Dr. Michelle Hasendonckx

Dr. Michelle Hasendonckx was the first in all her family to go to college. She was brought up to value education but was often left to navigate the steps to be successful on her own. Uncovering the hidden curriculum of college preparation did not come easy, but the familial and aspirational capital she was raised with helped her to believe in herself, while being invisible to others. While her path unexpectedly led her to an out-of-state college, Dr. Hasendonckx was determined to make her family proud. New to Washington, she quickly found community through a multicultural center and formed critical relationships with peer mentors and advisors. Dr. Hasendonckx found herself in roles throughout college in mentorship and outreach, supporting students who found, like her, that institutions of higher education were not built with her in mind. Through this work she persevered and ultimately broke barriers to become a college graduate. An education equity professional with over 16 years of federal grant administration experience, Dr. Hasendonckx currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Equity Initiatives in the Division of Academic Affairs. Dr. Hasendonckx’s career has been centered on working to better serve underrepresented, minoritized student populations. She is committed to advancing the education and personal success of all students and recognizes the wealth of social and cultural capital students bring to the campus community. During her tenure at CSUCI, Dr. Hasendonckx has taught in Chicana/o Studies and University Experience programs, sat on the executive board of the Chicana/o Latina/o Faculty & Staff Association, and served on many institutional committees advancing CSUCI’s equity agenda. Returning home to serve locally, Dr. Hasendonckx currently lives in Oxnard and is active in her community supporting issues of economic and environmental justice. Dr. Hasendonckx holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from CSU Channel Islands and Fresno State University, an M.A. in Education from Loyola Marymount University, and a B.A. from The Evergreen State College.