Professional surfer and longtime educator Lisa Carulli, Ed.D., is making waves of change at the San Diego College of Continuing Education. California’s leading noncredit college is seeing the most support for the LGBTQIA+ community in its 110-year history in recent years.
“I've been working for the district for over two decades and I have never felt the need to sensor or edit who I am. I feel supported not only from the chancellor’s office but throughout the entire organization. No one should feel unsafe or unwelcomed because of who they are,” said Dr. Carulli, who was hired in 1998. “As an educator, I want to be an advocate for our marginalized student population. I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through growing up in Florida, trying to earn a spot on the world’s stage as a professional surfer."
To advance LGBTQIA+ equality on campus, Dr. Carulli has co-led the institution’s inaugural Intersex Inclusive Progressive Pride Flag raising ceremony in 2023 alongside the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) and the first diversity, equity, and inclusion campaign “Hate is Not Us” in 2015. Now she leads Safe Zone Trainings, teaching the importance of using inclusive language and is a member of the SDCCD District Queer Alliance.
Inspired by her mom’s acquired brain injury and post rehabilitation challenges Dr. Carulli started her career supporting the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI ) program at the College of Continuing Education. “My Mother suffered from an acquired brain injury. Her journey sparked an interest in me as I saw her decline and this became my life’s work,” she said. “I wanted to dive deeper in my understanding of this student population. My dissertation focused on the correlation between academic goal attainment and social collateral versus social isolation after a disabling life event such as a TBI.”
Looking back as an ABI program Job Developer, Dr. Carulli advocated for students with cognitive and motor skill deficits to gain competitive wages and for more on campus socialization. Today the College of Continuing Education’s ABI program is the only one of its kind in the nation that provides free classes supporting survivors recovering from brain trauma, stroke/aneurysm, brain tumor, brain infection and anoxia.
Following 15 years with the ABI program, Dr. Carulli transitioned to become a counselor at the college, where she now supports more students with education plans. She was named LGBTQIA+ Student Success Coordinator in 2022, since then a number of advancements have occurred including; the institution’s first-ever Pride community celebration event held at the Educational Cultural Complex this past June, a women’s history month all female pro-surfer panel, and the intersectional outreach for LGBTQIA+ students in partnership with the Immigrant-Based Support Program and Be Well mental health program.
Before academia, Dr. Carulli was breaking barriers as a professional surfer. “I am a part of the LGBTQIA+ culture. I was a pro-surfer for 12 years, and as a result of being “outed” on the pro tour, I lost sponsors and opportunities,” she said. “It was taboo to be gay in the then male-dominated world of professional surfing. These peaks and valleys of my journey have created the person I am today.”
Coming out is a deeply personal experience, one that Carulli remembers fondly. “I
have always been able to be authentic since an early age. But not everyone can do
so safely.”
She added, “because of the vulnerable populations we serve and our many languages, dialects and cultures, it is so important we all work together to protect our students. All are welcome at the College of Continuing Education, you can be here and be who you are. We will celebrate you, all of who you are.”
The College of Continuing Education has plans to open an on campus Pride Center, which will allow for student access to resources such as confidential counseling and free health screenings.
Beginning fall 2024, Dr. Carulli will serve in an additional role as the college’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Site Compliance Officer. She will perform conflict resolution and manage complaints of harassment and discrimination from students, employees, and members of the public as well as lead EEO training for district employees.