Alumni Conversations
Alumni Conversations is a monthly virtual series celebrating the exciting and interesting career paths Cerritos College alumni have taken.
Past Alumni Conversations Events
A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, alumna Marisol Arenas has over a decade experience in spacecraft operations and development. As part of the planning teams for the Juno and Psyche missions, she led the planning and development of the project training programs to ensure operations flight team certification and readiness. Marisol also spearheaded the setup of the Mission Chronicles Series, a monthly series meant to communicate to a wide JPL audience the challenges experienced during mission development and operations, increase awareness of those situations, and help prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Hosted by Jason Barquero '01
To view the recording of this event on YouTube, click the link Alumni Conversations with Marisol Arenas
Ever dream of working in the motion picture business? Alumnus Al Rives is living that dream. Al has worked on films such as True Lies, Strange Days, Titanic, and Ghost of the Abyss.
Al is currently Executive Director of Worldwide Technical Operations at Paramount Pictures.
Al transferred from Cerritos College in 1988 to Cal State Fullerton, and graduated with a BA in Communications (Radio,TV,Film) in 1991. While at Cerritos College, he took classes in theatre arts and performed in a play alongside fellow alumnus and now Famous Falcon John Corbett.
As Executive Director of Worldwide Technical Operations, Al oversees the catalogue and servicing teams, whose job it is to transfer Paramount’s features, new television episodes, feature acquisitions, and trailers from physical masters to digital.
Al talks about his time at Cerritos College, his career in the film business, and his inspirations and aspirations with alumnus Jason Barquero’01.
To view the recording of this event on YouTube, click the link Alumni Conversations with Al Rives
David Rodarte is proudly employed as a counselor serving students with disabilities and Veterans at Cerritos College. David is also a proud Cerritos College Alumni having completed his Associates Degree for Transfer in Sociology. David completed his Bachelor’s in Sociology from University of Illinois. While attending the University of Illinois, he thrived in adaptive sports playing Wheelchair basketball. He then completed graduate coursework at California State University, Long Beach with a Master of Science in Counseling, which is where his passion for inspiring and motivating students began. When David is not counseling students, he is the head coach of the Rancho Los Amigos Wheelchair basketball team. Moreover, Rancho Los Amigos holds a special place in David’s heart, as this is where he began his adaptive sports journey.
On November 7, 2021, in his first marathon appearance, he won the AWD Division of the Los Angeles Marathon with a borrowed handcycle.
David talks about his time at Cerritos College, participating in the LA Marathon, and life and career lessons learned along the way with host Jason Barquero '01. To view the recording of this event on YouTube, click the link Alumni Conversations with David Rodarte '07
Hansjeet Duggal is a virtual/augmented reality & animation evangelist and an editor. His VR animated film Freiheit was selected for recognition in Annecy (the oldest and most competitive animation festival) in France. He has been part of the American Cinema Editor’s Diversity Program since 2019. His movies have premiered on PBS and other major streaming services. He recently completed an eight-episode animated series which will be premiered soon. He also teaches filmmaking to students throughout the United States, England, and Canada.
Hosted by Parimal Rohit '95. To view the recording on YouTube click the link Alumni Conversations with Hansjeet Duggal.
Eli Villa graduated from Cerritos College in 2014 with an AA in Automotive Technology. He has an MBA from Northwood University and has been competing in motorsports, including rally racing, since 2013. Eli is also the lead videographer and writer for two racing series, Veloster Challenge and the Pacific Hot Hatch. He also serves as Editor for the Korean Car Blog-Test drives and writes reviews for both Kia and Hyundai Vehicles.
Hosted by Jason Barquero '01. To view the event recording on YouTube click the link
Alumni Conversations with Eli Villa.
On Thursday, March 25 host Jason Barquero ‘01 talked with Norwalk Mayor Jennifer Perez.
To view the event recording on YouTube click the link Alumni Conversations with Jennifer Perez.
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On Thursday, February 25 host Jason Barquero ‘01 talked with LA Times and New York Times Contributor, Author, Award Winning Journalist, and Essayist for NPR Station KPCC, Erick Galindo '09.
To view the event recording on YouTube click the link: https://youtu.be/Tx3JWIbvhGg.
On Thursday, January 21 host Jason Barquero ‘01 talked with entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of The Love We Don’t See, Sylvester Ani ’16. Sylvester started The Love We Don’t See to highlight the love in the world through philanthropy, education, and social justice and community service initiatives.
The work of The Love We Don’t See is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for economic justice and the empowerment of poor and working-class individuals.
The Love We Don’t See is also piloting a Guaranteed Income Stimulus Program, inspired by the work of Dr. King and supported by the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Fund. Ani hopes that Cerritos College students will consider applying to participate in the pilot program online https://www.thelovewedontsee.org.
To view the event recording on YouTube, click the link https://youtu.be/wZHjCEPs9MI.
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