Webinar Speaker
Dr.
Pamela Larde has ten years of
professional experience in the field of higher education and holds
professional memberships with the National Association for College
Admission Counseling, the Higher Education Consultants Association,
the American College Personnel Association, and the National
Association for Student Personnel Administrators. She holds a
bachelor's degree in Journalism, a master's degree in College Student
Affairs, and a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning
and Service. Her research examines self-determination, service
member-reintegration, intimate relationships, and access to higher
education for underrepresented populations, particularly
first-generation students. She has presented her research at numerous
national conferences over the past several years and has contributed
a chapter to a book on first-generation students (2012), entitled
Research Studies in Higher Education: Educating Multicultural
Students. She is also releasing a motivational book entitled Letters
to the Broken-Hearted during summer of 2012. Currently, she is an
assistant professor of qualitative research and higher education at
Mercer University.
Educational Journey
Through her own experience as a young single mom who struggled to
craft an educational plan for herself, Dr. Pamela discovered that
there are many others who also desire a college education, but fall
short simply because they do not know where to begin. While in
pursuit of her undergraduate degree in journalism, she remained an
active leader in no less than four student organizations. Through
aggressive conversations and extensive research at the age of 20, she
uncovered widely unknown resources such as free childcare and full
financial support for single parents in pursuit of a college
education. When she graduated, her son was only three years old and
she became the first in her family to earn a college degree. Upon
graduation, Pamela knew that her calling was to empower others by
helping them also pursue a college education.
After receiving her bachelor's degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo,
Dr. Pamela worked as a public relations coordinator for a major media
company, but soon felt a strong calling to the field of education.
She responded to the call by accepting a recruiting position in the
admissions office of a college with alternative education degree
programs and simultaneously enrolled in the College Student Affairs
masters degree program at Azusa Pacific University in Southern
California. The two years to follow truly honed not only her
motivational speaking, counseling, and interpersonal skills, but also
her understanding of the world of higher education.
As a graduate student, Dr. Pamela conducted several research studies
about college access and integration, and presented the findings to
one of her studies at her first national conference in 2003. After
graduation, she continued her work in student affairs, and took positions
that focused on leadership and student development at the Claremont
Colleges in Southern California and Marquette University in
Milwaukee, WI. After three years and an award for Outstanding New
Professional in Student Affairs, she was promoted to Assistant Dean
for Intercultural Programs at Marquette University where she had the
opportunity to work closely with a variety of underrepresented
student populations to ensure a positive college experience.
She decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Leadership at Cardinal Stritch
University to better position herself to help develop leadership
skills in others, particularly with the purpose of helping them live
fulfilling lives.
While still a student in the doctoral program, she launched,
EmpowerMe! CollegePrep!, a personal consulting company dedicated to
assisting individuals and their families with the pursuit of a
college degree. She also earned certification as a life and
relationship coach. Dr. Pamela has received numerous awards for her
efforts, including:
- Journalism
Department Head Award for Leadership in Journalism (2000)
- Jesuit
Association of Student Personnel Administrators - Ignatian Medal
for an Outstanding New Professional (2005)
- Marquette
University Business Plan Competition (EmpowerMe! CollegePrep) -
Best Service Plan (2008)
- Marquette
University Business Plan Competition (EmpowerMe! CollegePrep) -
Best Live Presentation (2008)
- Wisconsin
College Personnel Association - Awarded "Best in Show"
for presentation at WCPA regional conference (2009)
- American
College Personnel Association - Featured as Showcase Presenter
at ACPA national conference (2010)
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