Meet the E-Board: A Conversation with Raelyn Alvarez
An Interview Conducted by Cynthia Orr
[Insert photo of Raelyn instead???]
In this edition of Getting to Know Your E-Board, we’re shining the spotlight on Raelyn Alvarez, Mt. SAC’s dedicated 2nd Vice President. She sat down with Cynthia Orr to share insights about her role, her journey, and a few fun facts you won’t want to miss!
Cynthia Orr: What is your role, and briefly describe what it entails?
Raelyn Alvarez: The 2nd Vice President supports both the President and the 1st Vice President in their responsibilities. They step in to perform the duties of the 1st Vice President when that person is absent or if the position becomes vacant. The 2nd Vice President also serves as the Chair of the Membership Committee and helps coordinate the activities of all standing committees. It’s important for the 2nd Vice President to stay familiar with the Chapter Constitution, policies, and Robert’s Rules of Order (I bought all the e-books and Quick Study Guides to help me). PS. Adam San Miguel and Chrystin Green are great go-to people for help.
“Being on the E-Board allows me to represent and amplify the voices of our members, ensure fairness and transparency, and help create positive change for classified professionals.”
C.O.: I love that you bought study guides to help! I have seen how thick Robert’s Rules of Order is, so I imagine help is needed. Now tell us why you wanted to be a part of the E-Board?
R.A.: I wanted to be a part of the E-Board because I believe in the importance of advocacy and collaboration for the benefit of our members. I’ve been a part of Mt. SAC in various capacities for over 10 years, and serving on the E-Board is an opportunity for me to give back to the community that has supported me throughout my career. Being on the E-Board allows me to represent and amplify the voices of our members, ensure fairness and transparency, and help create positive change for classified professionals. I’m passionate about fostering a strong, informed, and united chapter, and I see this role as a way to use my experience and skills to make a meaningful impact.
C.O.: I respect that and am glad to have you fighting for all of us. You mention being at Mt. SAC for over 10 years! In that time, what roles have you had and where do you work on campus?
R.A.: I’ve been with Mt. SAC for over 10 years and have had the opportunity to serve in various roles within our chapter. I’ve been a steward for nearly 5 years, a site representative for a little over a year, and I currently serve as the 2nd Vice President, a role I’ve held for almost a year. Each of these experiences has deepened my commitment to advocating for classified professionals and supporting our members in meaningful ways. I am currently an Administrative Specialist II in the International Student Program.
C.O.: Now that we know all about what you do for the union and Mt. SAC, tell us something unique about you.
R.A.: Something unique about me is that I’m almost finished with my doctoral program in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University. It’s been a challenging but rewarding journey! I’m also a huge Harry Potter fan and could probably win a trivia contest on it. And when it comes to the holidays, I absolutely love Christmas; it’s my favorite time of year, and I go all out with decorations, music, and festive cheer.
“My long-term goal at Mt. SAC is to continue growing as a leader and advocate for classified professionals…”
C.O.: Wow! Let me just take a minute to say that going after your PhD is incredible and quite intimidating, I am super impressed! I imagine with your PhD, you must have a plan. What is your long-term goal for your time at Mt. SAC?
R.A.: My long-term goal at Mt. SAC is to continue growing as a leader and advocate for classified professionals, while contributing to a supportive and inclusive campus community. I hope to take on roles that allow me to influence positive change, support equity initiatives, and ensure that all employees have the tools, resources, and voice they need to succeed. Ultimately, I want to be part of shaping a workplace culture that values transparency, collaboration, and professional growth for everyone.
⚡ Rapid Fire Round!
Ok, now it is time for rapid fire questions, so just go with your first instinct. Ready or not here we go!
🎭 Live Theater or Movie Theater? → Movie Theater
🍭 Sweet or Savory? → Sweet
✈️ Furthest Destination? → New York (Global travel is on the list!)
🌿 Hobbies? → Gardening, bird-watching, reading, cooking, family time
😂 Most used emoji? → Crying laughing emoji
👩💼 Dream job on campus for a day? → College President
🌮 Comfort food? → Sushi or Mexican food
🗺️ Bucket list item? → Travel the world
📚 Watching/Reading now? → Gilded Age and Buccaneers
💸 Dream job or lottery win? → Lottery win – money, money, money!
Well, you heard it here first, everyone, be on the lookout for Raelyn Alvarez to do big things on our campus! Thank you so much, Raelyn, for chatting with me and helping our members get to know you better.
Stay tuned for more getting to know our E-Board in future issues of our newsletter. Who do you want to get to know next? Let me know in the comments.