Jorge Acosta

I was born in Southern California to Mexican immigrants, raised in South Gate and in La Puente. English was not my first language, as I grew up speaking Spanish. This led to me being placed in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program when I was in elementary school. In high school, I struggled with math to the extent that I repeated algebra. My parents didn't graduate high school and as a first-generation college student, I found the transition to college a challenge to navigate. Fortunately, I came across the TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Cal State Long Beach. The program is designed to assist students who are low-income, first-generation to college, or have a disability; and who demonstrate academic need and the motivation to achieve their maximum potential in higher education. As a first-generation college student in the TRiO program, one of the most meaningful interactions I had was meeting with my advisor. His guidance and support were so impactful that I was inspired to pursue a career in student services, with a focus on counseling. Later, I completed an internship at a college advising nonprofit while I concurrently pursued my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Cal State Long Beach. Graduate school was a significant transition as I was not fully prepared and was unsure of what to expect. The support and guidance of a faculty member who served as my mentor provided me with the necessary guidance to earn a Master of Science in Counseling from Cal State Long Beach.

In my 14 years at Citrus College, I have held a variety of different positions, including liaison for school relations and outreach and instructor for the early college program. Additionally, I previously worked as an adjunct counselor in the EOPS/CARE program at Citrus College and at Golden West College. My journey as a professional at Citrus College has taken me to places I never dreamed possible. When I was hired as a full-time counseling faculty in 2016, it was an exciting opportunity to help impact student lives. One of the most rewarding aspects of my position is that it enables me to guide students through their educational journey and celebrate with them as they achieve their goals. When I work with students, I try to break things down for them in a way that is informative, clear and takes the big picture and segments it into smaller, manageable steps. As a mentor, I would like to help students see that the path to success is possible and their dreams can be realized.

updated 09/2021

Junior Domingo

Junior Domingo is the dean of kinesiology, health and athletics here at Citrus College since November 2018. He oversees the academic area while also serving as the athletic director for all 16 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) varsity programs, including football. Prior to his move into athletic administration, Junior practiced as a certified athletic trainer and taught kinesiology and athletic training courses at multiple institutions. He is currently serving on the CCCAA Management Council, California Community College Athletic Trainers' Association's Medical Advisory Board, National Athletic Trainers' Association's Honors and Awards sub-committee, Far West Athletic Trainers' Association Honors and Awards Committee, California Athletic Trainers' Association's Legislative Action Team, and on multiple universities' athletic training advisory boards; he has also previously served on various managing boards and committees.

Junior was born and raised in Indio, California, graduating from Indio High School, to immigrant parents. At the time, they were migrant farm workers, with his father moving into a position with the Coachella Valley Water District and mother with the department of social services. Growing up his parents placed a large emphasis on working hard, especially in the classroom and academics. He was allowed to compete in athletics, primarily in football, basketball, wrestling, and track and field as a youth and into high school. Junior was able to learn many life lessons during these times, especially having to manage the demands of academics, athletics, and family obligations.

During his upbringing and career, Junior was fortunate to have found mentors that instilled the importance of mentoring, volunteerism, and being an advocate. He has also been given the opportunity to mentor and/or assist students, coaches, and colleagues through their career paths and goals. The mentor/mentee relationship is one that evolves over time and Junior believes that we all should have multiple mentors that can help guide us through the various situations that we will face, professionally and personally. Over the course of his life so far, the role that each of his mentors have played or plays now is very dependent on his current concerns and needs. The key component is that he has built the rapport and trust with each of them that he knows he can reach out to any of them when needed.

As a first-generation college student, Junior received his Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, option in Athletic Training, from California State University, Long Beach, a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Utah State University, and currently working on a Doctorate in Education in Sports Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago. During his spare time, he enjoys watching/playing sports, engaging in various outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.

updated 09/2021

Rafael Herrera

My name is Rafael Herrera and I look forward to connecting with you all. In case you did not know, I have been working at Citrus College for over ten years now as a full-time counselor and as an instructor.

