Dr. Ginny Stewart-Hattar

Born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Ginny Stewart-Hattar has called California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) her professional and educational home base for the past eighteen years. Her educational journey at CSUSB began in 1999 as a transfer student where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, it continued with her pursuit of her Master of Public Administration in 2011, and concluded successfully in defending her dissertation in 2016, as the final step where she earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Stewart-Hattar’s dissertation, Transfer Student Experiences at a Four-Year University, explored how transfer students engaged in service learning and/or internship opportunities at a four-year public Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Her hope is to open the doors to more resources and opportunities for transfer students at public institutions.

Currently, Dr. Stewart-Hattar is the Interim Director of Special Events and Guest Services, a department she began working in full-time after completing her Bachelor of Science at CSUSB in 2002.

“Through working in Special Events not only have I gained professional skills, but those skills have also helped me mature both personally and as an educator”, says Dr. Stewart-Hattar. It was those very skills that Dr. Stewart-Hattar claims allowed her to advance through different positions within Special Events, including her current role of interim director.

“[During my time at CSUSB] I began to realize that I enjoyed leading my peers and students. Being able to teach skills that I have learned, and used to propel myself to where I am today, provides a sense of achievement that is like no other”, says Dr. Stewart-Hattar.

When asked about her future goals, she replied, “Throughout my professional journey at CSUSB, my ultimate goal has always been to serve the students in the best way that I can.”

By earning her terminal degree, Dr. Stewart-Hattar believes she is one step closer to achieving that goal.

When asked what her greatest achievement is at CSUSB, she says, “It’s being able to watch students grow and knowing that I’ve made an impact on their lives, even as a small as it might be”.

One of Dr. Stewart-Hattar’s favorite quotes is a Chinese Proverb, “When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people”. It is clear that Dr. Stewart-Hattar has demonstrated and continues to exemplify the practice of serving others in training and education.

Advice that Dr. Stewart-Hattar would leave for those considering pursuing their terminal degree is to do it sooner rather than later, “There is nothing that can replace the experience, from the lessons you learn, to the amazing people that you meet and get to work with.  While it might be a struggle balancing work, life and school the outcome is definitely work the hard work and dedication.”