Tracy Poon Tambascia

Dr. Tracy Poon Tambascia is the Veronica and David Hagen Chair in Women’s Leadership and Professor of Higher Education in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Her areas of interest include international higher education, higher education policy, student affairs, and student access and success in higher education. At Rossier, she teaches courses in the doctoral programs and chairs dissertations.

Tambascia is Chair of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), former President of the USC Academic Senate, and has served on the Board of Directors for NASPA.

Tambascia’s scholarly activities include a book chapter, “Letters to my 25-year-old self: Lessons learned in a changing higher education environment,” in the Handbook of Research on Leading Higher Education Transformation With Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion (IGI Global, 2021). She also co-authored two book chapters, “Culturally-aligned mentorship of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) graduate students and educational leaders,” in Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders” (IGI Global, 2023) and “Building cultural capital and workforce skills for immigrants through adult education in the United States” in the Handbook of Research on Promoting Social Justice for Immigrants and Refugees Through Active Citizenship and Intercultural Education (IGI Global, 2021). Tambascia has also served on numerous invited panels, presented at national conferences, and held various editorial roles with national higher education journals and publications.

Prior to this faculty role, Tambascia worked in student affairs administration. She was Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and Dean of Students at Whittier College. She has also led student affairs departments at Mount St. Mary’s College and Occidental College. Tambascia has supervised offices such as residential life, counseling services, student life, disability services, financial aid, admissions, career development, registrar and financial aid. She also wrote and managed grants, including several from the James Irvine Foundation and Title V.

Tambascia earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Southern California, M.A. in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and B.A. in psychology from Occidental College.

2022    Veronica and David Hagen Chair in Women’s Leadership

2022    Mentor, Asian Pacific Women in Leadership, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)

2022    Title IX Trailblazer, USC

2020    Distinguished Faculty Service Award, USC Academic Senate

2019    Rossier Mentoring Award

2018    NASPA API KC Distinguished Contribution to Research and Scholarship Award

2014    Professor of Color Recognition Award, Undergraduate  Student Govt, USC

2003    Marilyn Veitch Outstanding Contribution Award, Whittier  College

• Student Affairs in College                   
• Fieldwork
• Master’s Seminar
• Directed Research       
• Higher Education Administration in China     
• Creating Communities of Interest        
• Higher Education Seminar                  
• Critique of Research                                       
• Dissertation Seminar                           
• Educational Organizations: Governance and Finance in Higher Education
• Making Choices: Deciding Among Policy Alternatives
• Proseminar in Higher Education
• Locating Educational Performance Problems
• Implementing Policy in Educational Systems

• Tambascia, T. P., Ho, M., Parker, L., & Wang, J. (2023). Culturally-Aligned Mentorship of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Graduate Students and Educational Leaders. In Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders (pp. 16-34). IGI Global.
• Tambascia, T. & McVey, T., Editors. (2021). Special Volume on Student Success, Micronesian Educator, 29 (1). Mangilao: University of Guam School of Education.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2021). Letters to my 25-year-old Self: Lessons learned in a changing higher education environment. In Handbook of Research on Leading Higher Education Transformation With Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion (pp. 18-25). IGI Global.
• Tambascia, T. P., & Diaz, E. (2021). Building cultural capital and workforce skills for immigrants through adult education in the United States. In Handbook of Research on Promoting Social Justice for Immigrants and Refugees Through Active Citizenship and Intercultural Education (pp. 76-97). IGI Global.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2019). No ways …finished. In M. G. Burke & U. M. Robinson (Eds.), No Ways Tired: The Journey for Professionals of Color in Student Affairs (Vol. 3). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Filback, R., Krop, C., Seli, H. & Tambascia, T. (2017). Transforming education leaders: Impacts of the dissertation in practice on graduates of a global executive level Ed.D., in V. A. Storey (Ed.), Exploring the impact of the dissertation in practice. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Tambascia, T. P., Wang, J., Tcheng, B., & Bui, V. (2015). Balancing identities: Undocumented immigrant Asian American students and the model minority myth. 2014 ACPA-CASHE Monograph. 
• Hernandez, R. & Tambascia, T. P. (2015). Lifelong development: Undergraduate adult learners, advisement, and self-authorship. 2014 ACPA-CASHE Monograph.
• Tambascia, T. P., Wang, J., Tcheng, B., & Bui, V. (2014). Balancing identities: Undocumented immigrant Asian American students and the model minority myth. 2014 NASPA Annual Knowledge Community Conference Publication, 15-16. 
• Tambascia, T. P. (2010, Winter/Spring). Karaoke diplomacy. Futures in Urban Ed: USC Rossier School of Education Magazine, 17, 19. 
• Quaye, S. J., Tambascia, T. P., & Talesh, R. A. (2008). Engaging racial/ethnic minority students in predominantly white classroom environments. In S. R. Harper & S. J. Quaye (Eds.), Student engagement in higher education: Theoretical perspectives and practical approaches for diverse populations (pp. 157-178,). New York, NY: Routledge.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2007/2008). Negotiating racial conflict: The leadership role of the dean of students. Futures in Urban Ed: USC Rossier School of Education Magazine. 

• Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
• Dean of Students, Whittier College, Whittier, CA

Select Conference Presentations & Lectures

• 2021, April. “The Big Picture II: Doing the Work - DEI Initiatives We Can Learn From.” Moderator for opening plenary panel discussion, Academic Resource Conference, WSCUC, online.
• 2019, February. “Engaging faculty in accreditation in a changing higher education environment.” Keynote address for University of Guam, Faculty Development Day.
• 2019, April. Moderator for keynote address by Dr. Lande Ajose. Academic Resource Conference, WSCUC, Garden Grove, CA.
• 2019, October. “A part yet apart: Looking at the APIDA community(s) through a critical lens.” (APIDALA). Panel member, with Anna Gonzalez, Roderick Labrador, and Mahealani Quirk. 
• University of Hawai’i, HI.2018, August. “Student affairs and college student success and completion: Challenges and opportunities.” Keynote address for the Charles Drew University, Los Angeles, CA, Provost’s Retreat.
• 2017, March. “Student Personnel Point of View: 80 Years Later Where are We Now?” Panel discussion with Natasha Croom, George Kuh, and Laura Sponsler.
• 2017, March. Moderator for the NASPA Faculty Institute. Panel and facilitated discussion by Shaun Harper and Susana Munoz.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2017, March). The global classroom: Perspectives on teaching, learning, and international student engagement in a global doctorate of education program. Presentation at the annual NASPA National Conference, San Antonio, TX.
• Hoffman, J., Tambascia, T. P. & Alsandor, D. (2017, March). So much to do, so little time: Exploring the work life balance/integration of faculty members in college student personnel programs. Presentation at the annual NASPA National Conference, San Antonio, TX.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2016, March). Student affairs in Taiwan. Presentation at the annual NASPA National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
• Tambascia, T. P. & Welti, Jennifer C. (2016, March). The impact of student-parent relationships on low-income community college students. Presentation at the annual NASPA National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
• Tambascia, T. P. & Tcheng, B. (2015, April). Transitions and intersecting identities: Asian American and Pacific Islander student veterans and model minority stereotypes.  Presentation at the annual APAHE Conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Tambascia, T. P., Wang, J., Tcheng, B. & Corporal, G. (2015, March). Transitions and intersecting identities: Asian American and Pacific Islander student veterans and model minority stereotypes. Presentation at the annual NASPA National Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2015, March). Transitions and intersecting identities: Asian American and Pacific Islander student veterans and model minority stereotypes. Presentation at the annual ACPA National Conference, Tampa, FL.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2015, March). Student affairs in Taiwan. Presentation at the annual ACPA National Conference, Tampa, FL.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2014, April). Balancing identities: Undocumented Asian American students and the model minority myth. Presentation at the annual ACPA National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
• Tambascia, T. P., & Hernandez, R. (2014, April). Lifelong development – undergraduate adult learners, advisement, and self-authorship.  Presentation at the annual ACPA National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
• Tambascia, T. P., & Tcheng, B. (2014, March). Balancing identities: Undocumented Asian American students and the model minority myth. Paper presented at the annual NASPA National Conference, Baltimore, MD.
• Tambascia, T. P., Wang, J., & Tcheng, B. (2013, December). Balancing identities: Undocumented Asian American students and the model minority myth. Paper presented at the 2013 NASPA Multicultural Institute, Las Vegas, NV.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2013, May).  Multimedia inside & outside the classroom. Presentation at the USC Teaching with Technology Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
• Tambascia, T. P., & Flores, J. (2013, March). Student parents: Factors contributing to student engagement in community college. Presentation at the ACPA National Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2001, November). Identifying your weakest link: Supporting under-represented students and reality TV.  Presentation at the NASPA Region VI Conference, Maui, HI.
• Tambascia, T. P. (2000, March). Whittier College: The tradition and challenges of a diversity leader.  Presentation at the American Association for Higher Education National Conference, Anaheim, CA.
• Tambascia, T. P. (1997, February). Designing a training program with wide appeal. Presentation at the National Association of Campus Activities Far West Regional Conference, Los Angeles, CA.