Gina Villamor-Roebuck said she enjoys the opportunity to look back upon the journey of her life. She believes that it is amazing that after playing only one year as a Mustang volleyball player, she has received so many honors. Now she has received one more honor, induction to the Western New Mexico University Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hawaii native’s journey is now passing through Eastern Arizona Junior College, where her days as a college student began. She is now a student advisor at the junior college.
She said that when first attending Eastern Arizona academia was the furthest thing from her mind, which is ironic considering her current career.
“When I played, I was not really thinking about academia,” Roebuck said. “I was thinking as a young athlete. I left Eastern Arizona with a full scholarship to West Texas State, but I could not buy in. I started there for a year and quit. I had one year of eligibility left when a friend tried to recruit me for Western New Mexico.”
Roebuck’s husband, then boyfriend, played football for the Mustangs in another twist of irony. The team needed a setter and thought the young Roebuck would fit the bill. She joined the Mustangs for the 1989-1990 season, receiving All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, All -Region, RMAC Player of the Week, and All-American for that single season.
Roebuck graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences. She decided to remain at Western for another three years, receiving an M.A. in Counseling in 1993. While attending the university for her master’s, she stayed with the Mustangs as a coach. She said she loved the atmosphere at the university, believing it to be a more personal experience.
“I was comfortable at Western,” Roebuck said. “The people there cared about me.”
After finishing her education, Roebuck worked for sometime in the Arizona Public School system as a counselor and volleyball coach at the club, public school, and college level. Now that she is an academic advisor at Eastern Arizona, Roebuck said she no longer has the time to coach during the season. She still gives some time during the summers to teach volleyball however.
“I’m active in coaching but not during the season,” Roebuck said. “I can’t give it the time it needs. I’m still coaching in camps thought. While I was working with the public schools, it was great. Now I thoroughly enjoy being an academic advisor.”
Roebuck began working for the junior college two years ago. She enjoys working where she began her college career.
Going to various universities and college has given Roebuck a unique view on the needs of students. She said that there are students who will perform well in the bigger universities but there are others who need a more personal approach. For the students who need more interaction with their instructors, Roebuck endorses Western New Mexico wholeheartedly.
“I push Western all of the time,” Roebuck said. “Some can handle the bigger school, but for the others, I tell them to go to Western. A small school can give you the attention that you need.”
