Christina Green

Christina E. Green

UC San Diego, 2018

Ethnic Studies

Current Title

Senior Program Manager at Women Employed

Previous Title

College-Persistence Magis Program Assistant Manager at Chicago Jesuit Academy

Salary

$60,000

 

 

What is your job/position, in one sentence?

I am working with 10 Illinois community colleges on a project to reform English and math courses in developmental education.

Tell us something about your position that people do not ask about in an informational interview.

I have not yet received a request for an informational interview. However, when asking about my position people do not ask about how my current work connects to the research I did as a Ph.D. student.

Why are you in this position/what is interesting about your work/what do you value about what you’re doing?

I value the organization that I work for. Women Employed has tirelessly pursued equity and policy change for women in the workplace since 1973. As an organization, WE is well known and widely recognized for effecting policy change to remove barriers to economic equity, expand access to educational opportunities, and advocate for fair and inclusive work environments for women in Chicago, in Illinois, and nationally. What I find most interesting about my work at Women Employed is that I am involved in changing systems in higher education that create barriers to the success of women of color. I work closely with 10 Illinois community colleges to reform developmental education and create pathways to accessible and equitable education, career, and technical training for women, families, and communities.

Do you have any advice for your pre-PhD self?

The advice that I would give to my pre-PhD self would be to seek summer internship opportunities in careers that interest me.

What’s the most valuable skill you learned from your PhD experience/training?

Honestly, the most valuable skill has been my ability to manage multiple projects at once. As a Ph.D. student, I had to find time to travel, write, research, and teach. I had to have a high level of organization and discipline. The project management skills that I acquired as a graduate student continue to assist me in my career to this day.

Questions of/for other alumni?

How have your career goals changed as you’ve navigated positions outside of academia?

Did you negotiate for your salary?

Yes, I always negotiate for my salary. I did not receive a higher salary through negotiation for this position, but I was able to negotiate for other benefits such as sick leave and vacation time.

Student loan debt?

Yes, I do have student loan debt upwards of $70,000.