Her Story
About Amber
Amber Boetger is an adjunct professor of English and French at California Baptist University and an adjunct instructor of speech and English at American Career College, bringing a decade of experience across nearly every level of education. Her career began in 2016 as a preschool teacher, followed by approximately three years supporting emotionally disturbed and at-risk middle schoolers, including neurodivergent students, through ABA therapy. She went on to teach English, social studies, and theater at a private performing arts conservatory before earning her Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities with a concentration in Philosophy from Faulkner University and moving into college-level instruction, following an earlier Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from California Baptist University. In her current teaching roles, Boetger designs writing courses around themes like justice and humility and makes a point of offering one-on-one support during office hours, drawing on her own experience as a Latina woman navigating academic spaces. She recalls one especially meaningful moment working with a fifth-grade student who had fallen behind in reading during the pandemic; beyond rebuilding the student's phonics and decoding skills, Boetger introduced her to successful Black ballerinas like Misty Copeland after learning the student doubted such a future was possible for someone who looked like her — a small intervention that reflects Boetger's broader belief that teaching is as much about expanding students' sense of possibility as it is about academic skill. Beyond the classroom, Boetger serves as secretary on the board of More Life Theater, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing queer and POC visibility in classic theater, and holds memberships in Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Chi, and the National Leadership Society. A trained actress with Inland Theatre League honors for her portrayals of Beatrice and Juliet, she continues to blend her love of performance with her academic pursuits, coaching actors on the side while working toward publishing her dissertation and securing a tenure-track faculty position. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, horseback riding, dancing, and theatre, and is currently planning her wedding for April 2027.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amber
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, education, and mentorship, as well as recognizing the value of my own voice and staying genuinely committed to making a difference in my students' lives. My path has taken me through several different educational settings, and each transition has taught me that impact isn't always immediately visible. I'm also deeply grateful to the mentors who supported me early on and helped me understand that I belong in academic and professional spaces, and that my perspective deserves to be heard.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best guidance I've received has come from mentors in both my theater and academic life, including Stephanie Partial, Scott Key, Gayn Anaker, and Irena Renfro, who have supported me since I was about 17 years old. Their encouragement taught me how to navigate spaces where women often have to work harder to establish their voice and credibility. Above all, they showed me the importance of surrounding myself with people who see my potential while still pushing me to grow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I'd offer any woman starting out in education is to acknowledge that you belong in the room, even if the room doesn't look like you, and even if you've had to work harder than others to get there — your voice is invaluable. I'd also add that in education, we don't always get to witness the seeds we plant come to fruition. This work is about planting those seeds anyway, trusting their value even without seeing the outcome.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education and academia is building a sustainable professional path, especially for adjunct professors seeking greater stability and career advancement. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity for educators to shape how students understand representation, identity, literature, and communication, along with their own potential. Education is about more than the material being taught — it's a chance to help students challenge assumptions, build confidence, and imagine possibilities they hadn't previously considered. I hope to keep contributing to that work while building my academic credentials and eventually earning a tenure-track position.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Education, inclusion, representation, creativity, perseverance, and mentorship are central to who I am, both professionally and personally. I believe deeply that people need to know they belong in the spaces they enter, which is why encouragement and representation matter so much to me — students don't always recognize their own abilities or the long-term impact of their education right away. I also value using education and the arts as tools to build understanding and expand opportunity for others.
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