About Janay

About Janay
Janay is a doctoral candidate in SDSU’s CCLEAD program. She currently works as an instructional support analyst at the San Diego College of Continuing Education. Passionate about higher education, she believes in its transformative power, especially for underinvested and marginalized communities. She finds comfort in continuously learning new things and advocates for many communities, emphasizing empathy and compassion, particularly in today’s climate. Additionally, she challenges traditional views of professionalism and believes that leading with love can truly change the world.
 

 

Higher Education Journey
Janay attended SDSU, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She then returned to SDSU to obtain a master’s degree in educational counseling and a mental health and trauma-informed care certificate. While working in student services at San Diego City College, she completed two associate degrees in business and one in accounting. Driven by a passion for continuing her education, she earned a second master’s degree from SDSU in postsecondary educational leadership with a specialization in student affairs. Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree in community college leadership at SDSU and hopes to graduate in spring 2026. Although she believes this will mark the end of her educational journey, she is a lifelong learner who may pursue additional education in the future. 

Research Interests
Janay is passionate about researching historically harmed, targeted, and marginalized communities. Her dissertation focuses on the experiences of justice-involved Black and Latino men at California community colleges. She hopes to continue conducting research on this population while expanding to include justice-involved Black and Latino women and the children of those affected by the justice system. Additionally, she aspires to conduct research on women of color in administrative roles at colleges and universities in the country, with a particular focus on Black women. She also wants to incorporate the effects of COVID-19 and the current tumultuous political environment, and how these factors have shaped and will continue to shape the landscape of higher education.