Constance Brooks, UNLV’s vice president of Government and Community Engagement, will share her professional journey during the third installment of the Graduate College’s My Professional Origin Story speaker series at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Barrick Museum of Art Auditorium. The event is open to the entire UNLV community and will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

Ahead of the event, Brooks provides a glimpse into her journey below. 

What are a few of the defining moments of your educational journey?

Attending preschool at Crossroads Preparatory Academy in impoverished East St. Louis, Illinois, from age two to five years old. It was an incredible foundation for my educational and professional journies. 

I once led a revolt/coup with my four-year-old peers against nap time. “The teachers don’t have to take naps, why should we?” I chanted. No one took naps for a while, so parents and teachers were quite frustrated. I guess I’ve always had an eye for justice, but I learned the effectiveness of leadership and advocacy very early in life. 

My intelligence and leadership skills were noticed and channeled in a positive direction. My parents were guided to get my IQ tested. As a result, Crossroads referred me to a program for gifted students that met on Saturdays over 30 miles away from East St. Louis. My parents could barely afford to pay for my classes or the gas to drive me there, but their belief in me and in the power of education helped to conquer those obstacles. To say I’m grateful for their sacrifices just isn’t adequate. 

Describe a time when a mentor made an impact on your life. 

I was blessed to have several caring professors and mentors as a graduate student at UNLV. I had the great fortune of working for Dr. Ramona Denby, formerly of the UNLV School of Social Work and Lincy Institute, and now a dean at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She was my field practicum advisor when I was in the UNLV Master of Social Work program and taught me how powerful research can be in the realm of advocacy. She, through scholarship and by example, taught me to truly appreciate data and recognize their value as a conduit for change. 

I would also highlight the significant impact of Juanita Fain [who served in numerous UNLV roles, including vice president of student affairs]. As the highest ranking Black woman at UNLV when I arrived as a grad student, her mentorship with regard to leadership, higher education management, and professionalism has been (and still is) instrumental in my life. Having been raised by a strong woman-leader in my mother, I gravitated toward Dr. Fain, and she welcomed me with open arms. 

If you could give advice to a younger version of yourself, what would you say?

You are enough. Being liked doesn’t always equate to being respected, so be cautious.

Can you share a few words about the photo that you selected to highlight your story?

This is my graduation photo from kindergarten. This was a pivotal time in my formative years,  firmly setting the stage for me to become both a scholar and advocate. Each morning at Crossroads after saying the Pledge of Allegiance, all of the students were led to scream loudly “I will continue to strive for excellence!” — and I’m still striving.

The article was written by Alyssa Crittenden, the vice provost for Graduate Education; dean of the Graduate College; and professor of anthropology at UNLV.