Mary Poulson
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

The nuns at Mary Poulson’s high school singled her out as having the intelligence to pursue higher education and placed in her college preparatory courses. But her mother’s Filipino culture dictated that she become a wife.

So Poulson did what was expected of her and married young. But she was soon left a widow with two children. Untrained in any profession, Poulson became a secretary for Southern California Edison. For 17 years, she worked as a clerk, finding little chance of advancement.

“According to my bosses, they couldn’t offer me much because I did not have a higher education. I felt doomed,” recalled Poulson, 49, of Ventura.

Then, 13 years ago, Poulson remarried. When her children “left the nest,” she attended Moorpark College and Ventura College before transferring to CSUN’s Ventura campus, which later became the CSUN at Channel Islands campus.

“I had no idea what field to pursue, but I knew that I enjoyed learning,” Poulson said. She was on the dean’s list every semester and graduated with a 3.94 grade point average. Poulson plans to become a teacher.

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