Alverno Alumnae Profile- JHN

7/28/2019 Alverno Alumnae Profile- JHN

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ALUMNI IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Degree: BA Psychology

Graduation Year: Spring 2009

Current Occupation: Assistant Program Manager , Pacific Center for Special

Care (University of the Pacific 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


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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 fulfilled.

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 terrified 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 infinite 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 manyimportant 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 first 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.


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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 figured 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 ofer 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; definitely 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?

Documents

Alverno Alumnae Profile- JHN