Vice Presidents
Dr. Sonya Pearson
Interim Vice President of Student Affairs
After packing up her belongings and driving 1,100 miles from Missouri to Mesa Community College, MCC's new dean of student affairs has arrived in Arizona ready to tackle the challenge of helping to develop MCC's new downtown campus.
Sonya Pearson, former dean of student services at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, began work at MCC's Southern and Dobson campus last week, replacing Judy Taussig, who retires at the end of the year. Sonya takes over Judy's duties in the following areas:
- American Indian Center
- Multicultural Services
- Student Life and Leadership
- Disabilities Resource Services
- Children's Center
- Career / Adult Re-Entry
- Code of Conduct / Judicial Affairs at Southern and Dobson
Sonya will also work collaboratively with other student affairs personnel in developing the delivery of student support services for the MCC downtown campus. She said she sees a multitude of opportunities that await her and she has several goals in mind for her new position.
""I'd like to see a greater connection between student development programs and enrollment management." Sonya said, "I'm fairly excited to work with the group by trying creative methods to enhance the existing relationship that student services has with the instructional area."
Sonya earned her master's degree in counseling and psychology from NE State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and her Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Walden University in Minneapolis.
In addition to her educational and work experience, Sonya said she loves to do service work and plans to continue serving the community in Arizona. She has previously been involved with the Red Cross, Relay for Life, and United Way.
She described her move to Arizona as "a transition full of emotion," and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way. Sonya's first visit to Arizona was when she applied for the dean's position at MCC and she has close family friends in Yuma. Sonya is looking forward to establishing roots in the area and hopes to become a valuable contributor to the Maricopa County Community College District and MCC.
"I'm a genuine person and I enjoy what I do," Sonya said. "I hope that comes across."
