Who We Are (OID)

Veronica found her passion for supporting students in higher education at a non-profit called Step Up Women’s Network where she worked with high school girls to help them understand and apply to college, while providing opportunities to explore careers through mentorship and internship programs. After receiving her master’s degree in education from the University of La Verne and working in a charter school system for several years, she officially entered higher education at the University of Southern California and served as an academic advisor and assistant director in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s Academic and Advisement Services office. At USC, she served on the First-Generation College Student Task Force which organized the inaugural, First Generation College Student Summit, she was a mentor for First-Generation students and an advisor for the Annenberg Latino Student Association. Most recently, Veronica was Senior Director of Student Affairs at Keck Graduate Institute and oversaw Student Accessibility Services, Academic Support Services, Title IX, International Student Programming, Student and Campus Life and was a member of the JEDI committee and 7C Inclusive Excellence Committee. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Southern California.

When she is not working, she is usually at the park with her three kids helping on their soccer and baseball teams, along with her husband. Her top five Gallup Clifton Strengths are: Adaptability, Relator, Developer, Harmony and Maximizer.

Nita Kansara has been at Harvey Mudd College since August 2021, working as the Facilities Operations Assistant Manager, responsible for the daily operations, accounting and supervising student staff.With more than 20 years of experience in Higher Education, Nita previously held positions at Pomona College, focusing on Student Affairs. Her breadth of experience encompasses roles in Residence Life, Campus Housing, Academic Affairs, and student support. Additionally, she has provided informal advising as a language and cultural mentor to international students.Originally from Mumbai, India, Nita earned her B.A. in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Mumbai. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, she is passionate about assisting international students in navigating college life in the US and facilitating their access to various resources.

When not working, Nita enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and playing Scrabble. She lives in Rancho Cucamonga with her husband and their two grown children.