Q&A with: Tracy Carmichael
February 21, 2023
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In a special Q&A series for our 10th anniversary, the UCI School of Education asked Anteaters in Education Alumni Chapter President Tracy Carmichael about her experiences as a double Anteater, alumni chapter president, and how the School prepared her for her new leadership role at Long Beach City College.
Q: You earned your B.A. in Criminology from UCI before pivoting towards earning an M.A. in Education Research from the University of Michigan and Ph.D. in Education from UCI. What made you decide to change directions in your studies from criminology to education and education research? A: I always knew that I wanted to work on behalf of kids. In undergrad, I had visions of becoming a lawyer and lobbying for children’s rights. In the latter half of my undergrad journey, I took a course in education, and the fieldwork component inspired me to pursue a minor in Education. I loved the passion of educators, and the energy of children. I learned very quickly though that my skills were not as a K-12 classroom teacher! This is why I pivoted my career journey to contribute to the research and policy side of the field. I love numbers, data, and finding solutions for relevant issues. |
Tracy Carmichael
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What does being a double Anteater mean to you, especially after going to graduate school somewhere out of state before ultimately returning to earn your doctorate degree back at UCI?
Returning to UCI was a meaningful full circle journey for me. I had the guidance, love, and support from an incredible mentor, Dr. Juan Francisco Lara. At the time, he served as assistant vice chancellor of Enrollment Services and he was the founding director of the Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP) at UCI. I met Dr. Lara at a community event when I was still an undergrad, and his unwavering commitment to students’ personal and professional development shaped my entire career. He was the first person to offer me a job at CFEP after earning my masters degree, and he was the first person I called when I was accepted into the Ph.D. program years later. The physical world lost Dr. Lara in 2016, but being a double alumni and carrying on his legacy in pursuit of equity in education lives on in me and so many other alumni who I remain close with to this day.
As a Ph.D. student who was present when the UCI Department of Education became the UCI School of Education, what was the transition like as a student? What changes have you seen from the School from when you were a student to now?
I had the honor of studying under the founding dean of the School of Education, Dr. Deborah Vandell. In many ways, I had a front row seat to the efforts that she led the department through in pursuit of becoming a school, and it was a mighty mission. When I was in the final writing stages of my dissertation, Dr. Vandell was always quick to remind me that “the devil was in the details”; looking back, I realized just how many details she was expertly managing, all while continuing to be fully present and supportive of my own journey. As a student, there was a palpable energy around the transition to a school because we all knew that this would contribute to the meaning and weight of our degree. Our professors were eager and determined to make it happen, and we felt like we were a part of something bigger than our degrees. Now, ten years down the road, we continue to witness the accolades, prestige, and progress the School rightfully garners. More importantly, we now clearly see the impact the school has on the local community and the reputation of UCI overall.
You were recently named Chief Innovation Officer at Long Beach City College. How did the UCI School of Education help you prepare for this role? What are your own personal plans and goals as the CIO at LBCC?
While I was pursuing my doctorate, I was also working 30 hours a week as manager of evaluation for Think Together, one of the largest educational nonprofits in the nation. My research came to be through a fellowship provided by the CEO, Randy Barth, who serves as another incredible influence in my professional journey. My research was unique because it actually informed my day job in real time! As we found correlations in the numbers, we were able to adapt our work on the front lines of our educational programming. In many ways, that is still at the core of what I do as chief innovation officer at Long Beach City College. As we work to close equity gaps at the college, my office is able to pilot innovative programming, and assess progress in real time. The ultimate goal of my work as CIO is to institutionalize programs and policies that we know are effective in breaking down systemic barriers to equitable access and opportunities for our students. The work may never be done, but it will always be worthy of pursuing.
What does it mean to you to serve and lead the 10,000+ alumni network as the Anteaters in Education Alumni Chapter president?
It is such a source of pride for me! The Anteater network overall is so strong, and I am constantly finding joy in meeting fellow alumni. It also helps that the School of Education is leading the way with innovative research, practical application, and community impact. It is an easy job to talk about, because the school stands on its own merit. I also feel grateful to bear witness to the visionary leadership of Dr. Frances Contreras, who has already made such an impact since joining our Anteater family. As evidence, check out the School of Education’s strategic plan. We are not slowing down any time soon!
