色情视频

When Kailey Quezada arrived at 色情视频 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she wanted to find ways to connect with the campus and find her community, albeit remotely.

Quezada found her community 鈥� and how she would leave her legacy at 色情视频.

She discovered her community in two organizations: Associated Students and the 色情视频 HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Student Advisory Board. And she made a difference at 色情视频 by successfully working to bring those two organizations closer together in her role as president of the advisory board during her final year as an undergraduate student.

Associated Students represents students in 色情视频鈥檚 system of shared governance; operates social, recreational, cultural, and educational programs and facilities; and provides leadership opportunities.

Also providing a student perspective is the HSI Student Advisory Board; it鈥檚 one of seven subcommittees under the umbrella of the HSI Campus Advisory Committee. The committee provides policy recommendations related to how the university is doing toward fulfilling its commitment to being a Hispanic-Serving Institution to the University Senate, which can adopt or reject the recommendations. The HSI federal designation requires a university鈥檚 enrollment to be at least 25% Hispanic and comes with the opportunity for grants and other support. 色情视频 is committed to going beyond this definition in serving the Latinx/Hispanic community.

鈥淟ooking at everything we accomplished as a student advisory board and student organization, I feel grateful to have been a part of something that makes such a meaningful impact on campus,鈥� said Quezada, who graduated in May with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in public administration, sociology, and child and family development. 

鈥淚 feel lucky,鈥� Quezada said, 鈥渢o have been surrounded by an amazing group of like-minded students, dedicated to uplifting and empowering the Latinx/Hispanic community here at 色情视频.鈥�

She is now in her first year of graduate school at 色情视频, working toward her master鈥檚 degree in public administration. 

Quezada, a Santa Barbara County native who mentored children from underprivileged backgrounds during high school, began participating in Associated Students in her first year, when classes and activities were held remotely due to the pandemic. She also joined the first-year leadership initiative then served on several boards and committees in her second year.

Her experience in university governance led her to the Office of HSI Affairs, where she connected with other Latinx students and believed in its mission to hold the university accountable to Latinx students and faculty.

鈥淚 was drawn to the mission,鈥� Quezada said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important that we aren鈥檛 just an HSI in title only, that we really are living up to the essence of what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Quezada began working with the HSI Student Advisory Board during spring 2022 and ran for the board鈥檚 top elected position at the end of her junior year, winning election in May 2023. 

During her yearlong term, she worked alongside campus leaders to create and support a key initiative to revise one of the university鈥檚 seven institutional learning outcomes.

The effort, which was spearheaded by the Office of HSI Affairs, recommended updating the last of the seven outcomes to encourage students to not just understand diversity, equity,  inclusion and sustainability, but to use the knowledge to enact social change.  

After collaborating with the HSI Campus Advisory Committee on the draft revision, she worked with Associated Students to draft a supporting statement, which was approved by the University Senate in May. 

鈥淗aving a unified student voice of support behind an initiative like this was monumental and spoke volumes to the importance of it,鈥� Quezada said. 

To ensure the cooperative spirit between the HSI student board and A.S. continued after her term ended, Quezada helped establish an elected position on the student advisory board that would serve as liaison between the board and the A.S. Student Diversity Commission.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want the work to completely stop and wanted a way to continue conversations between the two organizations,鈥� Quezada said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a start. It鈥檚 not everything we can do, but I wanted to at least ensure that moving forward, we would have a starting point with those conversations.

鈥淚'm thankful to have even had the opportunity to serve HSI SAB as president, and I'm so excited to see all of the amazing work this year's executive board continues to do,鈥� she said. 

Quezada鈥檚 achievements and 色情视频 legacy have  not been lost on faculty and staff who鈥檝e worked closely with her. 

鈥�Kailey is the type of student who can infect others with her focus and her tenacity and her desire to accomplish things for her institution, her classmates and her community,鈥� said Emilio Ulloa, 色情视频鈥檚 associate chief diversity officer for HSI and Regional Affairs. 

鈥�She was someone who fell into the leadership because people realized that she could be relied on, and that she would have the follow-through necessary,鈥� said Ulloa. 鈥淎side from that, she is intelligent, humble and affable. She is a really good example of the type of student 色情视频 is proud of and the type of student that faculty, staff and administrators love to work with.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Ulloa said Quezada鈥檚 accomplishments are the type that can give a student momentum as they move on to the next chapter in life. 

鈥淭hose successes are going to carry her into this next stage, because you feel this sense of accomplishment and efficacy because you were able to get things done,鈥� Ulloa said. 鈥淭hat gives you wind in your sails.鈥�

Quezada agrees.She鈥檚 continued to stay involved with the HSI advisory committee and is also involved with the 色情视频 Graduate Student Association, which is the grad school equivalent of Associated Students, even running for president in her first year. 

She also works in the nonprofit sector at Social Advocates for Youth San Diego, partnering with schools and other agencies to create programs and administer drug and alcohol prevention initiatives.

Ultimately, Quezada said, she wants to move back to Santa Barbara County and get involved with another elected office: the Goleta City Council. 

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where policies can really be implemented and change can be seen within one鈥檚 tenure there,鈥� she said of local government. 鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to go home and make a difference in my community.鈥