College
of Education
Outstanding
graduate - Gail Van Vraken
By
Oscar Montealegre
On-line Forty-Niner
Amid
working as public librarian at the Torrance
Public Library the last four years, raising
two daughters and fulfilling the role as
a wife, Gail Van Vraken also pursued a master’s
of education with an option in school library.
In addition to attaining her master’s degree,
she was also announced as an outstanding
graduate by the College of Education.
“I am very honored and extremely surprised
to be named an outstanding graduate,” Van
Vraken said. “I never thought I would get
a master’s degree. Obtaining a master’s
degree was a challenge that I had to overcome
on my own because I thought I would never
get the opportunity to pursue a master’s
degree.”
Van Vraken’s quest in getting her degree
is unique. Her ancestors arrived in the
United States from the New Amsterdam colony
in New York during the colonial period.
Roughly three centuries later Gail Van Vraken
was born in New Jersey. She then moved to
Whittier at the age of 8. Van Vraken graduated
from a California high school and applied
to UC Santa Barbara; she graduated in 1973
with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Presently, Van Vraken is a youth services
librarian for the Torrance Public Library.
Her job at the library is generally dedicated
to children. However, prior to her present
job, she worked as a school librarian for
8 years. While working as a school librarian
Van Vraken enrolled to Cal State Long Beach
to study for a library media teaching credential.
Eventually Van Vraken achieved her credentials,
but immediately was offered the opportunity
to pursue a master’s degree.
“Dr. Farmer worked really hard with the
education program to get this particular
master’s program. Dr. Farmer was notably
instrumental in getting the program off
the ground,” Van Vraken said.
Fortunately for Van Vraken her program was
enabled to make her degree relevant to the
field of public library. Also, Torrance
Public Library was more than willing to
hire someone working for their master’s
education. According to Van Vraken she views
her present library as being advanced for
their commitment in accepting an employee
that is pursuing a master’s degree.
“The program at Cal State Long Beach gave
me the focus and support that I really wanted.
The program and the director, Dr. Leslie
Farmer, were so supportive for me,” Van
Vraken said.
Besides working full-time at the library
and pursuing a master’s degree, Van Vraken
also had the luxury and privilege of attending
CSULB with her daughter. Van Vraken’s daughter,
Sara Van Vraken, just finished her third
year of studies at Cal State Long Beach
and fully appreciates the experience of
attending school with her mother.
“I am glad that my mom went to school with
me because she was able to understand me
a lot better,” Sara Van Vraken said. “She
is more sympathetic with me, especially
when I do not do really well on exams and
finals. It's so awesome that she is an outstanding
graduate and my family and I are so proud
of her.”
“Going to school with my daughter has been
a really great experience, I was able to
introduce the campus to her a little bit,
but now she has taken over the role by showing
me the ins-and-outs of our campus,” Gail
Van Vraken said.
Apparently, Cal State Long Beach is one
of the few schools that offered a master’s
degree with an option in school library.
“The program was fabulous and it’s the best
job in the world to be a librarian,” said
Van Vraken said.
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