Veronica Estrada

Veronica came to work at Pacific Oaks with the intention assisting our amazing faculty in continuing to create new and innovative programs that will provide our students with the support and resources necessary to be cultural agents of change. The progressive and inclusive education Veronica's daughter received at Pacific Oaks Children's School has always held a spot in our new Administrative Faculty member's heart.

Veronica shared, "I've always been attracted to Pacific Oaks and its mission statement. My daughter attended Pacific Oaks Children's School so to come back as a faculty member is the perfect opportunity for me to give back to Pacific Oaks what it gave my daughter and me years back." She is confident that she will be able to inspire the students to achieve their dreams and goals and offer guidance for them to reach their maximum potential.

Dr. Veronica Estrada is core faculty for the school of human development at Pacific Oaks College, where she has been a faculty member since 2015 as well as served as faculty council chair for 2 years 2018-2020). Dr. Estrada is currently serving as faculty council secretary (2020-2021) at the college. Dr. Estrada has had over fourteen years of experience teaching in higher education at the community college, bachelor and master's degree level. Additionally, Dr. Estrada has over twenty years of experience as a student affairs professional at various institutions in California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, California State Long Beach, Glendale Community College, Citrus College, University of California at Los Angeles, California Institute of Technology, and Pacific Oaks College.

Dr. Estrada completed her Ed.D. in higher education administration and leadership at the University of Southern California, her M.S. in counseling with a specialization in student development in higher education from California State University at Long Beach, and her B.S. in developmental psychology from California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo. Her research interests lie in the area of educational leadership, effective teaching styles to increase student retention, progressive student learning frameworks, elevating student classroom engagement using innovative technology, online education, implementation of restorative practices in the classroom, and addressing the college completion gap among low-income students, specifically focusing on Latinx and DACA students. Dr. Estrada was recently awarded the Dr. Yasmin Davidds Courage in Leadership Award from the University of Southern California Executive Leadership Program for Multicultural Women, in which she earned a certificate in 2020. She is also an Ambassador for the USC Executive Leadership Program. Dr. Estrada will also be a keynote speaker at the International Congress for Educators (CIE) at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC University) at February 17, 2021 on ""Liderazgo Educativo: Estrategias para fortalecer las comunidades de aprendizaje en entornos digitales" (Educational Leadership: Strategies to strengthen learning communities in digital environments).

Dr. Estrada's dissertation, Evaluating the effects of diversity courses and student diversity experiences on undergraduate students' democratic values at a private urban research institution, examines the findings from previous research on the benefits of diversity courses and diversity experiences on student democratic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which diversity courses and student diversity experiences correlated with democratic values.

Dr. Estrada has had the opportunity to travel to various parts of the world for pleasure, business and academic conferences as well as sits on the board of directors and advisory board for two nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. Dr. Estrada has presented at several international, national, and state-wide conferences and has published peered reviewed and journal articles.