CEIS Alumna Featured in Macy’s ‘Remarkable You’ Ad Campaign

An advertising campaign showcasing the latest fashion trends for everyday working women featured Cal Poly Pomona alumna Vanessa Beckman, a fourth-grade teacher in the Bonita Unified School District in La Verne.

Beckman completed the teaching credential program in 2013 and is currently working on her master’s degree in education with an emphasis on multimedia in the College of Education and Integrative Studies.

“Macy’s wanted to showcase the everyday working woman being successful and stylish at her job,” said Beckman. “It was a privilege to represent teachers, and I felt honored to be with women who are breaking molds and doing amazing things. I’m thrilled with how the campaign came together.”

Other working professionals who joined Beckman in the ad campaign include: Becky Hammon, an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs; Tiffiny Blacknell, a public defender; Mishaal Ashemimry, an aerospace engineer; Patricia Valoy, a civil engineer; and Joann Falletta, an orchestra conductor.

The full ad can be viewed here:

             

Beckman, originally from a small town near Fresno, moved to Southern California to attend college. After earning her undergraduate degree, she enrolled in the multiple subject credential program at CPP.

“My education at CPP definitely got me ready to start my career,” she said. “The lessons and grant writing practice that I received in the credential program helped me pass my new teacher induction a few years ago and have helped me win several grants to fund resources and materials for my classroom.  There are also so many acronyms and buzz words in the world of education, and the credential program introduced me to many of these. I also learned many teaching strategies that I still use today.”

Beckman also credited her success to the credential program’s cohort learning model.

“I really liked being part of a cohort when I did my student teaching,” she said. “There were six of us in different classrooms at the same school site, so I had a built-in support network of other student teachers.”

Beckman plans to complete the master’s program in CEIS by 2019.

“I really enjoyed my time in the credential program and it felt right to transition into the master’s program at the same place that started my career prep,” she said.

The alumna is also a past recipient of CEIS’s Partners in Education fellowship, which provides financial support to teacher candidates during their clinical practice experience, enabling them to focus on student teaching.

“This is yet another example of how our alumni continue to make a difference,” said CEIS Dean Jeff Passe.

For more information about CEIS, contact Ashley Jones at 909-869-5370.