René Alvarez (’14) didn’t have a dream of earning a doctorate or working in higher education. The Adult Education and Training program in the School of Education at Colorado State University changed that.

“This program literally changed my career trajectory,” said Alvarez, who now works as the dean for academic success and student equity at San José City College.

Tell us about yourself!

I was born in Decatur, Georgia and now live in San José, California. I love traveling and communing with the LGBTQ community.

What led you to get your master’s degree in Adult Education and Training at CSU?

I was working for the Department of Defense as a civilian contractor in their deployed education programs. I was living in Afghanistan on a military base at the time I decided I wanted to pursue a new career in education. I searched for a program that I can complete remotely, and I landed on the CSU M.Ed. program in Human Resource Studies with an emphasis on Adult Education and Training.

What did you learn in the program?

The program provides a solid foundation of practical and relevant teaching and learning elements that professionals at any level in their career can incorporate into their daily practice. The EDAE 601 workforce education course I took during my second summer session was the reason I pursued and earned a Ph.D. in Career and Workforce Education at the University of South Florida. This program literally changed my career trajectory.

How has your degree helped you?

My civilian contractor stint for the Department of Defense in their deployed education program was supposed to be for two years. I continued working in higher education as a result of my experience in the CSU program. I now work as a dean.

What has it enabled you to do for others?

The program helped me understand and value the intersections while making connections to myself, others, and the community.

Do you have any stories from the program?

Yes, a classmate, V. Sheri Town, became a close friend and academic muse. Too many stories to list here! And my favorite instructor was Dr. Tobin Lopes. His EDAE 601 course was the first stop on my career path.

Tell us about your role as the dean for academic success and student equity. What are you responsible for?

I am responsible for providing leadership in the planning, organizing, administering, developing, evaluating and implementing of projects and activities related to the college’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Anti-Racism (DEIAA) Plan, Student Equity and Achievement Program (SEAP), Dual Enrollment Program, San José and Milpitas Promise Program, learning communities, and learning resources support in collaboration with management across academic and student services.

How has your AET degree informed your work in this role?

In my current role working as a dean, my goal is to cultivate workforce opportunities for students by supporting their academic preparation and career development. The CSU program provided me with the foundation tools to accomplish this.

The School of Education is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.