# MeetShanelle Watkins

**Source**: https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/shanelle-watkins.html
**Parent**: https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/index.html

# Meet Shanelle Watkins

**Tell us a bit about yourself**

I am from southeast San Diego, and I attended Point Loma High School, California State University where I earned my BA in sociology, the University of San Diego where I earned my MA in higher education leadership, and I have worked in education for over 15 years in various realms including k-12, community college and four year universities. I chose to attend graduate school because while I was in undergrad, I had a professor who would always speak of her graduate school experiences, and encouraged us to further our education. As I navigated through graduate school, I noticed that I had very few colleagues who looked like me, or if I did, they did not have the same life experiences as me. When I decided to pursue a doctoral degree, I decided to take this journey not only for myself, but for the community that I grew up in.

**What are you studying/researching?**

My research focuses on the experiences of Black women undergraduate student leaders at Hispanic Serving Institutions. My chair is Dr Sherice Clarke.

**Tell us about your campus involvement at UC San Diego**

Within the UC San Diego community, I do utilize a variety of services including writing retreats, various EDS programs, and I am a member of the Black JDP program. As a native San Diegan, I really enjoy going to lake Miramar on early Saturday mornings, I enjoy visiting seaport village, and trying new restaurants in places like little italy and north park.

**Why UC San Diego?**

I chose UCSD because it holds a very special place in my heart. My father served as facilities management at UCSD for 30 years, and I remember as a child, always visiting the campus. It was my very first introduction to college as a first gen student. I knew that I wanted to earn a degree here and make my father proud and create a beautiful full circle moment.

**Have you received any awards or fellowships?**

I was awarded the Chrispeels Fellowship in 2022, and the BSP Clarke Kaplan Fellowship for fall of 2024.

## [Social Sciences](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/index.html)

- [Lilly Amirjavadi](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/lilly-amirjavadi.html)
- [Lourdes Carmona](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/lourdes-carmona.html)
- [Morgen Chalmiers](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/morgen-chalmiers.html)
- [Bianca Freeman](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/bianca-freeman.html)
- [Ramsey Ismail](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/ramsey-ismail.html)
- [Ruby Johnston](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/ruby-johnston.html)
- [Benjamin C. Kennedy](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/benjamin-c.-kennedy-.html)
- [Ana Lopez-Ricoy](https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/student-spotlights/social-sciences/ana-lopez-ricoy.html)
- Shanelle Watkins