Dr.
Diana Camilo
Culturally Responsive Scholar -Practitioner
I have over 20 years of experience working with students, families, and school-based staff in K-12 settings. As a scholar-practitioner, I seek to learn about or recognize problems, examine them closely, and search for productive solutions. Ultimately, redefining the process of inquiry to knowledge that can be transferred to other practitioners, colleagues, and students for the reconstructing or renewal of practices that further advance the value of serving in the educational community.
I am an Assistant Professor at California State University San Bernardino in the Counseling Program in the College of Education at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). My work focuses on culturally responsive practices and supervision, school counseling, the college and career readiness of minoritized populations, stress management, and practitioners’ experienced secondary traumatic stress disorder.
I also serve as co-director of the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment (CEPA) at San Diego State University.
Speaking Engagements
Keynote Speaker
“The C’s in College and Career Advising”
Keynote Speaker
Master in School Counseling Graduation Ceremony - “Be a social justice warrior”
Equity Summit - Closing Plenary
“The Need for Passionate Advocates to Proceed With Bravery” & “Practicing Wellness Through Personal Growth Work”
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“Dr. Camilo has a relational character that defines her interactions with everyone she works with whether you are a student, colleague, community partner, or policy maker. Her intuition and leadership constantly find new spaces for meeting emerging needs and leveling the playing field toward equity and empowerment.”
- Stephen Lenz, PhD., Texas A&M San Antonio
Training & Consulting
I regularly present at local and national conferences. I also provide consultation and training opportunities for educational service providers including schools, practitioners, and community agencies.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
YMHFAT is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Interested in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) for your school and/or organization?
I am available to provide in-person or virtual training.
Self Care & Wellness
Available Workshops:
After years of juggling a demanding work schedule and a lack of balance in my life, I experienced burnout! I lacked balance, felt completely overwhelmed, and lost my passion for my career. Most importantly, I failed to take care of my emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
While I wasn’t ready to leave my career, I knew my wellness had to become a priority. After years of incorporating self-care and stress management into my work, I found peace and happiness WHILE still doing what I love…to be an educator and counselor.
But, having a balanced and peaceful life did not come easy. After years of prioritizing my health, I feel confident I can continue to do what I love while living a peaceful life.
Today, I have created several strategies that focus on self-reflection, goal identification, prioritizing what matters, and the implementation of action steps to establish everyday wellness.
I do not focus on one-time quick fixes, but sustainable practices that can be implemented into many areas of your life!
Through my workshops and coaching, my mission is to teach individuals about the power of self-care, stress management, and creating balance in their lives. Ultimately, establishing wellness throughout every aspect of their lives.
Beyond Self-Care:
This workshop explores the topic of self-care as a process that goes beyond stress management. The workshop will explore how stress affects the body, mind, emotions, work performance, and provide participants with tools to manage excessive stress. Participants will learn how to define self-care, the importance of practicing self-care, and explore various types of self-care to incorporate into their daily life. Participants will also engage in self-analysis regarding the personal causes and roots of the stressors they are experiencing and conclude with a personalized self-care plan.
Practicing Wellness Through Personal Growth Work:
This workshop will explore the topic of self-care as a process that goes beyond stress management and introduces a Personal Growth Work Framework. PGW involves the growth and enhancement of all aspects of an individual, the feelings the person has about himself or herself, and their effectiveness in living. It includes the development of positive life skills and the development of a realistic and healthy self-esteem. Participants will learn a 5-strategy approach toward their personal growth and wellness.
Special Projects
Supporting Access to Higher Education for Immigrant and Undocumented Students Conference
In 2016, I founded the Supporting Access to Higher Education for Immigrant and Undocumented Students conference. The conference focused on addressing and eliminating various intuitional barriers faced by undocumented and immigrant students in the educational system and provided a forum to showcase the work of faculty, community partners, school counselors, and others as they lead the way in educating others in this vital work. The goal was to promote access and equity to higher education for immigrant and undocumented youth by ensuring those who work with them receive expert training on how to mentor, counsel, and advise these future college candidates.
Journal of College Access Guest-Editor
Journal of College Access’s (JCA) special issue “College Access and Success for Undocumented Students.” This special edition focuses on research studies that increase awareness and deepen understanding about sustainable frameworks that support the success of undocumented students. It features the work of 26 researchers, scholars, and practitioners.
Publications & Research
Teaching Pedagogy
I embrace a Culturally Relevant Pedagogy as a theoretical model as it focuses on multiple aspects of student achievement while embracing their cultural identities. I encourage students to develop critical perspectives that challenge societal inequalities. Culturally relevant pedagogy sees BIPOC students’ heritage and community cultural practices as resources to honor and explore; ultimately, a culturally sustaining pedagogy recognizes that youth are producers of culture as well as consumers.