A Mentor Leads the Way

I was a first generation college student, and had it not been for MJC, I would not have eventually received a PhD and become a professor. It took me four years to graduate with my AA from MJC, partly because I left MJC part way through my studies. I was in the Navy Reserves and was put on active duty for the first Gulf War.

Both times I was at MJC, one person who made a huge difference for me was psychology professor Tom Eckle. He was rigorous and believed in my future and me. Furthermore, he made social psychology come alive. He was also the first (and only) person to tell me that if I did well enough as an undergraduate, I could go to graduate school for free. I had no idea, and when he told me this, it was as if the clouds parted and I could suddenly have the kind of future I really wanted.

Once I was finally able to transfer to UC Santa Cruz to finish my BA, I held onto Tom’s teachings. Transferring to a 4-year university, especially one on the quarter system, was frightening and intimidating, but I knew that Tom had prepared me well. I eventually went on to get my PhD in clinical-community psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (and Tom was right – UIUC paid for my schooling!). I am now a professor (just promoted to full) and the provost of Oakes College at UC Santa Cruz. My research focus is on educational equity. I owe much to Tom and many of the dedicated faculty at MJC. I am deeply grateful to the MJC faculty for caring about me and giving me information that I did not otherwise have access to, but was vital to my success.

- Regina Langhout, Class of 1992