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About Gloria Aquino Sosa

Gloria Aquino Sosa, Ph.D, LPC (MI), is an Associate Professor and Chair in the Counseling Department, also directing the Higher Education & Student Affairs and Career Counseling specializations at Saint Mary’s College of California. She also serves as the faculty co-director of the High Potential Program. Dr. Sosa served as the College’s Chief Diversity Officer from 2017-2019 and has over 20 years’ experience working/conducting research in higher education, business, and mental health settings as an administrator, instructor, counselor, supervisor, trainer, and consultant. Her focus is action-oriented equity and social justice, co-authoring 6 fully funded federal and state grants securing over $5.1M to support student achievement. Sosa has published extensively and presents internationally about strengths based personal, professional, and institutional change, educational equity, and counselor education. Sosa provides strategic consultation and training for universities/businesses regarding self-efficacy as foundational for self-directed personal and professional success, cultural proficiency and humility to shape critical thinking; how intergenerational trauma positively affects professional success; and on ensuring equity and inclusion are vital parts of the growth equation for any person, business, or academic entity, particularly in the name of adhering to mission and vision. In 2015 she was elected president elect of the American Counseling Association’s Counselors for Social Justice Division. From 1995-2005, Sosa co-created/directed a nationally recognized, award-winning student retention/peer mentoring program at a Research I institution in the Midwest.

Dr. Sosa’s parents emigrated from Cuba in 1952, and Gloria and her siblings were the first to attend college in the United States. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Dr. Sosa is a professional musician, she is a lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist in 2 working bands, Zenagain and dónde. She also manages both bands.

Positions

July 2017 - Present Associate Professor, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Counseling
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July 2017 - Present Chief Diversity Officer, Saint Mary's College of California
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September 2015 - Present Member, Black Lives Matter Task Force through CCIE, Saint Mary's College of California
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September 2015 - Present Member, ODMI Task Force through CCIE, Saint Mary's College of California
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July 2014 - Present Director, Assessment and Accreditation search committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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March 2014 - Present Member, Hispanic Serving Institution CCIE Subcommittee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2013 - Present Advisor, Counseling Department Graduate Student Organization, Saint Mary's College of California
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2013 - Present Co-chair, College Committee on Inclusive Excellence, Saint Mary's College of California
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August 2013 - Present Facilitator, GUIDE (formerly Campus of Difference), Saint Mary's College of California
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July 2013 - Present Faculty Co-Director, High Potential Program, Saint Mary's College of California
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August 2013 - Present Member, Campus of Difference Task Team, Saint Mary's College of California
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August 2013 - Present Member, Hispanic Serving Institution CCIE Subcommittee, Saint Mary's College of California
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July 2013 - Present Program Director, College Student Services, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Counseling
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July 2012 - Present Assistant Professor, Saint Mary's College of California
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December 2012 - Present Chairperson, KSOE Writing Proficiency Exam Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Kalmanovitz School of Education
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Counseling
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September 2017 - January 2018 Interim AVP for Student Success/SEAS Director/HP Director, Saint Mary's College of California
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2016 - 2018 Elected member, Program Review Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2017 Chair, High Potential Program National Search - Director, Saint Mary's College of California
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2017 Dean, Core National search search committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2015 - 2016 Chair, High Potential Director & Assistant Director National Search Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2015 - 2016 Co-facilitator, KSOE diversity and inclusion workshop & continued Conversations, Saint Mary's College
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2016 Co-Facilitator, KSOE Retreat, Saint Mary's College of California
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2016 Member, KSOE Dean's Awards Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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July 2013 - 2015 Member, KSOE Quality Improvement Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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February 2013 - 2015 Member, Research Committee, Kalmanovitz School of Education, Saint Mary's College of California
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July 2013 - 2015 MemberSocial Justice Coordinating Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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August 2012 - May 2015 Member, WASC Executive Steering Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2015 Co-Chair, Intercultural Center Director National Search Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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April 2014 - July 2014 Member, Support the Student Lifecycle Strategic Planning Task Force, Saint Mary's College of California
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June 2014 - August 2014 Undergraduate Pre-Enrollment team, Saint Mary's College of California
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February 2012 - May 2014 Member, Critical Friends Reading Group, Saint Mary's College of California
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May 2013 - November 2013 Member, Planning Committee Northern California Diversity Forum for Graduate Education, Saint Mary's College of California
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2011 - 2013 Memmber, KSOE Scholarship Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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July 2011 - July 2012 Full-time Adjunct Faculty, Saint Mary's College of California
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June 2012 Invited Moderator, Summer Leadership Institute, Saint Mary's College of California
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September 2012 Member, Center for First Generation to College Studies Advisory Board, Saint Mary's College of California
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Participant and Presenter: Exploring the Intersections: Racial Justice, Our Lasallian Heritage, and the Catholic Tradition, Saint Mary's College of California
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

