New navigator on an educational journey

As with every person's life, Dina Sosa Hegarty's life is a journey - an educational journey.

Hegarty, the new dean of outreach and student development, grew up in East Texas. She used to come to Eastfield often as a child for the performances in the performance hall.

Hegarty's mother was an elementary reading teacher, and her dad was a professor. She grew up with a younger brother and sister, and, because of her parents' educational backgrounds, they instilled in all of the children to advance their educations.

Hegarty's father, Alonzo Sosa, was a migrant worker in the Rio Grande Valley. One day someone approached him with an offer to further his education and he said he would give it his best. From then on he excelled in academia.

He received his doctorate in elementary education and went on to teach elementary education at Texas A&M Commerce.

His famous quote according to Dina is, "If it was meant to be, then it's up to me."

Hegarty graduated from Commerce High School, attended ETSU for a summer, then went on to gain a bachelor's degree in political science and English and a master's in English Communication Arts at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

She was involved in many campus organizations serving as a student government senator, director of the campus activity board and worked as a resident assistant.

Upon obtaining her bachelor's degree she became a graduate assistant. She also interned with an Hispanic advertising agency called Montemayor y Asociados and Diamond Shamrock.

Hegarty is enthusiastic to be working at Eastfield. She said that Eastfield offers everything she was used to except the housing facility. She said there is a lot of acceptance of culture. She believes the common denominator for every student is education.

Her acceptance to different cultures isn't something new. When she was younger her parents allowed international students to live with them. The students ranged from high school to college level. Her understanding and acceptance of many different cultures is not arcane for her.

Hegarty's siblings are the reason she wanted to advance her education. Her sister, Dr. Patricia Tremmel, graduated from ETSU and is now a principal in the Garland school district. Her younger brother, Javier Sosa, is a plant manager for Coca Cola in Austin. He graduated from Texas A&M obtaining his bachelor's and master's in business.

Hegarty has been well received by other administrators.

"I believe she brings a new energy and is very open to hear from students and listen to students and be an advocate for students," Student Life director Donnine Ballance said.

Vice president of Student Success and Enrollment, Dr. Joy Black, was fervent about having Hegarty saying, "She's an exceptional advocate for students."

In the future, Hegarty plans to attend Texas A&M Commerce to obtain her doctorate in higher education.