A history of excellence

Bakersfield College History Professor Olivia Garcia is a 2024 Alumni Rising `Runner

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 22^nd, 2024

Olivia Garcia is the 2024 Alumni Rising `Runner for the School of Arts and Humanities. Each spring during Homecoming Week, the Rising `Runner program recognizes CSUB alumni of the last 10 years who are already making an impact in their career and community.

Olivia Garcia was born and raised in Bakersfield and was the first in her family to attend college. She credits her motivation to succeed to her Spanish-speaking grandparents, who spent most of their lives as farm workers. Garcia became their bilingual translator and interpreter. She read and filled out legal documents and wrote letters on their behalf. This labor of love sparked a deep interest in writing and in serving others.

Before coming to California State University, Bakersfield, Garcia earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Fresno State, one in mass communication and journalism and the other in Chicano Studies. She also earned dual Associate degrees in Journalism and Spanish at Bakersfield College. As a journalist, she served as a news reporter for The Bakersfield Californian and as editor of Bakersfield Life Magazine and MAS Magazine, both Bakersfield Californian publications.

Though Garcia became a successful journalist, she decided to return to school to pursue graduate studies in history. In fall 2010, Garcia was conditionally admitted to CSUB’s Master of Arts program in history and fully admitted after successfully completing 15 units of undergraduate history courses required to help orient her in a new discipline. Her life was bursting with responsibilities and a packed schedule as a full-time journalist, mother of four active sons, wife and community volunteer. Garcia said she didn’t know where to begin, but one of her first professors — Acting Dean for the School of Arts and Humanities Dr. Alicia Rodriquez — was her guide and source of light in the program.

“She definitely was one of the toughest professors I have had. But she taught me so much and pushed me to be better. I’m so appreciative and grateful for her being there for me. I still see her as a mentor and am fortunate we have remained in touch over the years,” said Garcia.

While at CSUB, and despite her professional obligations, Garcia worked with Rodriquez through the CSUB-sponsored Graduate Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Initiative. Together, they completed extensive research on the history of the Stony Brook tuberculosis sanatorium in Keene, (1918-1968), and conducted six oral history interviews with subjects who had been confined to Stony Brook in childhood or as young adults.

In 2015, they presented some of their research in a co- authored conference paper “Reimagining the Stay: Voices from the Stony Book Retreat in Keene, California” at the Southwest Oral History Association’s annual conference. In 2013, Garcia presented a paper, “Campesinas, Huelgistas, and Lideres: The New Woman in the Farm Worker Movement, 1865-1975,” at the Conference of the California Council for the Promotion of History. These experiences helped Garcia develop her skills as a researcher and as an historian.

Despite a successful 20-year career in journalism, Garcia’s completion of a CSUB Master of Arts degree in history in 2015 led to a career change in higher education. She taught as an adjunct communications instructor at Bakersfield Colleges starting in 2000 and began teaching history part-time in the college’s Social Science Department in 2015. Bakersfield College hired her as a full-time, tenure-track social science faculty member in 2017 to teach history.

“It’s here [in the classroom] where the magic happens — it’s where you see the minds of students engage into thoughtful dialogue and at times, they teach us a thing or two. I do believe in the saying that you should find something you really love, and it will never feel like work because that’s what it feels for me,” said Garcia. “To hear the stories of perseverance from my students as they juggle their school and personal lives and to see their dedication to learn and grow, well, that’s just inspiring for me.”

Garcia has since earned tenure and promotion to associate professor and has been active in service to Bakersfield College, to CSUB, and to the broader community. She has also authored two books; one commissioned by CSUB, “Rising: The First Fifty Years at California State University” and the other, a co- authored digital textbook titled “Message Received: Mass Communication in the Digital Era” in the field of communications.

In addition to her work as a history professor at Bakersfield College, Garcia has served the college in numerous capacities. She teaches several different history courses in the Social Science Department and is currently the faculty co-lead for the Bakersfield College Women’s History Month and More Committee, as well as the Padrinos de BC mentoring group. She is also a faculty lead for the Bridge to BC summer freshman orientation program. At Bakersfield College, she serves as the History Club faculty advisor and is a member of the Chicano/Latino Commencement Committee. Garcia was awarded Bakersfield College’s prestigious Samuel W. McCall Outstanding Professor of the Year Award.

“Teachers have a golden opportunity to positively influence or impact the lives of students not only in the classroom but outside and beyond. I’m proud to say that I serve as a club adviser for two BC campus organizations — the History Club and the Latinas Unidas club. These clubs allow me to interact more with my students,” Garcia said.

Garcia served as a past chair of the board of directors of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce from 2022-23, a position that — among other duties — required her to organize workshops, promote the organization and help coordinate its annual Dia de los Muertos community event and fundraiser.

She also serves as a committee member of CSUB’s Public History Institute, an assistant liaison representative of the Kern County Devil Pups Chapter and as a catechist for the religious education program at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in northeast Bakersfield. In recognition of her exemplary service to the Devil Pups, Garcia was awarded the Devil Pups Youth Program of America Inc.’s Liaison Representative of the Year Award in 2022.

“As Latinas are a plurality of CSUB’s student demographic, Ms. Garcia’s professional success in two fields, journalism and higher education, as well as her extensive service to the community, will be an inspiration to a significant segment of our student demographic,” said Dr. Rodriquez. “Her story will also serve as a reminder to students that changing a career, however successful the first might be, may open new doors and opportunities, even if career change seems daunting.”

Garcia considered CSUB as her home when she began her journey on her second career. Being in the classroom during her graduate program and spending time at the Walter W. Stiern Library archives and with its staff are among some of her favorite campus memories. Garcia and her peers shared conversations surrounding history and its connection to the present. While the evening courses in the program were long nights, Garcia said they never felt that way. She remains close friends with some of her peers from her graduate program at CSUB. Garcia also credits the university with leading her to truly live her calling.