Doctoral Student Natasha Spencer Elected Graduate Student Representative to the Council for the Study of Community Colleges Board

Natasha Spencer, a doctoral student in the NC State College of Education’s Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development community college and career education concentration, has been elected as the graduate student representative to the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) board. 

The CSCC is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) that aims to contribute to the development of education for community college professionals, conducts and disseminates research, and serves as a forum for dialogue between university faculty, graduate students and community college practitioners. 

“Being chosen as the graduate student representative for the Council for the Study of Community College Board is an honor and a profound responsibility,” said Spencer, who said this opportunity affirms that her voice has a place in the future of community college research and policy. 

As graduate student representative, Spencer will serve a two-year term where she will act as a liaison between the CSCC and the graduate student community. 

Her responsibilities will include amplifying the needs and voices of graduate students, helping to create meaningful opportunities for student engagement and creating meaningful content to enhance and expand the organization’s reach among both graduate students and emerging scholars. 

“I aim to foster connection and mentorship among graduate scholars while also working alongside senior leaders in the field to advance research and practice that supports community college students,” she said. 

Spencer said she chose to pursue her doctorate in the College of Education not only because of the college’s reputation for research, but because the faculty members — including W. Dallas Distinguished Professor and Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research Executive Director Audrey Jaeger, Assistant Professors of Community College Leadership Devon Graves and Catherine Hartman, and Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor of Higher Education Alyssa Rockenbach — went above and beyond in making her feel welcome and supported. 

Now, as she continues her studies as a first-year doctoral student and serves as CSCC graduate student representative, she is looking forward to learning how leaders in the field make decisions that directly impact community college students, faculty and staff as well as developing her own skills as a scholar, leader and practitioner. 

“Overall, I hope to build an even stronger bridge between research and actual change,” she said. “The College of Education’s emphasis on research that drives impact, combined with a collaborative and empowering environment, made it the perfect place for me to grow as a scholar, practitioner and advocate.”

This post was originally published in College of Education News.