More than a decade after studying Child Development at TCC, Juana Lanier now teaches the same courses that helped shape her career.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” says Lanier. “I started working at an early childhood center shortly after enrolling at TCC. Becoming a college professor became my goal.”
Lanier enrolled at TCC in 2011 after graduating from Union High School. She started as a full-time student but soon reduced her hours to part-time to help care for a sick parent.
At the same time, Lanier balanced work while continuing her studies. She began working at CAP Tulsa, a nonprofit providing early childhood education and family services, and took a second job as a server on weekends to help support herself while finishing school.
“There were many late nights doing homework and trying to keep up with the reading while working,” she says. “Looking back, it was all part of the process.”
Lanier says the support she received from TCC helped her manage those challenges.
“Everyone at TCC was very welcoming. As a first-generation college student, I had to figure out a lot on my own,” she says. “Everyone I met helped guide me on the steps I needed to take to succeed in college.”
Lanier graduated from TCC in 2017 and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Nazarene University and a master’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
“I’ve always loved education and learning. I believe we never stop learning,” says Lanier.
Returning to TCC as a faculty member has been a meaningful milestone for Lanier, who now works alongside professors who once taught her.
Dawn Parton, Professor of Child Development, first taught Lanier in a lab class as a student and remembers her sharing a preschool activity that used plastic worms and paint.
“The children were intrigued, and Juana was obviously delighted by their curiosity and wonder,” says Parton. “She listened deeply, asked supportive questions, and explored right alongside them — skills also prized when working with adult students.”
Professor and Child Development Program Coordinator Debbie Deibert, Ed.D., says Lanier quickly became a strong addition to the program.
“From the moment she joined our team, Juana came ready to learn, grow, and contribute, bringing a deep commitment to the field of Child Development,” says Deibert. “She has consistently demonstrated remarkable initiative, taking on challenges, such as joining college-wide committees in her first year, with confidence.”
The transition from student to colleague has been especially meaningful to Lanier.
“It felt like a full-circle moment. The professors were welcoming when I was a student, and they’ve continued to be incredibly supportive now that I work with them,” says Lanier.
She brings the same energy to her own classroom to prepare the next generation of early childhood educators.
“I want to be an understanding professor because I’ve been there,” she says. “Many students are balancing real challenges outside of school. I want to support and encourage them to keep going.”
TCC’s Child Development and Education programs serve more than 1,700 students across four degree and certificate pathways, preparing them for careers in early childhood education and family support.
Lanier says she is especially excited about TCC’s plans to offer its first bachelor’s degree, a Bachelor of Science in Child Development, pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission.
“I was very excited when I heard the news,” she says. “Many students don’t have the means to attend a four-year university. Having the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree at TCC will open doors for so many people.”
Lanier’s commitment to child development extends beyond the classroom. She and her husband also foster children, an experience that deepens the perspective she brings to her work with students preparing to enter the field.
“If we can reach children during those early years, we can make a huge difference in their lives later on.”