As we are celebrating the School’s 10-year anniversary, could you share one of your favorite memories during your time at the School of Education as a Ph.D. student or as the alumni chapter president?
Some of my most challenging and rewarding lessons in statistical analyses came under the teachings of Dr. Greg Duncan, who needs no introduction. I was not shy in attending office hours, and as many of us learned, he had a few sayings that he always came back to when he would advise us. At the end of quarter, the class all chipped in and made him a t-shirt that said “trust the algebra.” We found so much joy seeing him on his many walks around campus, proudly wearing that shirt! I would actually love to know if he still has it…
Returning to UCI was a meaningful full circle journey for me. I had the guidance, love, and support from an incredible mentor, Dr. Juan Francisco Lara. At the time, he served as assistant vice chancellor of Enrollment Services and he was the founding director of the Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP) at UCI. I met Dr. Lara at a community event when I was still an undergrad, and his unwavering commitment to students’ personal and professional development shaped my entire career. He was the first person to offer me a job at CFEP after earning my masters degree, and he was the first person I called when I was accepted into the Ph.D. program years later. The physical world lost Dr. Lara in 2016, but being a double alumni and carrying on his legacy in pursuit of equity in education lives on in me and so many other alumni who I remain close with to this day.
As a Ph.D. student who was present when the UCI Department of Education became the UCI School of Education, what was the transition like as a student? What changes have you seen from the School from when you were a student to now?
I had the honor of studying under the founding dean of the School of Education, Dr. Deborah Vandell. In many ways, I had a front row seat to the efforts that she led the department through in pursuit of becoming a school, and it was a mighty mission. When I was in the final writing stages of my dissertation, Dr. Vandell was always quick to remind me that “the devil was in the details”; looking back, I realized just how many details she was expertly managing, all while continuing to be fully present and supportive of my own journey. As a student, there was a palpable energy around the transition to a school because we all knew that this would contribute to the meaning and weight of our degree. Our professors were eager and determined to make it happen, and we felt like we were a part of something bigger than our degrees. Now, ten years down the road, we continue to witness the accolades, prestige, and progress the School rightfully garners. More importantly, we now clearly see the impact the school has on the local community and the reputation of UCI overall.
You were recently named Chief Innovation Officer at Long Beach City College. How did the UCI School of Education help you prepare for this role? What are your own personal plans and goals as the CIO at LBCC?
While I was pursuing my doctorate, I was also working 30 hours a week as manager of evaluation for Think Together, one of the largest educational nonprofits in the nation. My research came to be through a fellowship provided by the CEO, Randy Barth, who serves as another incredible influence in my professional journey. My research was unique because it actually informed my day job in real time! As we found correlations in the numbers, we were able to adapt our work on the front lines of our educational programming. In many ways, that is still at the core of what I do as chief innovation officer at Long Beach City College. As we work to close equity gaps at the college, my office is able to pilot innovative programming, and assess progress in real time. The ultimate goal of my work as CIO is to institutionalize programs and policies that we know are effective in breaking down systemic barriers to equitable access and opportunities for our students. The work may never be done, but it will always be worthy of pursuing.
What does it mean to you to serve and lead the 10,000+ alumni network as the Anteaters in Education Alumni Chapter president?
It is such a source of pride for me! The Anteater network overall is so strong, and I am constantly finding joy in meeting fellow alumni. It also helps that the School of Education is leading the way with innovative research, practical application, and community impact. It is an easy job to talk about, because the school stands on its own merit. I also feel grateful to bear witness to the visionary leadership of Dr. Frances Contreras, who has already made such an impact since joining our Anteater family. As evidence, check out the School of Education’s strategic plan. We are not slowing down any time soon!
As we are celebrating the School’s 10-year anniversary, could you share one of your favorite memories during your time at the School of Education as a Ph.D. student or as the alumni chapter president?
Some of my most challenging and rewarding lessons in statistical analyses came under the teachings of Dr. Greg Duncan, who needs no introduction. I was not shy in attending office hours, and as many of us learned, he had a few sayings that he always came back to when he would advise us. At the end of quarter, the class all chipped in and made him a t-shirt that said “trust the algebra.” We found so much joy seeing him on his many walks around campus, proudly wearing that shirt! I would actually love to know if he still has it…
