Golden Gate University Alumni Association

Congrats to recent graduate Dorothea Tolliver, MS Human Resources Management 2020! Dorothea came to GGU to pursue her passion: advocating for individuals like herself who are deaf. I wanted to earn a Master’s in Human Resources because I saw a lot of barriers preventing deaf and hard of hearing persons from working, explained Dorothea. As an individual who is deaf, I know the importance of an accessible workplace especially when it comes to communication. A lot of ti...mes deaf people will earn a degree and then learn that employers won’t hire them because they can’t answer the phone. I wanted to try and solve that problem. When Dorothea reached out to GGU’s Office of Disability Resources and Accommodations, she was impressed with the support that she received compared to the support available to persons with disabilities at other private schools. The provision of interpreters for deaf students at a small private university like Golden Gate University requires planning, budgeting and education, reflected Peter DeHaas, Director of Disability Resources & Academic Accommodations. DeHaas was able to implement a sustainable plan to make sure that interpreters were provided to Dorothea. Everyone at GGU rose to the occasion to make her integration into our community a success. Dorothea's dream is to one day found a large corporation for people with disabilities where their skills and talents are showcased alongside non-disabled coworkers. She wants to continue to advocate for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing through supporting them and reducing the barriers that exist in the workplace and to serve as a bridge between the hearing and deaf world. Read the story: http://ow.ly/OJOf50C4sg7

This summer, the Bay Area program of Genesys Works, a national nonprofit that provides pathways to college and career success for underserved students, teamed up with Salesforce and GGU to offer a unique training program. GGU provided students with training in business and data analytics, while Genesys Works provided training in soft skills needed to navigate a corporate office environmentall offered online and a large portion sponsored by Salesforce. Students who successfully completed the course gained college credits and a certificate that they can embed in their LinkedIn profiles. GGU is proud to partner with Genesys Works to #EmployChange in America, by opening our doors to diverse, talented students. Join us at genesysworks.org/employ-change.

GGU's Race and Justice Task Force is thrilled to welcome Adam Foss, the founder and executive director of Prosecutor Impact, for an engaging online talk and Q&A. PI develops innovative curriculum & training for prosecutors across the country to reduce the use of incarceration. It trains criminal prosecutors to employ data-informed, sustainable & safety-focused interventions to foster more equitable outcomes for the communities they serve. Adam Foss is a former Assistant D.A. ...in the Juvenile Division of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston, and a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform and the importance of the role of the prosecutor in ending mass incarceration. Adam believes that the profession of prosecution is ripe for a reinvention that requires better incentives and more measurable metrics for success beyond, simply, cases won. This led him to create Prosecutor Impact, a non-profit that develops training and curriculum for prosecutors to reframe their role in the criminal justice system. Most recently, Mr. Foss appeared in the critically-acclaimed CNN feature-length documentary American Jail. Welcoming Remarks: GGU Law Dean Eric Christiansen Speaker Introduction: Law Professor Jyoti Nanda Following Q&A led by: Amye Osakue, President, BLSA, Co-Chair of RJTF Subcommittee Alexis Pickins, BLSA Member, Co-Chair of RJTF Subcommittee THURSDAY, October 29, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free tickets here: http://ow.ly/u1Id50C1jSY

View of GGU from the back. Remember walking through the back door off Jessie Street? The world looks pretty different depending on our vantage point. "Sometimes a change of perspective is all it takes to see the light." - Dan Brown Happy Friday, everyone.

Meet Alika Publico, BA ’19 What are you studying? Organizational Leadership and Human Skills Development in the School of Undergraduate Studies.... What is your profession? I work full-time as a fire prevention officer for the city of Monterey with the U.S. Army. Why did you choose GGU? As military service members, we face trials and tribulations. For 19 years I tried to complete my bachelor’s degree at other schools, but every time I hit a wall that would halt my progress. I chose GGU because here I don’t feel like a number. My enrollment counselor walked me through everything until I completed my application, and my tutors and professors are always available through emails and phone calls. My advisor is always in touch with me and has helped streamline the process so I get to that next step. How are you balancing work and school during COVID-19? The pandemic hit during my second semester, but thankfully GGU immediately transitioned to Zoom and my academic progress continued uninterrupted. I like Zoom classes because all the information is provided in an accessible way. As long as you communicate with your instructors when issues come up, they are always accommodating and flexible. During my first week, I was affected by the Dolan fire, which we could see from my office. My instructor understood and helped me get through the course while juggling that stressful situation. What advice do you have for prospective students? I believe it’s up to the student to put in the time and effort to learn. Take advantage of the instruction videos and all of the readings assigned. Make sure you plan out when you will write your posts for online discussion forums. And if you have any questions or issues, post them to the discussion thread or ask your instructors. They will find a way to help you succeed. What’s next for you? I’m graduating this fall and plan to apply for a master’s program in the spring.

