Marla Iyasere, the dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, is proud of all the graduates but she knows of one who deserves bragging rights. Amethyst Phillips is the first CSUB student to be accepted into the Teach For America program.
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. Their organization members work to ensure that more students growing up today in the country's lowest-income communities are given the educational opportunities they deserve.
Phillips, a self-proclaimed "super senior" since she's been at CSUB for five years, will graduate in June. The near 23-year-old is a double major in physics and political science.
Phillips was born in Lynwood and moved to Bakersfield shortly after. She's one of seven children in her family. After attending Bakersfield High School Phillips came to CSUB. "My experience here at CSUB has been wonderful," she said. "I have had many mentors, advisors and encouragers along the way. Everyone here has been positive since the moment I stepped onto campus.
"I've worked here on campus most of my time here, first in the Athletics department for three years and then in University Outreach for three years."
Phillips will fulfill her time with the Teach For America organization in Chicago teaching chemistry to inner city high school students. She then plans to attend graduate school to study political science.