The Compact Scholars Program (CSP) is the postsecondary component of the Compact for Success Partnership between the Sweetwater Union High School District and San Diego State University. As Director of the Compact Scholars Program, Janet works with SDSU faculty and staff and partners in the Sweetwater Union High School District and community to support the learning and development of CSP students on the SDSU campus. The program is designed to enhance students’ academic and social integration to ensure they maximize all the opportunities SDSU has to offer. Students are encouraged to engage in undergraduate research programs, study abroad, community based service learning activities, and student life services focused on success in college.
Janet was a Provost Scholar at the University of San Diego and graduated with departmental honors in English in 1997, and graduated magna cum laude from the university. She obtained her tenure as a high school teacher teaching English in the Grossmont Union High School District where she also served as AVID Coordinator. In 2000 she went on to work as Academic Programs Coordinator for the state outreach program, the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) where she eventually took on the role of Associate Director.
Janet received her M.A. in Higher Education Administration at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2003 where she pursued her academic interest in student development theory. In New York, Janet worked at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in the Office of Diversity to coordinate activities for the State Pre-College Enrichment Program. Here, she teamed with first-year Columbia medical students and university faculty and staff, to support academic activities and programs to prepare underrepresented, academically-talented, high school students for medical or science careers.
Janet joined the Division of Undergraduate Studies at SDSU in 2004 as the Early Assessment Program coordinator. In 2005, she became the Director of the Compact Scholars Program.
Karey Sabol is the International Coordinator for the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
She works on a variety of initiatives designed to increase opportunities for Compact Scholars to study abroad and to stimulate the global conversation on campus. Karey came to the Division from the College of Business Administration at SDSU, where she was an Academic Advisor. Still fairly new to the San Diego community, Karey moved here at the end of 2005 from Ashland, Oregon, where she worked as an Advisor at Southern Oregon University.
Karey’s vision is of an SDSU community that is globally competent and engaged. She believes strongly that one of the best opportunities students have at SDSU is the option to study abroad. Karey’s own experiences abroad have been life-changing and mission-shaping. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jordan from 1998-2000, where she lived and taught in a settled Bedouin village overlooking Petra (which was recently voted in as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World!). In addition to Jordan, she has had opportunities to visit Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Bahrain, Kenya, Costa Rica, Russia, Germany, and the UK. She is currently working on an Interdisciplinary Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies.
In her (very infrequent) spare time, Karey enjoys hiking and exploring the natural world with her husband, Thomas.
My name is Brenda Lozano and I am a sophomore working on a major in Comparative Literature and a minor in Political Science. I was born in Chula Vista, but was raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. I lived there for the first 12 years of my life until I moved to San Diego. I attended and graduated from Eastlake High School. I have been involved with the Compact Scholars program since my freshman year; it wasn’t until fall 2007 that I began to work as a program assistant on campus. I am a very approachable person and I love meeting new people and helping other students get their questions answered. My dream is to become a lawyer. I would love to litigate for some years and one day pursue a career in politics. My uncle is a politician in Mexico and while participating in many of his political campaigns, I discovered my passion for law and politics. In my down time I watch old movies and shows. Funny Face and The Dick Van Dyke show are my favorites. I had a life changing experience last summer where I traveled all over Europe and Africa. This trip opened my eyes to how different we all are and how the world is too diverse to stay put in San Diego. It’s a privilege to be part of the inaugural class of Compact Scholars and I am very excited to get to meet you all and help you in any way I can.