Janette Mariscal, PhD

Director Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
Ph.D. Higher Education, University of Arizona
M.A., Higher Education, University of Arizona
B.A., Psychology, minors in Ethnic Studies, Spanish and Human Development, Washington State University

Dr. Janette Mariscal currently serves as the Director for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She has 10 years of combined professional experience in Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Arizona (UA) in Higher Education with an emphasis on College Access. Dr. Mariscal received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, minors in Ethnic Studies, Spanish and Human Development from Washington State University (WSU). Her service, teaching and research is centered on the role of higher education institutions, college choice, Latina/o/x parents/guardians, and families and underserved student groups, and asset-based frameworks such as funds of knowledge, community cultural wealth and critical agency. 

She is the product of two Mexican migrant farm workers and first-generation college graduates. She is eternally grateful to have been mentored and chosen as a participant of the McNair Scholars Program, College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), and Student Support Services (SSSP). She attributes her success at WSU to TRIO- McNair & SSS, CAMP and the Multicultural Student Services (MSS). These programs gave her academic confidence, research experience, professional development skills, emotional, cultural and academic support to reach her goals.   

As a McNair Scholar, she conducted social psychological research under the guidance of Dr. Craig Parks from the Psychology Department. Her undergraduate research experience prepared her for graduate level work, enhanced her critical thinking, refined her time management skills, and improved her overall ability to conduct research.  

She has fond memories of Dr. Raymond Herrera, her McNair cohort, and the Graduate Assistants, specifically, the time spent at the Scholars Den with other scholars while working on graduate school materials, the summer barbecues, Broadway Musicals, McNair Conferences (Seattle and Wisconsin), and the continuous follow ups.  

She is eternally grateful to Dr. Herrera for allowing her and other students from rural, immigrant and low-income communities from Washington state to dream beyond their imagination and envision themselves as future Doctors and contributors of knowledge. The McNair Scholars Program at WSU has transformed her life. Now as the McNair Director, Dr. Mariscal hopes to pay it forward and continue to transform the academy and support underserved communities in education.