Like you, my academic journey began at a local community college. I am a Latino male who grew up in El Monte and I was the first member in my family to attend college and to graduate with a bachelor's degree. Attending college while working full-time was one of my identities during school. So, it was super challenging for me to do well in school and get good grades because I did not know how to balance out college work, family obligations, and work. As a result, one additional identity I would say I had while in college is that of a "lone rider" I lacked the intuition to find a mentor and or support group while in college. In doing so, I had to fight and claw my way through so many challenges while in college. Looking back now, I did not know during those college years that I was in dire need of a mentor or support group. Therefore, I want to give back to students and help guide them as much as possible by serving as a mentor, voice, and advocate.

updated 09/2021

Dominic Jacquet

I am an educational advisor in the general counseling department at Citrus College. I began my career here in August 2000. During my Citrus College tenure, I have worked in the International Student Center, served as a coordinator of the Umoja program, worked as an instructor, and as an adjunct counselor.

I grew up in the Monrovia/Duarte area, and I'm a first generation college graduate. After graduating from Monrovia High School, I attended Citrus College. From Citrus, I transferred to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and double majored with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies. From there, I attended the University of La Verne and earned a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy.

As a student, I would say "college is not for me" and, at the time, college wasn't. While attending Citrus College, I felt like giving up and throwing in the towel. Then I enrolled in a sociology class. There I met one of my instructors who became my mentor through my studies at Citrus. When I transferred to CSUN, I met more mentors that were men of color. They would tell me after college being a man of color will be harder. Listening to their trials and tribulations, their stories and experiences prepared me for my future. My mentors were there for me when I needed them, and guided me through college. When attending CSUN, there was a feeling of community and we all supported one another. When working on and off campus supporting students, I became a mentor and a role model.

Citrus College is the first step of your college education. It will not be easy and you will struggle during some semesters. However, like that famous quote, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." For me, in the beginning, I didn't like school; it wasn't for me. I struggled every semester and wanted to give up. Though, little by little, I made progress. Remember, the mentors here started right where you are now. We can share our stories and motivate other students to succeed. If I can do it, you can do it, too.

updated 09/2021

Ben Macias

My name is Ben Macias and I serve as the director of campus safety of Citrus College. I have been employed at Citrus College for almost 15 years and I oversee a department of professionals who are entrusted with the safety and security of every student and employee on our beautiful campus.

I was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and subsequently immigrated to the United States. I grew up in a single parent household with only my mother and three siblings. When we arrived to the United States, we did not speak English and we were poor. We were raised in various lower socio-economic neighborhoods of Los Angeles County where drugs, gangs and violence were a normal, daily occurrence.

Regardless of my circumstances, I persevered and became the first in my family to graduate college. I initially went to East Los Angeles College where I played football and eventually obtained my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, with a concentration in Emergency Management, from the University of Phoenix. My personal educational goal is to obtain my Juris Doctor in Criminal Law.

I have coached high school football for 16 years and do so as a form of giving back to my community. I strive to be a positive male role model in the lives of the athletes I coach. As a former wrestler, baseball and football player, I know firsthand of the many benefits athletics provides a young man. Specifically, football and the life lessons it teaches.

I chose to be a mentor for several reasons, but mainly because I enjoy helping others and having a positive impact. I want to share, motivate, inspire and be a positive role model for others who may be in similar circumstances. Regardless of our situations, we do not need to be a victim of our circumstances. Knowledge is power and we can all persevere. I believe in the power of change, overcoming obstacles and making no excuses.

updated 09/2021

Gino Muñoz

Gino Muñoz graduated from William Workman High School, City of Industry, in 1988 and spent three years searching for his calling in life. In 1990, he enrolled at Citrus College, where he studied music. Through his studies at Citrus, he was able to pave a way to perform with great artists, such as Michael Bublè and Gwen Stefani. Currently, Gino is the Academic Senate president at Citrus College, a full-time music faculty member, and an entrepreneur who produces shows for Sea World, Legoland, and other venues. Gino is also a partner in 37 St Joseph Studios, a professional recording studio located in Arcadia.

updated 09/2021

Levi Richard

I grew up in a typical traditional African-American middle class family. My parents grew up poor in Mississippi and moved to Los Angeles after getting married. Also, siblings and relatives re-located to the Los Angeles area where there was lots of interaction among us. There was a strong community of family and friends.

We moved to Baldwin Park when I was about nine years old and lived there until I graduated from college.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Master of Science in Business, and a doctoral degree in business administration.

I have over 20 years of managerial experience in corporations and am a full-time faculty member in the business department at Citrus College. I also serve on various committees, such as the Citrus College Foundation, the Institutional Research Committee, the Enrollment Management Committee, the African-American Scholars Committee, and the Men of Color Committee.

