Latoya
Jackson-Lainez
Young Professionals 2022 by Becky Grunewald
At a college system as big as the Sierra Joint Community College District ( 18,000 students and over 1,300 employees in four locations ), you might think that there would be three separate directors of diversity , equal opportunity employment and Title IX compliance , but Latoya Jackson-Lainez fills all three roles .
Her friendly and approachable demeanor no doubt serves her well in approaching thorny issues such as implicit bias and protection from sex-based discrimination that falls under Title IX , which includes intimate partner violence and sexual misconduct . She attributes her background in communications with strengthening her ability to empathize and connect .
Each day she flows between meetings in which she might be guiding the hiring by “ reviewing screening rubrics and analyzing the demographics of recruitment pools ,” responding to a case in which a student has disclosed child sexual abuse in a writing assignment , or addressing the concerns of a student worried about a possible stalker . The EEO part comes into play if a student or employee has filed a discrimination report , after which Jackson-Lainez must determine if an investigation is needed .
A lifelong learner , she is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership . She began her educational journey at the urging of her grandfather and key mentor , Fidencio Cabral , a migrant farmworker from Mexico who told her he came to the U . S . so that his family would have the opportunities he didn ’ t have . ( Jackson-Lainez identifies as Afro-Latina , Black and Mexican .) In high school in Redding , some told her that she “ wasn ’ t college material ,” but she recalls one teacher of color who counteracted that message and urged her to apply to Sacramento State . There , she joined a sorority and , in her own words , “ started to blossom .” She attained a bachelor ’ s degree in communications with an emphasis on intercultural and international communications . While pursuing her master ’ s degree at San Jose State , she applied for a graduate teaching program . This led her to discover her passion for education ; she continues to teach public speaking as an adjunct assistant professor at American River College .
This parallel career allows her to serve as a role model . “ I love for them to come into the space and see a woman of color , and I love to share my story with them ,” she says . “ Being able to see students grow … it just really fulfills me .”
Her time at graduate school was also a side-door introduction into the world of human relations . While working as a graduate assistant she was pushed into some HR work and took a job post-graduation as an equal opportunity and workforce planning analyst at San Jose State , a position which revolved around diversity and hiring .
Wanting to return to Sacramento , she took positions in HR at UC Davis and the City of Sacramento , at the latter gaining more experience in the field of labor relations . She laughingly compares HR work to a telenovela , a Mexican soap opera with “ constant drama ,” but her continuous climb shows her ability to master each challenge , including her latest at Sierra .
She originally applied for a different position at the Sierra district and got far into the interview process , but the job went to someone else . The panel urged her to apply for her current position .
“ It was just all of this unique experience in different places that really prepared me for this super unique role ,” she says . “ I tell folks , career paths are definitely not linear . One door opens and it gives you all these skills , and then you take on the next position . … I ’ m a high believer that everything happens for a reason .”
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