Valeria Garcia, a first-year graduate student in Community Development, has witnessed educational disparities firsthand. “I’ve met many talented individuals who unfortunately did not find support to continue a post-graduate education,” she says. These experiences have driven her to pursue a career focus in education equity: critically analyzing disparities in the education system, and working to close the achievement gap of historically marginalized students in higher education.

Garcia is an advocate for higher education as the path to greater life opportunities and believes the community is responsible for ensuring the doors to a better life remain open. “When education opportunities are limited, the reality is that those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds will most likely be locked down in disadvantaged positions.”

Garcia’s undergraduate experience—studying micro-level human development and macro-level sociology at California State University, Long Beach—made the interdisciplinary structure of the Community Development Graduate Group a natural fit.

“The graduate group approach allows me to design a program that fits my academic needs,” she says. “The academic independence coupled with a program that focuses on working with underserved and marginalized communities made UC Davis the perfect choice. Fully engaging in my research and finding supportive colleagues and faculty has been critical to my development as a community developer and as a researcher.” 

UC Davis’s geopolitical location and proximity to the State Capitol are also ideal for her work. “My interest in access to higher education for these students — particularly, undocumented students — is political,” she says. “In the last few years, there has been traction to increase opportunities through prominent legislation, both nationally and locally.”

Garcia’s passion for social justice comes from understanding the unique needs of diverse communities and being a role model to students on campus. She has done so by mentoring undergraduate students through Graduate Academic Achievement and Advocacy Program (GAAAP) and Yik'al Kuyum's Peer Mentorship Program. Both programs aim to increase retention rates and provide on-campus community support for undergraduate students. Additionally, Garcia, has worked with Dr. Lorena Marquez, a professor in the Department of Chicana/o Studies, to discover how Chicana/os in Sacramento were active during the civil rights movement.  

Garcia is also a contributing member of the three-year, Mellon-funded Social Justice Initiative, an interdisciplinary project creating intellectual dialogue across multiple contexts and communities with a focus on social justice work. “This project is important because it provides a platform to discuss and/or educate others about privilege, marginalization and oppressions,” she explains. “I believe the conversations that arise are essential to empower individuals and help build communities.”

She advises future students to take full advantage of the professional development workshops offered by Graduate Studies, the Cross Cultural Center, the Graduate Diversity Officers and other departments. She praises several workshops — such as Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome, Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety and Improving Presentations, and Getting a Jump Start on a Job Search — as being instrumental in her development as a student and as a professional.

Garcia has secured block grants, fellowships and other funding to support her as she pursues her research interests, permitting her to complete her degree debt free. She currently works as a graduate student researcher (GSR) for Dr. Josephine Moreno, the Graduate Diversity Officer for Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education. In addition to her GSR appointment, the Community Development Graduate Group has also provided funding.

Garcia plans to continue on to her Ph.D. and then work in student affairs at the university level. She is nothing but enthusiastic about her graduate experience and how it is helping her achieve her aspirations. “UC Davis has been amazing!” she says. “Each person I’ve connected with has helped me broaden my opportunities. In addition to my education, the networks I’m building will be influential in preparing me for a career that will impact and support historically marginalized students in pursuit of higher education.”