What have you been doing since graduation?

After Cal, I continued my education, obtaining a Masters of Architecture at Princeton followed by a Masters of Public Administration at Cal State East Bay. I am now retired after serving a distinguished 42-year career in federal civil service as a senior management official. In my last appointment I served as district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Fresno District Office, helping thousands of entrepreneurs obtain SBA loans and start small businesses. At SBA I received the Dwight D. Eisenhower award for Excellence, SBA's most distinguished merit award, and EPA's Bronze for Commendable Service medal, the agency's third highest honor award.

Post-retirement my public service continues through my service as board member for Access Plus Capital, a prominent CDFI in the Valley and the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Seeing the value of education, I participate in local Cal alumni events and serve as an alumni interviewer for Princeton. I am totally indebted to Cal for opening doors throughout my life. Go Bears!

What makes Cal so unique?

Entering Cal through Sather Gate for the first time in 1969 it's easy to fall in love. A beautiful, tree-lined campus, majestic buildings and acclaimed landmarks, a renowned and distinguished faculty, an untarnished reputation for excellence, and a cosmopolitan and diverse Telegraph scene. While I did not know a single soul at Cal at that time, the legacy the university instilled upon me is the lifelong friendships with fellow students. These friendships allow me to relive Cal everyday.

What is your favorite Cal memory?

In 2021 a group of College of Environmental Design (CED) students who had formed the Chicano Architectural Students Association (CASA) in 1973 reunited to rekindle memories and give back to our beloved Wurster Hall. Out of this an annual scholarship program for CED students was established.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Do not underestimate the entrepreneurial spark that resides within all of us and which can augment your ultimate career goals. While higher education builds a matchless and solid foundation for personal and career success, exploring small business ownership and its entrepreneurial skills can help you exponentially. One does not need to win the lottery or be in line for an inheritance to become financially independent beyond one's dreams. Take marketing: The first law of marketing is people that are first are rewarded with notoriety (e.g. the first person to fly solo the transatlantic solo, Charles Lindbergh, and the first light beer, Coors Light). The second law of marketing says that if you cannot be first then you can create a subcategory, e.g. the first woman to fly the transatlantic, Amelia Earhart. Every community has countless examples of entrepreneurs who have applied small business skills to take their passions to the next level of success by risking it all — which forms the basic definition of an entrepreneur. But small business is not for everyone, and that's where a higher education institution such as Cal becomes essential in opening doors of opportunity.