Danielle Lampkin
Staff Writer

Author Barbara J. Hall once wrote that “A dreamer is blessed with enough imagination to see what life might hold, enough initiative to go after it, and enough inspiration and insight to succeed,” in her poem “Nothing Can Stop a Dreamer.”

While Hall wrote, Giovanna A. Brasfield dreamt. As Brasfield dreamt, the University of La Verne believed.

History was made during the celebration of the University’s 115th commencement ceremonies last May when Brasfield was awarded two doctoral degrees simultaneously.

After applying to both the University of Southern California and La Verne’s doctorate programs, Brasfield chose ULV because of its recognition as a great program.

“They believed in me and gave me a chance along with an opportunity, regardless of my lack of work experience,” Brasfield said.

Founded in 1891 as Lordsburg College and accredited by the Western College Association in 1955, ULV awarded its first doctorate degree in 1979.

To date, the University is one of the top degree granting universities in Southern California.

“It is quite a task and an accomplishment to earn two doctorate degrees and at the same time as far as I know is unprecedented,“ ULV President Stephen Morgan said.

Brasfield was awarded both the Doctor of Education and Doctor of Public Administration degrees at La Verne’s commencement ceremonies.

Pursuing an education was very prevalent in Brasfield’s life after already receiving her bachelor of arts in business administration/marketing from Mount St. Mary’s College in 1998. Brasfield received her master’s of business administration from the University of Phoenix in 2000.

“I wasn’t finished learning, I needed a clear understanding of application,” Brasfield said. “Plus people believed I couldn’t do it, and that gave me all the inspiration and motivation I needed.”

Brasfield believes that staying focused is not an option; it is necessary for her and everyone to see their dreams come true.

“If you have a dream, you, yourself must vision it. My doctorate has allowed me the opportunity to see things never imagined,” she said.

“She is very passionate and committed to wanting justice for those who don’t have a voice in the world,” Daniel Loera, director of ULV’s Office of Multicultural Services, said.

A Los Angeles native, Brasfield plans to use these two accomplishments to further expand her goal of providing additional educational opportunities and exposure to the children within the city of Compton by running for a seat on the Compton Board of Trustees.

“It is refreshing when someone from the area wants to run;, they are definitely a strong person and one who would want to make a difference,” said Campus Safety and Transpor­tation Director Michael Nunez, who is the retired chief of police for the Compton Unified School District.

“For how fortunate I was, to just sit back and watch the future of America suffer would be wrong and the exact reason why I had to take charge and run,” Brasfield said.

Brasfield was recently awarded the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Award for Outstanding Public Service for the California Democratic Party, for her leadership and public service contributions at the state and local levels.

Believing that minorities are impacted by decisions but are not in tune with the community, she currently works for her company, Brasfield and Associates Marketing, expanding the idea of financial empowerment.

“You wanted to be around Giovanna, she was always very spirited and very focused in terms of efforts and energy,” said former classmate Byron Howlett, ULV’s director of housing and residential life and adviser of ULV’s African American Student Alliance.

With aims of working for the state government in the near future, Brasfield said she will continue pursuing the very words Hall wrote: “A dreamer can see far beyond today, into a future bright with promise. A dreamer’s dreams never end, until all those dreams come true.”

Danielle Lampkin can be reached at dlampkin@ulv.edu.