Community College Pathway Psychologists Hall of Fame
Many successful psychologists began their academic and career pathway by attending a community college. We feature examples here in our Community College Hall of Fame.
Melanie Wilcox, PhD
Dr. Melanie M. Wilcox is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences and Institute of Public and Preventive Health at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University at Albany (State...
Dr. Aaron S. Richmond
Dr. Aaron S. Richmond is a professor of educational psychology and human development at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He started out his post-secondary education at a vocational school—Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School where he learned to become a...
Bernardo J. Carducci (1952 – 2018)
“Studying psychology at a community college changed my life.” Bernardo J. Carducci (Ph.D., Kansas State University, 1981) began his academic career in 1970 at Mt. San Antonio Community College (CA) and later transferred to Cal State University at Fullerton to complete...
Jim Diaz-Granados
Jaime "Jim" L. Diaz-Granados, PhD, of Baylor University is the American Psychological Association's executive director for education. Prior to assuming his position with the APA, he was a professor of psychology, neuroscience and biomedical studies and chair of the...
Antonio E. Puente, PhD
Antonio Puente's family originally migrated from Cuba. He lacked guidance and a mentor, but fortunately a neighbor told him about a community college starting up in Jacksonville. He was the first in his family to attend an American college. It was during his community...
Kari Tucker, MA, PhD
Kari's reaction to being selected teacher-of-the-year! Dr. Kari Tucker-McCorkhill is a tenured professor of psychology at Irvine Valley College, located in Orange County, California. Like all other Community College Pathway Psychologists, she began college by...
April Thames
Dr. April Thames is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Director of the Center for Culture Trauma and Mental Health Disparities at the University of California Los Angeles. She attended Cerritos College from 1997-2000 and received her...
Dr. Jaclyn Ronquillo
Dr. Jaclyn Ronquillo started her path to a career in Psychology at Cerritos Community College. Unsure of her own personal academic goals, she started as a biology major with the intention of pursuing medical school to fulfill her family’s dream of having a doctor in...
Kimberley Duff
Dr. Kimberley Duff began her education at a community college at age 16, shortly after moving to Southern California with her family. Immigrating from Great Britain, she had no familial role models to guide her through the American education system. Prior to starting...
