The Women's and Gender Studies Department loves staying in touch with our alumni/ae. Please drop us a line to say hello to let us know what you're up to.

Our graduates live their Women's and Gender Studies degrees in varied ways: nonprofit work, post-graduate volunteer service, graduate school, law school, and the private sector. Here are a few of their stories:

Group shot of students

Stacy Trujeque graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2016 and is the owner and events producer of EXALT HER and author of the forthcoming book Exalt Her: Awaken and Radiate Your Unstoppable Beauty.

Sonya Chavez graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2015 and is an Assurance Associate at Deloitte and Touche.

Sofia Espinoza graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2015 and is doing post-grad service with the Ignatian Service Corps, working at a New Way of Life, which helps previously incarcerated women get back on their feet and get jobs and housing.

Rochelle Kwan graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2015 and is a volunteer for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, working as the Case Management Program Assistant at Network for Victim Recovery of D.C. She provides hospital-based crisis support in an on-call capacity as part of the DC Sexual Assault Crisis Response Program and works collaboratively to provide case management support to survivors of crime.

Shannon O'Brien graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2015 and is serving as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (International) in Tacna, Peru from Nov. 2015 - Dec. 2017.

Amanda Suarez graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2015 and is pursuing a Masters in Gender Studies at San Francisco State University, focusing on environmental justice through a transnational feminist framework.

Miriam Vega graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2015 and is completing a year of service with the Ignatian Service Corps in LA, working with Operation Progress, a nonprofit educational organization that works with at-risk youth in the South Central area.

Beatriz Alfro graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2013 and is currently studying at University of California, Davis School of Law. Beatriz is also a Certified Legal Intern at Yolo County District Attorney's Office.

Claire Ramirez graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2010 and received her Master of Social Work from USC in 2012.

Leila Grace Pandy graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2012 and received her Master in Women's and Gender Studies at University of Texas, Austin in 2013.

Lahaina Araneta graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2009 and received her JD from Loyola Law School in 2012. Lahaina currently works for Beacon Immigration, Immigration Law Offices, in Los Angeles. Lahaina is also the founder of a non-profit legal clinic, JUST.

Cathy Dang graduated from LMU with a degree in Women's Studies in 2007 and received her Master of Social Work from UCLA in 2010. Cathy has been a community and worker center organizer leading campaigns for just living and working conditions in immigrant and communities of color for nearly a decade. She is currently the Executive Director at CAAAV, a pan-Asian community-based organization that works to build the power of low-income Asian immigrants and refugees in New York City. CAAAV develops leadership in Asian communities to impact the policies and institutions that affect their lives and to participate in a broader movement for racial and economic justice.

Beatriz Alfaro in front of UC Davis School of Law sign
Alumna Spotlight: Beatriz Alfaro '13