Vera Alice Bagneris is our first CST Star of the Week (Jan 25th, 2010): We know you’ve seen her smiling face around on campus. Here’s your chance to get to know her a little more! Look for a new CST Star of the Week every Monday in the notes section of CST’s Facebook Profile!
1) What is your degree program at CST? Where did you do your degree before CST? In what?
My Master of Arts Degree program has a concentration in Theological Discipline with an emphasis in Pastoral Care & Counseling. I recently graduated from the University of California Riverside in Psychology after being absent from academia over thirty five years.
2) Did you work before CST? Where? Doing what?
I have been in business for several years providing Pecan Pralines Candy & Louisiana Tea Cakes for special occasions and community events and also a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant.
3) What has been the most valuable thing you have taken away so far from your program at CST?
My most valuable thing at CST is the incredibly talented and credentialed staff. My best value has been the unique and wonderful spirit and bond of kinship the student body has developed and extended to me.
4) If you could have your dream job after you graduate what would it be and why?
My dream job would be starting a non-profit corporation that gave psychotherapy access to underserved communities through a non-traditional vehicle. Underserved minority communities who have members that are depressed or in heightened states of crisis do not typically call a psychologist and make an appointment that is kept and paid for while following through for the subsequent therapy sessions. I see psychotherapy as being offered within the congregation through a non-traditional structure that is open and accessible in times of crisis.
My second dream job would be to develop a research foundation that focuses on African Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans, rural Caucasians and Health Disparities with a focus on utilizing and integrating spirituality and healing for the management of pain.
Thirdly, my dream job would be to teach an integrated discipline of Psychology, Psychotherapy with the foundational message of Jesus Christ at the undergraduate level.
Lastly, my dream job would be to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With God’s direction, provision and enlightenment, I will embark on one or all of my dream jobs in my lifetime.
5) Any advice for prospective students?
My advice to prospective students is take the plunge! Claremont is an immersion of process theology, the best Hebrew Bible professor, a great place to attend seminary and the ability of the school to teach and present a broad spectrum of views, theologies and ideologies. CST is looking ahead to the significance of the global society and how seminarians will face new challenges. CST equips its students with the ability to deal with and understand multi-denominational, multi-cultural, and multi-religious perspectives.
6) Share something people don’t usually know about you.
I grew up in what was called the, “Inner City,” that referred to where Blacks then lived in Los Angeles, now it is referred to as, “South Central.” We moved from Oxnard where my father pastored, where there were two Black families in the entire elementary school. We moved into Los Angeles before the first Watts Riot. In my school in Oxnard I had been punished for drawing superman with the “burnt sienna,” crayola and sent to sit in the coat closet when, “Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby,” was read. I did not understand why. In Los Angeles, I encountered a bitter distain for people that were not Black. I did not understand why. I just knew that the fire trucks were wailing night and day and that the smoke hurt my eyes badly. I understood that we had to lie on the floor with my mother crying and my father praying. Today, I take with me those inter/intra cultural experiences as my personal call to seek social justice for any peoples that are oppressed.
7) Describe your experience at CST in one word.
My experience at CST in one word: FUN!
8 ) Most memorable moment so far at CST?
Most memorable moment, sitting on the lawn with my study group after our first World History of Christianity quiz to debrief and then going to get .99 margaritas together as a reward for working together and working hard.
9) If there was a movie made of your life story, who would play you and why? What would the title of the movie be?
If there was a movie made of my life story, there would have to be two movies and two leading actresses, one Marva Collins who was represented in, “The Marva Collins Story,” she developed an educational philosophy that promoted superior education that was rooted in high expectations and community support. The other being my favorite movie, Auntie Mame starring Lucille Ball, who said, “Yes! Live! Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” The title of the movie of my life story is: Yes! Live! That’s how Vera got her groove back.
10) And just for fun: If you were an animal what would you be and why?
The lion from Henri Rousseau’s painting, The Sleeping Gypsy. In the picture the lion looks over the sleeping, travelling woman while she sleeps outdoors in the night by the light of the full moon.
