Dr. Corey Timberlake has prior experience working in the field of mental health before joining the California Community College system. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Timberlake was awarded a basketball scholarship and attended New Mexico State University. He holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from NMSU. After completing his undergraduate degree and a short stint playing basketball overseas, Dr. Timberlake returned to the States, where he would go on to pursue his master's degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Redlands. During this time, Dr. Timberlake served as the Clinical Director for a non-profit mental health organization contracted by the County of San Bernardino. During his tenure, he developed the San Bernardino Juvenile Drug Court program, an 8-month outpatient program designed to reduce recidivism and juvenile substance abuse, as well as overseeing outpatient therapeutic services to children and families residing in San Bernardino County. Dr. Timberlake would later complete his Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Argosy University.
Dr. Timberlake has spent the last 6 years employed at Barstow Community College, Sant Rosa Junior College, Mt. San Antonio College, Long Beach City College, and Victor Valley Community College where he was instrumental in developing the UMOJA Program and served as the UMOJA Coordinator and Counselor for the program. Along with UMOJA, Dr. Timberlake has worked with several specialty programs at Victor Valley College, such as the First-Year Experience Program, a program designed to provide high-touch supportive services to disproportionately impacted and historically marginalized first year college students. He has a strong understanding of the needs and challenges facing students from diverse and impoverished backgrounds. He has extensive experience working with non-traditional college students who face multiple outside barriers, such as poverty, academically disadvantaged, criminal justice impacted, socioeconomically impacted, and racial battle fatigue.