ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - Michele Serros

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Michele Serros

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A Flourishing Author with Relevance and Passion
By: Jamie Solis

As a thriving poet, social commentator and author, we are proud that Michele Serros is an alumna of Santa Monica College. She is a former writer for the TV series George Lopez, and her published works have landed on recommended reading lists in many Southern California schools. Her books have also received attention from bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine. While studying at SMC, Serros began to make big moves in her writing career. She recalls the faculty who were influential during this exciting time in her life.

Michele Serros first entered academia by attending public school in her hometown of Oxnard. After public school, she went to Ventura College for a few years. She then moved 60 miles to the south where she started at Santa Monica College in 1985. While she lived in Los Angeles, Serros was too embarrassed to admit that she was from Oxnard. Instead, she would give the name of her city a fancy spin, “I would often tell people, as casually as I could, ‘Oh, I live between Malibu and Santa Barbara.’ It sounded so much more glamorous.”

Several members of the faculty made a lasting impression on Serros. One instructor inspired Serros was Daniel Cano. She explains how one class stood out to her, even though any class she took with Cano prepared her for a successful future, “And without doubt, Mr. Daniel Cano’s Mexican American Literature class. His instruction was a turning point in my life.” She is also very grateful for her Speech class, because she still uses the skills today as a professional speaker. She also received support on a more personal level from the Women’s Center and her math instructor Ann Carroll. With help from these women, Serros was able to grieve the death of her mother.

Serros started gaining fame for her writing during her years at Santa Monica College by publishing Chicana Falsa and other stories of Death, Identity and Oxnard. Serros went on tour with Lollapalooza with 11 other poets as a result of the attention she received from her earliest book. While on tour, Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins played guitar as she recited her poem, “Mr. Boom Boom Man.” Her first collection of poetry and stories really propelled her career forward.

After studying at Santa Monica College, Serros went on to receive a degree in Chicana/o Studies from UCLA, where she graduated cum laude. She has since published young adult novels entitled Honey Blonde Chica and ¡Scandalosa! She is also an experienced writer for numerous publications includingWashington Post, Los Angeles Times and more, and she is well-known for contributing social commentaries on various outlets on National Public Radio. From her influence on curriculum, to her poetry that drives by on the Los Angeles County buses, her immeasurable successes can be seen all over.

When asked what the biggest challenge she faced was on her road to success, Serros explained that she didn’t get to spend enough time with her family, “There are so many pages in the family’s photo albums (large books with heavy paper pages where one can attach photos—ha!) that celebrate family events that [do] not include me.” Despite the challenges, Serros is happy that she continued on, because she can now make a living by doing what she loves.

Serros’ fondest memory of Santa Monica College was working alongside a future star, “It was fun having Rivers Cuomo (from Weezer) as my assistant at the (then) Latino Literary Center. We talked a lot about music and books. I remember thinking, ‘This poor guy from Wisconsin. His band is never gonna make it.’” With the sense of humor you’d expect from an entertainment writer, Michele Serros represents the remarkable capability that lies within every student at SMC.

As an experienced speaker, Serros often gives speeches at commencement ceremonies across the nation. This year, Santa Monica College is beyond privileged to have someone with so much relevance sharing her expertise at our graduation ceremony. Michele Serros would like to send our graduates off into their promising futures with this simple piece of advice, “Meet all your deadlines a DAY before they are due and always, always, arrive 10 minutes early for interviews.”

Originally published by Santa Monica College in February 2014:  http://alumni.smc.edu/News/NewsDetail/7059

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - Annie Bird

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Alumna Dr. Annie Bird calls SMC “a gem among community colleges.”
By: Jamie Solis

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Policy Advisor in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations at the U.S. Department of State, and SMC Alumna, Dr. Annie Bird has recognized Santa Monica College as a key building block for her academic choices and career. She writes: “The SMC community, especially people like Patricia Brown, then Dean of Student Life, nurtured my potential and taught me leadership skills that are still with me. The passion that teachers like Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein and Alan Buckley brought to the classroom was inspiring. SMC is a gem among community colleges.”

Her involvement with many campus organizations helped her connect with the diverse student body and community. Within the first month of attending SMC, Bird was appointed as A.S. Director of Student Services, where she led a day-long dialogue on racial stereotypes and institutional racism. Also appointed as Student Trustee on the College Board, she was given the authority necessary to address various issues while representing the student body. Bird was part of many popular SMC clubs, including Model United Nations, AGS and Rotaract. It was through an AGS community service event that she learned about an opportunity to travel to Geneva as a student ambassador during the UN Subcommision for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. This experience sparked her interest in the field of international human rights.

During the following summer, Bird was awarded a Dale Ride Internship by Santa Monica College, which enabled her to travel to Washington D.C. to serve as an intern for House Leader Richard Gephardt and the State Department. Returning to SMC in the fall, she was appointed by Governor Gray Davis as a student member of the California Community College Board of Governors. This gave her the opportunity to represent student concerns across the state while also learning about the state’s political system.

