Get to Know Jasmine
Jasmine Victor, a proud UTSA graduate with a PhD in educational leadership, is on a mission to support young adults. Her shift from journalism to higher education highlights her passion for helping others achieve their potential.
Taking Bold Steps
As a child, Jasmine was known for being shy. “I grew up very quiet and had a speech impediment that I went to speech therapy for in elementary school,” she said. “My brother, the extrovert with a big personality, would speak up for me a lot and when he went off to college that’s when I really had to come into my own.” The steps she took in college to grow in confidence continued to propel her career growth.
Passion for Student Interaction
Jasmine deliberately pursued professional and academic roles that fostered interaction and mentorship. She served as a teaching assistant and resident advisor, roles that enabled her to engage with and support young adults. “The thing I appreciated most was that interaction with students in an educational role,” she said. “I knew I wanted to come back to college to get my PhD and study higher education to help continue to create those strong developmental opportunities for young adults.”
Dedication to Diversity
Victor’s dissertation concentrated on improving policies and practices for Black women faculty, driven by data highlighting their underrepresentation. “I want to be in the classroom helping train the next generation of higher education leaders,” Victor said. “I want to help increase the visibility and the number of Black women faculty in the classroom, because I do think that kind of exposure, especially in environments of learning, is important.”
Empowered Through Mentorship
Her time at UTSA in The College of Education and Human Development (COEHD), supported by mentors like Claudia García-Louis, PhD, has deepened her commitment to creating inclusive environments. “The thing that made the difference at UTSA – because I did feel very isolated at one point – was relationships with my dissertation chair Dr. García-Louis, some of the other faculty and having my fellowship,” she said. “They really made me feel like I belonged, and I felt seen in my relationships with them.”
As Victor advances in her career, her journey exemplifies how mentorship and support drive success and empower inspiration of future leaders.
“Having real conversations with [faculty] about opportunities and one-on-one interactions made the difference in my experience here.”