ALUMNI

alumni feature

Humberto Rojas

Beyond School Walls Program Specialist, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire

Prior to transferring to CSUF, Humberto had taken several CHIC courses at Santa Ana College that he found extremely stimulating. When he came to CSUF, after speaking with Dr. Alexandro Gradilla, he ultimately came to the conclusion that CHIC was the right major for him.

After earning his degree, he began working with the non-profit “Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire” where he manages a mentoring program as the “Beyond School Walls Program Specialist.”

Humberto says “My degree has helped me better relate to the Hispanic community and to understand their struggles, obstacles, and even accomplishments. I believe in the power of mentoring and having extra support system in your network.”

 

 

 

"My degree has helped me better relate to the Hispanic community and to understand their struggles, obstacles, and even accomplishments. I believe in the power of mentoring and having extra support system in your network."

Joyce Roys-Aguilera

Program Associate, the California Endowment

Joyce transferred to CSUF as a Psychology major with no intentions of earning a degree in Chicana/o Studies. But things changed for her during her first semester when she took a class in the subject. “I was immediately intrigued and interested in the study of my history” Joyce recalls.

Determined to pursue a minor in Chicana/o studies, she met with an advisor and soon realized that she could actually declare as a double major and earn a degree by taking just a couple of classes in addition to what she would need for a minor.

During Joyce’s final year at CSUF, she was a McNair Scholar. After graduation, she began a graduate degree program and received a Masters of Arts in Educational Policy and Social Context from UC Irvine.

Today, she works as a Program Associate at the California Endowment where it is their mission to “challenge the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people’s health.” Prior to her current position, Joyce has held a variety of positions with organizations such as Hispanas Organized for Political Equity (HOPE), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), and as a District Representative in the Greater San Gabriel Valley and Legislative Aide in the Sacramento Capitol for State Senator Carol Liu.

Joyce believes that she would not be where she is today were it not for the combination of experiences and education that she received while at CSUF. As she explains, “The coursework, interactions with faculty and service learning experiences that I received at CSUF were an integral application from the classroom to community. The knowledge and mentoring I received as a Chicana/o Studies major at CSUF allowed me to explore my roots as a child of Mexican immigrants, while encouraging my professional and personal development as a proud Chicana.”

Equally important, Joyce states, “I remember my studies with extreme fondness and admiration for the professional development and academic preparation I received, especially as I expand and evolve as a professional and proud woman of color.”

"I remember my studies with extreme fondness and admiration for the professional development and academic preparation I received"