Heather Adams: The Transfer Queen
The first time I heard about Heather Adams back in my junior year as a transfer student in 2017, I was told that if I had seen Heather before, I would undoubtedly remember her. A transfer student told me “she is the most caring and energetic person at the Transfer Center.” After hearing what her colleagues and other transfers said about her, I was more than intrigued to meet her. When I saw her for the first time, I realized that the comments about the famous Heather Adams were right. She was talking to a group of non-traditional transfer students and, as she welcomed them to UCLA, she encouraged them to visit the Transfer Center, a newly opened space created especially for UCLA transfer students. Heather smiled to the newly admitted undergraduates and enthusiastically answered all of their questions. She mentioned that she understood exactly how they felt because she was a non-traditional transfer herself, and she offered them all her support to explore their new university.
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Heather and get to know her a little better. When I arrived at her office, I realized how busy her days as the Transfer Center Director can be. Once she was done with a phone call, she received me enthusiastically and apologized for the mountains of care packages that were temporarily stored in her office, stockpile for the upcoming Transfer De-Stress Study Fest that is held at the Transfer Center at Week 10 every quarter. Before I even had the opportunity to ask Heather a question, she asked me about my quarter and encouraged me to keep up the great work. Her caring personality immediately came to light.
Once we started the interview, Heather shared with me that she transferred from Santa Monica College in 2012 and completed her degree at UCLA in 2014, exactly twenty years to the day from when she graduated high school. She mentioned that after happily realizing that she was admitted to UCLA, she visited the campus immediately and gave herself the task of exploring the university and all its resources for non-traditional students like her. Heather was determined to thrive at her new alma mater and decided to volunteer her time at the Bruin Resource Center, which at that time housed the Transfer Student Program, even before she was officially a Bruin. Heather said that her actions are not as unique as they might seem, and she mentioned that, “we transfers are scrappers that figure out a way…we do not necessarily do things the traditional way, we had made other life choices, we had careers, or families, or have to work,” she continued, “ the secret is that we know how to figure out systems, how to cut through red tape, how to research and see what it is that we need to do.”
As the Director of the Transfer Center, Heather is in charge of ensuring that the Transfer Center is a warm and welcoming space where transfers feel motivated and comfortable. She also highlighted that in order to achieve that goal, it is very important for her that the Transfer Center team of volunteers and transfer staff feel fulfilled. Besides ensuring that the Transfer Center is always ready to receive the transfer Bruins, Heather is in charge of organizing many of the events that take place at the Transfer Center, including social, academic, and professional events. The most rewarding part of her job Heather says is, “to watch how transfers find, in the Transfer Center, a place where they belong and feel welcomed.”
Unknown by many is that before returning to school and working at the Transfer Center, Heather was an actress for twenty years. Despite the excitement of her previous career, Heather mentions that being the Director of the Transfer Center has been far more rewarding and fulfilling. She shares with the transfer community, “It is working with transfers that I find fulfillment and purpose. I am happier driving to this job every single day than I was driving to a set or to an audition, and it is because of the transfer community.” In order to keep the Transfer Center working, Heather mentioned that the participation of Transfer students and alumni is necessary. Philanthropic and donations of time are welcomed. “I worry about money and funding,” she said, “ I hope to be able to support this place.” When asked about the things that we as students can do to support the center Heather said, “keep up the advocacy, your voice as students has a lot of power” and she continued, “tell us what can be changed and what we can do for you.”
At the end of the interview, Heather invited transfers to enjoy the support net that the Transfer Center offers, plug-in with their community as early as possible, explore our beautiful campus, plan ahead, go out of their comfort zone, and participate in all the exciting events that take place at the Transfer Center, such as the UCLA De-Stress Study Fest and Transfer Pride Week.
About the author:
Lorena Bourdevaire Casillas is a Communication Major and Film and Television Minor who transfer to UCLA from El Camino College in Fall 2017. In the future, she would like to become a Broadcast journalist.
