Choosing to attend PVCC was easy for Amber Montanez. She lived in the neighborhood and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do plus attending PVCC meant she could still work and go to school.
She developed meaningful connections with several faculty and staff during her tenure at PVCC. Through Amber’s engagement in the Emerging Leaders (EL) program, she acknowledges several influencers: John Douglass, Meggin Kirk, Mike Ho, and Chris Hunt. Her EL experience afforded her the opportunity to develop several enduring friendships as well. Participating in EL led Amber into her current profession of Social Work.
One of her most memorable experiences of her time at PVCC is her participation in the EMT/Fire Science program. She was always interested in medicine and really enjoyed her time as an EMT.
She definitely recommends PVCC to others. Amber shares, “stepping out of the high school experience and into college offers a lot more freedom.” She found this environment “great to get the hang of it before transitioning to a large university.” Amber was able to build connections so much faster at PVCC than at her 4-year institution. Classes at PVCC opened her eyes to new concerns such as Social Work. Even in her prerequisite classes, she was nudged toward meaningful opportunities. Coming to PVCC gave her the opportunity to explore her passions. She took a guitar class which was outside of her wheelhouse, yet very impactful.
Amber completed an internship with the Phoenix Fire Department thanks to a connection through her PVCC EMT experience. She then went on to a position as a Behavioral Technician doing psychiatry case management for children. After working in the psychiatric ward at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, her professional journey led to work with adults at ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) providing support for patients, families, caregivers and community members. As a Social Worker for the ALS Association, Amber works closely with neurologists in the valley, thus continuing her lifelong interest in medicine.