Bird transferred to University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelors of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies. In pursuing this degree, she spent a year studying international relations in Argentina after being awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, an award she learned about during her time at SMC. Her educational career continued thanks to the Marshall Scholarship, where she earned a Masters of Law in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex and a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
 Bird has realized a great deal of professional success since her time studying at SMC.

Focusing her professional career on public service and international relations, Bird has worked with governments, NGOs and the United Nations in Africa, Latin America and Asia,. Much of her research has been published, including an upcoming book based on her doctoral research about U.S. transitional justice policy. Bird has taught courses on both foreign policy and international organizations at the London School of Economics and UC Berkeley. She has presented at numerous international conferences, and was a Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University.
We are beyond proud that Dr. Annie Bird is an alumna of Santa Monica College, who explains that her experiences associated with Santa Monica College were both “eye-opening and transformative.” They solidified her interest in public service and international relations, while guiding her on the path towards educational and professional success.

Originally published by Santa Monica College in February 2014:  http://alumni.smc.edu/News/NewsDetail/3053 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - Andrew Hem

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Andrew Hem

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SMC Alum meets with First Lady Michelle Obama by invitation from The White House Historical Society

By: Jamie Solis

Andrew Hem is a great example of a Santa Monica College Alumnus who went on to accomplish many impressive achievements. Coming to SMC from Santa Monica High School class of ‘99, Andrew earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts after realizing that focusing on his passions would help him attain the success he’s always dreamed of. This summer, Andrew was one of five chosen artists out of the whole country to be honored by The White House Historical Society for his captivating paintings.

Andrew first came to SMC without a clear intention of what he wanted to pursue. With a background in street art, he decided to take his very first art class, which was figure drawing. After receiving direction and support from numerous SMC professors, including Professor Marc Trujillo, Andrew explains why he decided to focus his education on fine art, “It was an easy transition for me. Before that I only did graffiti, and I mainly did lettering. As soon as I made that transition, it was easy for me to change to figure drawing because of the shapes and cylinders—graffiti is all about shapes and cylinders.” Andrew is very grateful to Professor Trujillo, as well as many other SMC professors that were dedicated to encouraging him to get better at his craft.

The drawing classes Andrew took at SMC helped him reach the level of professionalism he is at now, because it gave him the strong drawing background that was necessary to strengthen his painting. After earning his AA degree, Andrew transferred to study at Art Center in Pasadena. He now considers himself a figure painter, with a focus on stylized figures. Receiving support and guidance at SMC helped Andrew work towards many prestigious endeavors, which include landing a visit to The White House, and traveling around the country giving speeches to art students.

The opportunity to go to the White House was so unreal, he initially disregarded the invite email he received from the society as a scam. Once his friend called The White House and confirmed the event honoring him was in fact legitimate, he jumped at the opportunity to attend.

While receiving his honor at The White House, Andrew met some of his idols, which solidified how far he’d come in the art world. Not only did he get to shake hands with Michelle Obama, Andrew was in shock when he saw his idol of the art world stepping out of a taxi cab, and walking towards the line he was standing in. Andrew has looked up to artist Barry McGee since he began practicing art when he was a young teenager. Being able to meet and talk with his all-time hero, and at The White House of all places, was an amazing encounter for him. He described it as the best experience in his art career so far. Since his recognition, he hasn’t stopped traveling, and has continued to be invited to give lectures nationwide.

Although Andrew is self-described as shy and not very talkative, he has been giving lectures at art schools across America. His first lecture was at Otis College of Art and Design, where he spoke in front of approximately 400 people. Not only did he give a speech, he also painted a demo that was projected on a big screen. It was a challenge he had to overcome, because he was worried if his painting was good enough, and unsure if he’d be able to keep the crowd entertained for four hours—he didn’t want the crowd to fall asleep watching paint dry. He’s grateful for the speech class he took at SMC, because it still helps him in situations like this today. Remembering the basics like making eye contact with everybody and to constantly practice his speech are pointers he has never forgotten as he continues to lecture across the country.

Since graduating from SMC, Andrew has been asked to paint many large murals, including one on the eBay building in downtown Los Angeles. He plans to continue painting everyday and working hard to improve his techniques. He knows that it’s a struggle being an artist, whether you’re a rapper, photographer or in any other field, because you’re constantly trying to innovate and reinvent yourself. He wants to do something amazing and live beyond the expectation that he’s already set. Andrew will continue to paint more murals, because it’s something he really enjoys. Overall, there’s nothing he wants more than to become a master in his field.

When Andrew is not pursuing his life as a figure painter indoors and outdoors, he enjoys spending the little free time that he has riding his scooter, watching movies and hanging out with his girlfriend. While he says his hobbies aren’t too impressive, being invited to meet with Michelle Obama at The White House is pretty monumental.

For more on Hem's work, go to the source: www.andrewhem.com


Originally Published By Santa Monica College in November 2013: http://alumni.smc.edu/News/NewsDetail/2051