ALUMNI IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Degree: BA Psychology Graduation Year: Spring 2009 Current Occupation: Assistant Program Manager , Pacic Center for Special Care (University of the Pacic Durgoni School of Dentistry) - Public Health Policy Brief Description of current company/organization: The Pacific Center for Special Care is an organization within the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry committed to improving the oral health of underserved people on the local, state and federal level. The Center, directed by Dr. Paul Glassman, has created best-practice models of, and advocates for, improved access to dental care for anyone who faces challenges receiving oral health services through the traditional oral health care system. This includes groups and individuals who have difficulty maintaining good oral health or accessing oral health services because of medical, physical, social, economic, and geographic conditions. The mission of the Pacific Center for Special Care is to: Improve the oral health of underserved people. Reform the oral health care system to be responsive to the circumstances and needs of people from diverse backgrounds, and with diverse conditions and special needs. Improve awareness of barriers to and solutions for ensuring good oral health for underserved people among oral health, general health, and social services professionals and advocacy, educational, and government organizations. What do you like most about the career path you have chosen? Working with vulnerable populations within healthcare has always been a passion of mien within my work, and gives back to me daily. Getting to impact youth daily through oral health presentations, parental education or assistance in accessing

services is most certainly the most rewarding part of my career choice. If I can do even a small part to impact the the medical disparities the most vulnerable populations face in our country, I feel vocationally fullled. What is your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment is choosing to trade everything that made me comfortable ( career, family and friends) and do something that absolutely terried me. I moved across the country to San Francisco to serve as an Americorps member at a bilingual dental clinic and living under the poverty line in the most expensive city in the USA. A year later, I feel I can truly empathize with the communities I serve and have gained invaluable life experience and a completely new perspective on whats important in life. What is something people dont know about you? One of my lifelong dreams is to visit every continent in the world. Why did you choose Alverno College? Having homeschooled my entire life before attending attending college, Alverno Colleges assessment-based was a natural transition to the way I learned best. Alvernos combination of passionate faculty, small class sizes and innite diversity created the perfect learning environment for me. What does being an Alverno Alumnus mean to you? Being an Alverno Alumnus could not be more special to me. There are so many important woman that have done incredible things in this world and for our communities, and I am so honored to continue this legacy of service. What did you do immediately after graduation? Upon graduation I completed a three month residence life internship at Seton Hall University in conference management. What is your favorite campus memory? Alverno embracing diversity through hosting the rst Gay Straight Alliance Annual Drag Show with over 200 campus attendees and community members in the audience. Any advice for future Alverno alumni? Always keep your dreams and goals and mind, and make one mistake every single day. In these moments is when you will learn the most.

As an Alverno Alum, what advantages do you believe and Alverno education has over other universities? Alverno has incredible opportunities after graduation, a strong supportive community that is essentially a second family and a real-life educational curriculum. Alverno has gured out the elements of education that others are modeling their curriculum after now. As an Alverno Alum, what advice would you give a young woman who is considering attending Alverno? Alverno will help you grow into the best version of yourself, and will offer you a lifelong community of learners to walk beside you for the rest of your life. Alverno will surprise you in so many wonderful ways; denitely consider taking the next step towards Alverno! Do you have any questions for current Alverno students? What is your favorite thing about Alverno? How important is service to you in your life currently? Additional comments you would like to include?