Lisa Robles-Kent is the program manager in the office of Student Success in Equity. She oversees the equity grant under director Leslie Bonds. Robles-Kent earned an associate’s degree at Bakersfield College before earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from CSUB. She is currently in the graduate program for a masters at CSUB.

Robles-Kent started attending Bakersfield College as a young adult and single parent. “I attended for several years while I was raising my two boys,” she said. RoblesKent was a student at BC while working for Employers Training Resource as a job developer when a department assistant position opened up at Bakersfield College in the admissions and records department. After being encouraged by the vice president of Student Services to interview for the position, Robles-Kent was hired by Sue Vaughn in 2007 as a department assistant.

During this time, she also ran a work experience program under the direction of the vice president of student services. In 2009, Robles-Kent accepted a position working for the Bakersfield College Foundation as the executive secretary. In September of 2016, Robles-Kent landed the management position as the program manager. Her department oversees the resources provided by the equity grant to help four specific student groups with dedicated educational advisers.

Robles-Kent has a passion for helping students at BC succeed on campus. “I always think of it as you’re saving these students from quitting, and although some may say it’s only a semester or it’s only community college, the point is we can help these students change the lives of their families. If we help them, they’re going to move forward and possibly finish school. If they finish school, their little brothers and sisters are going to see that and they’re going to finish school,” Robles-Kent said.

Growing up in a lower income, east Bakersfield neighborhood gave her insight into how to help in the lives of these students, Robles-Kent said. “I was that student that was lost and struggling. I didn’t know if I could continue because school was hard. I tell students that it’s not easy or everyone would do it. Because it is hard, is the reason to do it because that will make you stand out.”

For students who have not self-identified as belonging to one of the groups called out in the equity plan, Robles-Kent said that they only need to call or go to office of Student Success in Equity at Bakersfield College and make an appointment. She said that her office is committed to helping these students succeed. Robles-Kent said that she will go out of her way to find the students who look lost or anxious to let them know that they do belong here.

“The college is focused on being very inclusive and focused on equity. Equity does not mean equality.” It means, said RoblesKent, that her office is providing services to students in the four categories, based upon that group’s needs. Robles-Kent says that they make use of the resources as efficiently as possible.