Growing up in East Los Angeles and being half Japanese and half Mexican, Andrew Kami, Ph.D., has pulled from these cultural lenses to help inform and support his work. He has experienced the hardships of homelessness, the death of both his parents and two older sisters, and the uncertainty of moving from group home to group home. Dr. Kami persisted and put himself through college by joining the U.S. Marine Corps. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he found Pacific Oaks and began pursuing his M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Finding an inclusive community
I was attracted to Pacific Oaks because of the openness of the professors. I was still in the Marine Corps, coming to class in uniform, and I was always welcomed or given options to help support my learning while away. The belief in my strengths and acceptance of who I am was empowering.
The experience of being in both the Marine Corps and studying psychology was very difficult for me. I constantly struggled with voicing my opinion, and in the beginning, I couldn’t figure out how to make my thoughts known.
After so many years of being in the military, I was truly conditioned and always told what to think; at Pacific Oaks, I was asked what I think. That was difficult because I was constantly searching for the “right” answer, and it took a long time to figure out that Pacific Oaks wasn’t specifically looking for a “right” answer. Instead, it’s about looking for answers that you can draw from yourself … for yourself.
One of my greatest memories is graduation. I didn’t have anyone in the audience for me—no one cheering my name or applauding my walk across the stage except for a few close friends whom I had met in the program. As people were greeted outside the auditorium, the associate dean of the school at the time, Connie Destito, and one of my professors, Diana Araujo, pulled me to the side and said, “We want to take you out for a celebration lunch.” It was such a moving moment because it was with mentors whom I held in such high regard.
Read our stories
celebrating Pacific Oaks’ values:
Pursue your Degree at Pacific Oaks College
I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, but my degree at Pacific Oaks is what has opened doors for me. I could share any number of experiences about Pacific Oaks and the impact it has had on my life … the opportunities it has afforded me that I thought I could never have. Now, as a core faculty in the School of Cultural and Family Psychology, I feel lucky to be able to give back to a community that has given so much to me.
Pacific Oaks College Psychology Programs
- B.A. in Community Psychology Degree
- Online B.A. in Community Psychology Degree
- African-American Family Studies (AAFS)
- Latinx Family Studies (LFS)
- LGBTQIA+ Family Studies
- Trauma Studies
- Cultural and Family Studies
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Master of Social Work
Learn more about Pacific Oaks College
If you would like to learn more about the academic programs available at Pacific Oaks, fill out the form below to request more information, or you can apply today through our application portal.
