Right after graduating, I started working in venture capital, with impact funds that invest in underrepresented founders. The environment at Cal Lutheran gave me the confidence to pursue my interests in venture capital, with a particular focus on supporting the Latino community.The strong presence of the Hispanic community at Cal Lutheran reinforced my desire to make an impact by deploying capital into Latino-owned businesses.
The communication department was a great way to catapult into the work that I do. My main job function is recruiting, which requires a lot of marketing techniques. I have a lot of social media marketing experience now, and I really learned a lot about corporate communications through my JonesWorks and College of Arts and Sciences internship I had at Cal Lutheran. These skills have helped me increase our recruiting outreach over the last few months, which I am very proud of.
Cal Lutheran and the business administration program significantly contributed to my professional development with a wide range of courses in the knowledge of business administration. The program’s classes and events have also allowed me to connect with CEOs, entrepreneurs, project managers, and professionals in various roles. Those conversations have guided me toward and opened doors for my future career in project management.
I worked at Media Services for about two years, where I developed event coordination skills, such as good communication and time management, to make sure that things were getting done in a timely and effective manner. In my current role, I communicate a lot across different departments and have a lot of things that need to get done in certain time frames, so those are essential skills to have. I also took a bunch of film classes that helped me learn all that I did!
The program’s combination of technical know-how and strategic thinking is crucial for navigating the intricacies of the modern digital environment. With an MSIT, I can concentrate on problems in systems administration, data analysis, and creative tech solutions, which will help me grow professionally and be a valuable asset to any firm. The curriculum offers a unique combination of strategic leadership and technology, enabling students to adapt to and change the tech landscape.
Through the political science program, I learned how to work in a team environment and work collaboratively with my peers. I also honed my writing skills which collectively allowed me to thrive in my internship and will allow me to succeed in my fellowship role in Sacramento.
The Cal Lutheran Pre-Med track provided a solid background of information that I could depend on and a great backing for entering the medical field this year. I know I will continue to use this knowledge even once I start medical school. The psychology major gave me so much context on how to treat people well. Having a background in Psychology will make me a better doctor who remains in tune with her patients.
The psychology program set me up for success in my career through a blend of academic rigor and practical experience. Minoring in sociology significantly aided me in my studies and career path by providing a deeper understanding of society and its impact on individuals.
The comprehensive coursework in Python and Java programming languages significantly contributed to building my cybersecurity expertise. Engaging in practical coding projects and hands-on applications of coding principles within the curriculum fostered my problem-solving skills. Moreover, the guidance and mentorship from faculty members well-versed in these programming languages and cybersecurity were pivotal in preparing me for the challenges inherent in my current role.
The greatest resources at Cal Lutheran were my professors and the research opportunities. The research opportunities they offer are amazing and accessible, it is so easy to get hands-on research if you want it, and the professors are so willing and flexible to work with your schedule to include you.
As a junior at Cal Lutheran, I was taking a class in Hispanic Literature, when my professor at the time, Dr. Rafaela Fiore, recognized the potential of my work and encouraged me to present my research in an academic conference. In the remainder of my time at Cal Lutheran, (the Spanish faculty) worked with me and motivated me to continue my research on Afro-Latin literature. That has now become the topic of my PhD dissertation.
The portfolio class allowed me to showcase my best work on a website, prepare for interviews, and have a presentable resume. This experience has significantly contributed to my preparation for success in my career. Cal Lutheran has allowed me to expand my network, learn new workflows in my career, and truly grasp the fundamentals of filmmaking.
This was a significant stretch for me, balancing my full-time job, family commitments, and community involvement. Despite the challenges, I knew pursuing this EMBA was something I would cherish for the rest of my life, and it’s what my mom would have been proud of.
Being a multimedia major gives you the tools to learn a wide variety of skills, but it’s up to the student to put in the work to master them. Learning subjects such as photography to Illustrator to After Effects helps broaden your knowledge when it comes to applying for internships and jobs, which makes students stand out.
The mathematics major at Cal Lutheran was rigorous and engaging. I was able to acquire a vast knowledge of mathematics that allows me to teach all levels of secondary math. I was also supported by top-tier professors who not only helped me develop my mathematical knowledge, but also exposed me to impactful pedagogical strategies that I use in my own classroom.
I enjoyed the scientist practitioner model that the university employed including the emphasis on the practice of open science and the integration of these principles in research. This program helped me achieve my goals by providing me with a solid understanding of scholarly research and the field of clinical psychology.
I was drawn to the hybrid structure of the EdD program, which provided class meeting times that were convenient for a working professional and provided in-person interaction. This program is for anyone who wants to complete their doctorate degree with the support and interaction of an in-person program combined with the convenience of online instruction.
If you want to be a future school counselor and learn from current working professionals in the field of school counseling, Cal Lutheran’s program is a wonderful fit. Using what I have learned in counseling, I was also able to build my professional portfolio to not only serve as a school counselor, but also serve on several national boards within the college counseling field.
My research experience (as a Pearson Scholar for Leadership and Engagement in Global Society under the guidance of Dr. Fiore Urízar) and my Spanish classes gave me skills to guide my career. My study intersected Literature, Art, and Sociology and has led me to excel in graduate school, publish academic articles, and work in art museums.
Through extracurriculars like Model UN, I gained public speaking experience, and the interdisciplinary nature of the global studies major allowed me to explore multiple areas of study that helped make me a well-rounded candidate for master’s programs and the job market.
I had to create a portfolio throughout the program that highlighted my work and defended my work to my professors at the end. It made me feel accomplished and like I chose the right path for my future.
Multimedia was such an expansive and versatile major in the creative field. All the required courses for a multimedia major will train you in graphic design, motion graphics, storyboarding, web design, 2-D and 3-D animation, and video editing. Because art was in the same department as my multimedia major, a lot of the classes crossed over and it allowed me to incorporate traditional art into my digital art. I recommend an art minor to creative minds who are interested in taking on all the forms of media at once.
Studying philosophy not only laid the foundation for my critical thinking skills, but it has also allowed me to think about the law in a broader way. Even more practically, studying philosophy was extremely useful in preparing for the LSAT and succeeding in rule-based reasoning that is inherent in legal practice.Through the political science department I was able to participate in the Lutheran College Washington Semester in D.C. and the Oxford program (virtually) as well as work in various internships like with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Public Defender. All the professors in the department helped me identify my passions and pursue my goals by encouraging me to do things that I never thought I could do.
My role entails the development of extensive test plans, writing automated test scripts, and researching software issues. The computer science program at Cal Lutheran played a vital role in preparing me for this position, equipping me with a robust foundation in robotics, software engineering, algorithms, and systems analysis, all of which I consistently apply in my daily work.
One of my favorite aspects of the Cal Lutheran teacher training program is the numerous opportunities we have during our undergraduate years to volunteer in the classroom and work directly with teachers and students. This has allowed me to apply what I have been learning in my classes into the classroom and begin to develop an idea of the type of teacher I want to be.