inclusivity and community building. This passion extends to mentoring colleagues and sharing their extensive knowledge gained throughout a long and fulfilling career.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Education Industry, According To A Program Coordinator At Mt. San Antonio College
Yolanda, a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College, highlights longevity as a key characteristic of those who thrive in education, stating that many faculty "stay the long term because they become part of the institution". The work is rewarding because it involves "love of learning and helping others to learn," particularly given the diverse student population facing various challenges.
What A Program Coordinator At Mt. San Antonio College Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Higher Education Industry
Yolanda, a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College, discovered a significant challenge: many students, particularly young Latino and African-American men, fail to respond to offered services due to "imposter phenomenon" and cultural stigmas around seeking help, such as tutoring or mental health support; this highlights a need to shift mindsets toward viewing support services as beneficial rather than negative. The lack of student responsiveness, not the absence of services, often leads to negative academic outcomes.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Program Coordinators at Mount San Antonio College
Mount San Antonio College offers various entry-level positions, such as "administrative assistants" and "coordinator positions" at different levels, depending on skills and education; a bachelor's degree provides a significant advantage, as Yolanda notes, making applicants "50% more educated than a lot of other applicants." Other opportunities include tutoring positions for those with subject matter expertise.
Significant Career Lesson from a Program Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College
Yolanda's most significant career lesson is to "love what you're doing," regularly assessing their career path, and not fearing change. This involves identifying desired skills, actively seeking opportunities, and moving on from unfulfilling or unappreciated roles, as exemplified by Yolanda's own career trajectory of multiple positions, with the longest tenure being seven years.
College Experiences That Helped A Program Coordinator At Mt. San Antonio College Succeed
Yolanda's undergraduate experience, characterized by "just trying to survive" while juggling school and work, highlights the importance of seizing opportunities despite financial constraints. The paid internship in Washington, D.C., requiring Yolanda to overcome "fear and be willing to make changes," proved pivotal in launching their career, demonstrating the value of proactive career exploration and willingness to relocate for professional advancement.
How Identity Has Influenced a Program Coordinator at Mt San Antonio College's Career
As a first-generation Latina, Yolanda's career path was shaped by "being open-minded" and "never afraid to try new things," despite the challenges of being away from family and the need to constantly build new communities. This journey, fueled by a drive to "aim higher and higher," involved leveraging available opportunities and finding the courage to "break boundaries" and "own [their] path," ultimately highlighting the importance of perseverance and self-belief in navigating a professional journey.
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