Dr. Tamara Randall, PSU College of Education PACE alumna. Photo: Moments by Mariah
Dr. Tamara Randall is a 2012 College of Education alumna. She earned her master’s in Education Leadership and Policy; Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education (PACE), a two-year program geared toward working professionals. Now a licensed clinical psychologist, she specializes in psychological testing and consults with schools to make curriculum more diverse and inclusive.
Dr. Tamara Randall's journey from first-generation college student to respected clinical psychologist and education advocate exemplifies resilience, determination and the transformative power of education. A proud alumna of Portland State University, her story is one of overcoming obstacles and using her knowledge to uplift others.
"I barely got into PSU," Randall recalls. "I felt like a failure.” Uncertain where to turn for help, she was on the verge of giving up when – compelled by the promise of free pizza – she connected with TRIO, a federal program designed to support first-generation college students.
With her TRIO advisor’s help navigating the unfamiliar college landscape, Randall soon found her footing and began to thrive. "I started getting straight A's because I had all this support," she says. The diversity among students and faculty at PSU was also a key motivator. “It was the first time I was exposed to professors that looked like me,” she recalls.
After graduation, Randall followed her growing passion for higher education and went to work in student affairs at Clackamas Community College and later at Portland Community College (PCC). “The community college landscape is where a lot of students have similar identities as I did when I was a student; you know, first gen, Latina,” Randall says. “I just felt that the community college was where I needed to be; where I wanted to be.”
While working at PCC, Randall saw dozens of her peers enter PSU’s Education Leadership and Policy; Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education program (PACE) and use the master’s degree as a stepping stone in their career.
Randall also had aspirations of moving up the ranks in higher education, and PACE’s excellent reputation drew her in. “PACE helped me understand how to make a curriculum and how higher ed landscapes work, and taught me the policies behind creating student support programs,” Randall says.
The program equipped her with the skills needed to advance in student affairs, and provided her with an invaluable network of classmates who were working in the field and following a similar career trajectory.
Faculty members also stood out for Randall. “They were just so amazing, and they really cared about everybody’s success,” she says.
Mentorship from her advisor, Michael Smith, in particular, was a game-changer. He was Randall’s first-ever advisor of color. “He spoke life into me,” she says of his guidance.
Smith saw a brilliance in her that unlocked a world of possibilities. “I owe a lot of where I am today to Dr. Smith and the rest of the PACE faculty,” she says. “Because as a first generation student of color, that was the first time where I really felt that I truly belonged.”
Eventually, Randall pivoted from student affairs, earned a PsyD from Pacific University and became a licensed clinical psychologist. Today, she works for a firm that specializes in psychological testing, which in essence, she explains, means understanding how the brain works and functions in order to help people live better lives.
“My background and PACE has helped me a lot with this work because our clients are mostly children, adolescents and their parents,” she says. “Youth are having trouble in school.” Randall is able to blend learnings from PACE with her psychological testing to identify strengths and weaknesses in young minds, and guide them toward academic success.
Driven by a desire to give back to her community, Randall also founded Liberated Brilliance, a consulting firm dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in education.
“Because of PACE, I recognize the power that a curriculum has and how integrating more diversity, whether it be racial diversity or gender diversity can really have a pedological impact and help students,” Randall says.
In a key consulting project with the Portland Metro STEM Partnership, she’s reviewing and revising high school science curriculum for Portland Public Schools to enhance diversity. For example, she says, current biology courses do not include mention of female biology, female scientists or scientists of color. So, she’s introducing a more diverse perspective.
In addition to her consulting work, Randall is an adjunct faculty member at PSU, teaching a course on diversity in higher education.
Randall’s path in higher education was fraught with challenges; and she experienced a lack of support as a first-generation student of color. Despite frequent urges to quit along the way, she has a new perspective looking back.
“I can say all the blood, sweat, tears and dark days are worth it,” she says. “I feel so free because having my degrees I can do anything, you know, and it gave me a lot of confidence.”
As a trailblazer in her field, Randall recognizes the importance of representation. She aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles they may face. “Only 2% of Latinos in the United States have a doctorate degree and only about 10% have master’s degrees,” she says. “So I want to be more visible in my community. Even though it’s a harder journey for us, that journey is 1,000% worth it.”
To learn more about Liberated Brilliance, email info@liberatedbrilliance.com.