Grants

2016 - Present Hispanic Serving Institutions Federal Title III Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics and Articulation Grant
Caminos a las Ciencias: Pathways to Science.
$2,700,000
2015 Federal SSS TRIO Grant
Saint Mary’s College of California, High Potential Program
$1,100,000
2014 Assessment Grant
Saint Mary's College of California
2014 Assessment Grant: High Potential Program
Saint Mary's College of California
2002 - 2006 Students First King, Chavez, Parks Initiative Select Student Support Services Grant
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Oakland University
$356,000
2000 - 2002 Math Plus. King, Chavez, Parks Initiative Select Student Support Services Grant
Oakland University, Michigan Department of Career Development
$450,000
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2016 - Present Member, Association for the Study of Higher Education
2016 - Present Member, National Assocation for Diversity Officers in Higher Education
2013 - Present Member, International Social Justice Counseling Advocacy Consortium
2011 - Present Manuscript reviewer, Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology Review Board
2010 - Present Manuscript reviewer, Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education, and Development Journal Review Board
2005 - Present Member, American Counseling Association
2005 - Present Member, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
2005 - Present Member, Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling Association for Lesbian,
2005 - Present Member, Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
2000 - Present Clinical Supervisor, Strategic Counseling and Consulting
1997 - Present Member, National Association for Student Personnel Administrators
2015 - 2016 President Elect, Counselors for Social Justice
2003 - 2015 Member, Counselors for Social Justice
2001 - 2011 Mental Health Counselor - Bilingual, Easter Seals Centro Latino
1997 - 2011 Special Instructor - Adjunct, Oakland University
2006 - 2007 Adjunct Faculty, University of Detroit - Mercy
2001 - 2005 Director, Center for Multicultural Initiatives, Oakland University
1998 - 2001 Assistant Director, Center for Multicultural Initiatives, Oakland University
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Honors and Awards

  • Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards 2000-2005
  • 2017 – Saint Mary’s College Faculty Service Award
  • 2015 - Saint Mary’s College Dean Thomas Earl Brown Faculty Award for exceptional commitment to the Black community.
  • 2013 - Journal for Humanistic Counseling, Distinguished Reviewer
  • 2013 - Invited to co-chair visioning process for ISJCAC
  • 2013 - Invited to represent the Association for Humanistic Counseling at the Social Justice Leadership Development Project at the American Counseling Association National Conference
  • 2012 - Saint Mary’s College-CA, Faculty Technology Group Grant Award
  • 2006 - Oakland University Graduate Counseling Student Organization Support and Zeal Award (as Adjunct Faculty)
  • 2003 - MACRAO EEOC Award Winning Program – OUTAS
  • 2001 - Noel-Levitz Retention Excellence Award - OUTAS Program
  • 2000 - Michigan Counseling Association Diversity Award for OUTAS Program
  • 1999 - NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) Exemplary Program, OUTAS

Courses

  • Communications 101: First Year Experience
  • Presentation and Facilitation
  • Internship Seminar
  • Group Counseling
  • Counseling in a Diverse Society
  • Techniques of Counseling
  • Field Placement Seminar for College Student Services and Career Specializations
  • Foundations in Higher Education
  • Leadership for Social Justice - Ed.D program
  • Law, Ethics, and Values
  • Issues in Intercultural Counseling and Social Justice
  • Field Placement Seminar for College Student Services and Career Specializations
  • Social Justice in HIgher Education: Theory, Practice, & Research
  • Foundations of Higher Education

Education

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2017 National Association for Diversity Officers in Higher Education Standards of Professional Practices Institute
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May 2009 Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education, Oakland University
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June 2000 Certificate, Institute for Emerging Women Leaders in Higher Education, University of Maryland at College Park
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August 1998 Specialization Certification Child and Adolescent Counseling, Oakland University
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September 1997 Specialization Certification Mental Health Counseling, Oakland University
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May 1997 Master of Arts Counseling, Oakland University
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March 1983 Bachelor of Arts History/Psychology, Double Major: Constitutional History of the United States & Psychology, Michigan State University
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Links

Contact Information

Office
Filippi Academic Hall - 215

Phone: 925-631-4306
Fax: 925-376-8379

Mail: P.O. Box 4350

Email:

Publications (9)

Presentations (73)