Helping first-generation students figure out where to go and how to ask questions are just two of the things Cassie Hernandez helps UTPB students out with in her job as program coordinator of the BEST Coach Program.
BEST stands for becoming excellent students in transition. Coach stands for creating opportunities in health care.
Hernandez has been with the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance at University of Texas Permian Basin since June. The BEST Coach at University of Texas Permian Basin is a first-of-its kind position and it’s college specific, she said.
“I serve as a mentor for first-generation, underrepresented populations within the college itself. So all four disciplines that are housed within the college, whether it’s nursing, social work, athletic training, human performance, exercise and sports science. I serve as a mentor for all students,” Hernandez said.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from Texas Tech University and her master’s in kinesiology from UTPB.
Originally from Lamesa she and her older brother were both first-generation undergraduate and graduate students.
Lamesa is close to Texas Tech and her older cousins went there.
“That was like our family dream is to go to Tech and be a Red Raider. It was the coolest thing. That was the closest thing to us; South Plains in Levelland, Howard (College) in Big Spring, but Texas Tech is where I wanted to go. My favorite color’s red, so I had to be a Red Raider,” Hernandez said.
It was tough making her way around Tech at first.
“I didn’t really know a whole lot. … Texas Tech is a huge campus to begin with, so I was lost most of the time and acting like I knew where I was going … You just kind of figure it out by yourself. Ask questions. I was lucky to have older cousins and my older brother that helped me out a bunch, too; some friends there. We just kind of figured it all out together,” she added.
Hernandez’s job is to provide guidance on where students should go, who they should ask questions of and what they should do.
She is familiar with a lot of the curriculum, but she’s still trying to learn more about nursing.
“It’s motivating. That challenge itself is motivating, I think, to be able to understand the coursework, how to go about it, planning, sequencing, because some of these kids are on a budget so when these kids are on financial aid, they need to know what class to take and (in) what order. That’s kind of what I’m learning right now is the sequencing because I had no idea. I took everything and anything. I didn’t have an advisor that helped me … I had to figure it out, so that’s what we’re doing. We’re just trying to help,” Hernandez said.
Rhonda Lewallen, who is in marketing and recruiting at UTPB, said one of the best things about Hernandez is how approachable she is.
“The students feel comfortable asking the questions that maybe they wouldn’t if it was somebody they either didn’t trust or feel that comfort level with, so I feel like we’re blessed to have Cassie,” Lewallen said.
Hernandez said having that connection with students is “huge.”
“When you’ve got a huge heart and it shows whenever a student comes to you it’s like, they know you really care. And that’s so important, especially to a first-generation or underserved. It’s important to know that somebody cares,” Lewallen said.
Hernandez said her new job is exciting and she doesn’t want to let anyone down. There is a certain amount of pressure that comes with that.
She doesn’t want to let anyone down or fail, but it’s also the first job of its kind at UTPB, so “we kind of get to build it together as a college.”
“I get to get input from social work and from Miss Rhonda; from everybody that’s included, so I think we’re building it together. I think when you build something you take ownership and great pride in it so that’s what we’re doing,” Hernandez said.
In her job so far, Hernandez said she is learning about the needs of students whether it’s medical or mental health.
“So that’s something that I didn’t think I was going to have to highlight so early; building a community; building trust. That just came out right out the gate. … It was a good awakening to be like this is what we’re doing and this is how we’re going to do it and where do I go for the help? Who do I ask? So just more of the personal aspect of education, which I was surprised,” Hernandez said.
Before joining UTPB, she was at Midland ISD for 15 years. she taught PE at Legacy High School and coached volleyball and softball.
She added that this is good because she knows some of her current students.
“It’s good to see them around,” Hernandez said.
