SPOTLIGHT ON SUCCESS

In May of 2023, Instrumentation Technology student, Alicia Vela, will walk across the Galveston College graduation stage for the second time. In 2003, Alicia earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in accounting. She fondly remembers being nine months pregnant with her first child when she received her first degree.

Prior to earning her accounting degree, she worked for the Hotel Galvez, Tremont, and Harbor House Hotels in their human resources department. After completing her degree, she moved to the accounting department, working in various positions, including payroll specialist, general cashier, and accounting manager. In 2007, Ms. Vela learned of a position available at the City of Galveston Police Department. She was selected for the Police Administrative Service Manager position, where she worked through 2022. Alicia described herself as a “lifelong learner,” and wanted to continue to explore other career options. In 2019, she attended the Women In Industry Conference (WII) to learn about career opportunities in the petrochemical and construction Industries. During the conference, she attended a panelist session where a variety of women talked about their various careers and how rewarding they found their work. During the panel discussion, she learned about the role of a process technician and, after further research, decided to enroll at College of the Mainland in that program. She began process technology classes in January 2021, and after the first semester, decided that was not the correct career path for her.

She reflected on the WII conference and recalled having an interest in instrumentation technology. She discovered there was an Associate of Applied Science Program in Instrumentation Technology at Galveston College and reached out to talk with a Galveston College Student Advisor. After additional research, she realized this was the career she wished to pursue. She began the Instrumentation Technology Program in the Fall of 2021 and was one of two women in the class. She again attended the Women In Industry Conference in March 2022 and ended that day knowing this would be an ideal career change for her. Galveston College Instrumentation Technology Program Director and Instructor Dr. Michael Stickney said: “Alicia has been an excellent student and I was impressed to see her begin her job search so early in her final semester.” Alicia saw a “Multi Skill Technician” position posted at prominent petrochemical company in last summer. She decided to apply as she had both an accounting background and experience in integrated control systems, testing, and the analyzation of control circuitry, as well as maintenance of instruments and control settings. The company shared that they had received 2,800 applications for the Multi Skill Technician position, and Alicia was one of eight candidates interviewed. She received an offer of employment soon after.

She describes herself as motivated by her daughter and son and wants to be set an example of lifelong learning. Her 19-year-old daughter, Adamari, followed her path and is now enrolled in the Galveston College Instrumentation Technology Program. Alicia will be in attendance at the Women In Industry Conference with her daughter on March 23, 2023, and they are both confident they will walk away with the vital information needed to pursue a high demand, high-growth career. Finally, she plans to take analytics classes in the future, as she believes gaining more information will help her excel within the petrochemical industry. Even after completing two Associate Degrees, she realizes additional college classes have the potential to help her gain new, relevant skills! Alicia Vela completed the Instrumentation Technology Program while working a full-time job and parenting two teenagers.