Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

One PCC alum is making it her goal to close Oregon’s teacher diversity gap

Photos and story by James Hill

Oregon’s classrooms are growing more diverse faster than its teacher workforce. In 2024–25, students of color make up 42.5% of K-12 enrollment (per the Oregon Statewide Report Card), but teachers of color are 14.1%, which is a looming gap as districts move toward required implementation of social science standards integrating ethnic studies in 2026–27.

And nationally, 80% of U.S. teachers are non-Hispanic White (2020–21), making educator diversity a nationwide challenge, not just an Oregon one, according to the Pew Research Center.

Chantell Wesley, a Portland Community College alum, single mother and first-generation college student, is positioning herself to help close that gap. Wesley is graduating summa cum laude from Portland State University’s Honors College, applying to PhD programs in Black Studies and Education, and building youth-led research projects that put students’ lived experiences at the center of learning.

Wesley, who was born in Portland and raised in San Francisco, first enrolled at PCC in 2014. A single mother and first-generation college student, she chose an associate’s degree designed for transfer, keeping a long-term dream in view: earning a PhD. Her path is important as there are an estimated 3.1 million undergrad student-parents nationally, nearly one in five, who are following the single-mother pathway.

“I didn’t know exactly how to pursue a PhD, so I took things step by step,” Wesley said. “As a first-generation student, I initially chose PCC because it was the closest school to my mother after I moved back to Portland following my son’s father’s passing away. I met with an advisor who recommended a program that suited my goals, and I followed their guidance.”

After time away from school, Wesley returned to PCC in Fall 2022. She soon enrolled in the Critical Educators of Color Pathway (CECP) after being inspired by instructor Gabriel Higuera’s “Decolonizing Education.” The experience reshaped her academic goals and solidified her commitment to becoming an educator and community leader.

Wesley said that completing the CECP program gave her valuable mentorship, practical experience, and insight into what it means to be an educator of color and provided a pathway to be active in the community and work with youth. It also helped her believe that she could apply for a PhD program. 

Supportive Faculty And Staff

“PCC has always felt like home where I found mentors who became like family,” she said. “Instructors like Dr. Higuera, Jess Brooks in the Math Department, and Dr. Clifford Meeks in the Multicultural Center reminded me of my abilities, my worth and my potential.

“They have seen me stress, cry and persevere,” she continued. “Being a single mother striving for a better life, while trying to survive day to day, is beyond challenging. But the community I found at PCC has kept me going, and I’m deeply grateful for that.”

At PCC, Meeks said Wesley displayed academic prowess throughout their many conversations and showcased inquisitiveness of her courses and strategies that would help her successfully navigate them.

“She asks thoughtful, engaging questions that generate philosophical discourse about the past, present and future state of the Black American community,” said Meeks, who oversees PCC’s Multicultural Center. “I am excited to witness her manifest her aspirations into the reality she is actively cultivating for herself and her family.”

In 2024, Wesley transferred to Portland State as a dual-enrolled student while completing CECP. She is currently in her final term and will graduate in March 2026. She has applied to nine PhD programs in Black Studies and Education and plans to move directly from her bachelor’s degree into doctoral study.

“As a student and peer mentor at PCC, she was deeply committed to learning and supporting others, with a natural ability to connect with students and make them feel seen,” said Jess Brooks, PCC math instructor. “Through mentoring, study groups, and showing up during stressful moments, Chantell helped build genuine community through collaboration.”

While in CECP, Wesley facilitated impactful youth projects at Franklin High School and Vernon Middle School using Youth Participatory Action Research. She also co-organized the Oregon Ethnic Studies Youth Conference, where students from across the state presented research, advocated for change, and led initiatives in their schools and communities.

Charting The Future While Giving Back

“She has positively impacted hundreds of young people’s lives in Oregon,” Higuera said. “Chantell’s drive, pursuit of knowledge and passion for justice shine in her interactions with others, and are the qualities that will get her to wherever she wants to go.”

She assisted with PCC’s Ninth Ethnic Studies Youth Conference, held for the first time on the PSU campus in December. About 400 middle and high school students presented their own research, art and solutions for the critical issues shaping their lives, from environmental justice and healthcare equity to civil rights.

“Witnessing youth use their agency and voice was incredibly inspiring,” she said. “It confirmed that my work belongs in classrooms and community spaces where young people are leading.”

Wesley’s long-term goal is to become a professor and to found a nonprofit for at-risk youth, focusing on emotional development, trauma-informed care and financial literacy. With graduation from PSU on the horizon and doctorate decisions ahead, Wesley said she is committed to continuing the cycle of mentorship and support that started at PCC.

“The community I found at PCC kept me going,” she said. “PCC has been foundational to who I am today. These experiences, combined with PCC’s supportive environment, taught me that asking for support, engaging deeply in your community, and building networks are essential parts of creating your path to success.

To learn more about PCC’s Ethnic Studies Program or the youth conference, visit its webpage.