On the next episode of Back to the Baysics with Marc Singer, Marc talks with Raj Gupta, CPA of Moss Adams and Stuart Hicks, CPA of Krohn Watters and Hicks LLP a...bout tax consulting and how recent changes have affected their industry. That's next Wednesday October 28 at 11:30. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/back-to-the-baysics-with-marc- See more

Election Day is less than 3 weeks away! Do you have a plan to vote by mail or at an in-person location? Make sure you're ready to cast your ballot safely in the upcoming election. : Alan Cleaver

For #WorldMentalHealthDay, we celebrate GGU alums and students in our BA and MA Psychology programs who work hard to improve relationships, workplaces, and organizations across industries using research-validated tools. They help make the world happier and healthier. Priscilla Castro and Nadia Kwalick Evans are 2020's Outstanding Student Award Winners in, respectively, the MA I/O Psychology and Counseling Psychology programs. "My education at GGU has provided me with ...additional tools, resources and confidence to continue growing my career. Most of all, it has reaffirmed my interest and passion in studying and understanding human behavior in the workplace," says Priscilla Castro, MA I/O Psychology, 2020. Comments Nadia Kwalick Evans, MA Counseling Psychology 2020, I try to make work better for people. I’ve been told that I have a broad range of skillsI really see this as taking every opportunity I have to add value where I can and enjoying my work to the fullest. I try to use my skills to make life a little bit better for whoever it is that I’m interacting with. #peopleofggu

Join us Tuesday, October 13 for "Rebellious Lawyering in Immigrant Communities During COVID-19." Academics and activists from the immigrant rights community wil...l discuss the importance of Rebellious Lawyering in advocating for immigrant clients during a global pandemic. COVID-19 has endangered and further marginalized the immigrant and undocumented communities in devastating ways. In this session, panelists will discuss their holistic approaches in providing legal services from a rebellious lawyering lens, as it relates to deportation defense, racial injustice, prolonged detention, homelessness, and domestic violence. Moderator: Adjunct Law Professor Monica Valencia, Supervising Attorney for the Immigrant Rights’ team at Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland Bill Ong Hing, Professor and Director of the USF School of Law Immigration Clinic and Policy Clinic Aidin Castillo, Directing Attorney, Centro Legal de la Raza Sabrina Farrell, Alameda Assistant District Attorney and Executive Director of the Alameda County Family Justice Center Sylvie Karina , Co-Founder and Director of CALMA, formerly Border Angels Bay Area Chapter Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ggu-presents-rebellious-lawyer

GGU's fall term is 100% online, which means greater flexibility and convenience. But online classes can also present unique challenges. Here are five tips from GGU faculty and students to help you succeed in virtual courses. http://ow.ly/VDhd50BMIdA

Data analytics and artificial intelligence are replacing simple, repetitive tasks in industries including health care, accounting, finance, retail, government, and national security. That’s why our BS in Data Analytics gives you the data-driven skills you can use throughout your career. You'll learn through hands-on projects that pull real world data. Learn more about the BS in Data Analytics today: http://ow.ly/idsr50BLuCH

Today's view from GGU. Air quality continues to deteriorate as fires rage throughout California and along the West Coast. Stay safe, everyone. We look forward to the day when we can all return to our downtown SF campus.

Congrats to Khwanchat Wongjiantip, the 2020 Outstanding Student in the Doctor of Business Administration program. Khwanchat came to GGU wanting to teach at the college level because he loves sharing his knowledge with new students and exchanging ideas with the next generation. He knew the DBA program would be challenging, but close interactions with his professors and other students helped him complete his degree within four years. Where did you grow up? Bangkok, Thail...and Why did you choose GGU? I researched many universities that offer DBA or PhD programs. I was impressed that GGU has had a DBA program for decades and that some if its students come from Thailand. When I applied, this gave me the confidence that GGU would be a great place to pursue a doctoral degree. What is your proudest accomplishment? I'm proud that I earned my DBA degree in four yearsa long process. I took a couple years to take all my classes, and then I spent almost one year developing my dissertation proposal, which I revised at least 20 times, and defended it. Finally, I spent one year working on my dissertation and getting it approved by my dissertation committee. What are your future plans? When I go back to Thailand this December, I plan to apply for a position as a professor in accounting. My future goals involve learning as much as I can in in accounting and also business. I would love the opportunity to teach and shape student success.