Carla Whitfield-Fields

Biography

Carla was born in Tallahassee, Florida. She attended Florida State University where she received her M.S. degree in Global Product Development and her B.S. in Mass Communications. As a first-generation student, it was challenging to meet the demands of college at first. I had a lot to prove, and failure was not an option. Paving the way for my siblings was my number one priority.

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Why did you decide to become an Academic Advisor?

I've been a student mentor for many years. Listening to the challenges they face in everyday life and lacking the support they need to become successful was a common factor in most conversations. As an academic advisor, I'm able to help students achieve their academic goals, seeing the vision and making it a reality. Advisors can make all the difference in a student's life academically, so I pride myself to provide my student with the best advising experience possible.

If you want to you can also answer any of these questions:

Why/how did you decide what you wanted to major in in college?

Like many students, I changed my major several times. I decided to major in Mass Communications. This was a thriving field with great career opportunities. Many of the skills and experiences I acquired as a college graduate remain useful in my professional and social life today.

Tell me something about NMSU that you wish more students knew about:

I wish more students explored options to study abroad. This was the best experience for me during my graduate studies. A once in a lifetime adventure with endless possibilities.

What extra/co-curricular activities did you participate in as an undergraduate?

While in college I founded a professional organization for women, Leon County Professional Chapter of S.I.S.T.U.H.S 

where I served as the chapter president. I also held memberships in the following organizations:

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society, Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA), Textile Graduate Council, American Society for Training & Development (ASTD, American Association of Textile Chemist and Colorist (AATCC), Sigma Chi Iota Minority Honor Society 

Did you face any challenges while in college?

One of the challenges I faced at FSU was being a minority in my College. There was a small presence of minority students and professors in the College of Communications. I felt more compelled to make a difference and honored to graduate with my degree.