Mentoring relationships are a shared opportunity for learning and growth and I deeply believe that I have a responsibility to "give back" to those in need who are within my reach. This means helping them any way that I can, because at its core, mentoring demonstrates to someone that another person cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with challenges, and that they matter.

I have consulted mentors in the past and will continue to consult them in the future. I am deeply grateful for the vital role they play my life. Their wise counsel has helped me overcome many obstacles that I've faced.

updated 09/2021

Raul Sanchez

My name is Raul Sanchez and I began my work in higher education at Citrus College in January 2005 where I have worked in various capacities - Transfer Center academic advisor for five years, general counseling for two years, Transfer Center coordinator for three years, and, for the last six years, I have been a counselor in the EOPS/CARE department. I enjoy working with students and helping them get from "point A to point B" with their goals. It is extremely gratifying for me to see students succeed and walk across the graduation stage and receive a university acceptance letter.

I am a first-generation college student and a product of the local community. I graduated Pomona High School in June 1999 and went off to attend Sacramento State where I played football and earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology in May 2004. I then came back home to Pomona and began working at Citrus College as an academic advisor in January 2005, which only required a bachelor's degree. In August 2005, I began the pursuit of my Master of Science in Counseling in Higher Education at the University of La Verne (ULV). Having earned a master's degree in May 2008 allowed me to transition from an "advisor" to a "counselor." I began to counsel and teach counseling courses in July 2008 at Citrus.

The story sounds nice and smooth but the reality is, when I arrived at Sacramento State, I had no idea what I wanted to major in or even how to succeed in college. My first semester was a culture shock and, as a result, my grades suffered. I earned a 1.60 GPA and was placed on academic probation, which placed me in danger of being ineligible of playing football. Although it was intimidating, I turned to my counselors, teachers, and classmates and asked for help. I quickly learned I needed to use all resources around me as that was the only way I was going to make it through. The help I received is what motivates me to help students today.

College is not an easy process - students will be stressed, investing energy, time and money; students will have sleepless nights and will need to sacrifice and learn how to say "no." However, it is all worth it. Education will open many doors that otherwise would not be available without a formal post-secondary education. Use mentors, such as myself, to help get to the finish line. We are "here" for our students. Make it happen!

updated 09/2021

Erick Sanzon

Hello everyone. My name is Erick Sanzon. I am an alumnus of Citrus College. I grew up in Baldwin Park, and navigated higher education as a first-generation college student. I have been an employee of Citrus for over five years now and currently work as an adjunct counselor in the counseling department.

After I graduated college with my bachelor's degree, I was a college adviser for the USC College Advising Corps in Long Beach. After that, I worked part-time for two and a half years at Pasadena City College as a student success coach for their Pathways program. While working at PCC, I also began working as an EOPS student services assistant for Citrus College. I was in that role at Citrus for two and a half years before I started working as a counselor.

I hope to have conversations with students regarding what it's like to experience higher education as a male, and talk about the different roles of which they identify. As a male of color, I believe it's important to help students develop leadership skills so they can advocate for themselves and confidently maneuver unfamiliar spaces within education and beyond, thorough their professional careers.

I have had wonderful mentors at every school I attended, so it's difficult to speak of just one that was most influential during my journey as a student. However, my high school counselor, along with the counselors at Citrus College, were a big part in my success. They were one of the reasons why I wanted to return to Citrus to work as a counselor after earning my bachelor's degree.

I still keep in touch with my mentors, and it is a rewarding experience to work with a group of individuals who I am familiar with and who supported me while I was a student at Citrus College.

updated 10/2021

Gerald Sequeira

I was born in Nicaragua where I spent my childhood before migrating to the United States. I grew up in Ventura, California in a close-knit family. I'm married, and my wife and I have two children.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California Los Angeles, and a Juris Doctor in Law from UCLA.

Prior to Citrus College, I practiced law for a government agency (National Labor Relations Board), then worked as director of admissions and financial aid for the Boyd School of Law at University of Nevada Las Vegas, and director of admissions and records at El Camino College Compton Center. Currently, I'm the dean of enrollment services at Citrus College.

Aside from my career at Citrus College, I've enjoyed traveling (some 22 countries, thus far), and I enjoy dancing and painting.

Having mentors helped me become a successful professional, thus I want to give back based on my own experience. It's important to help open doors and share my experience with other men of color. I owe a lot of my success, and much of my personal achievement, to the mentors who showed me how to be a successful student and professional.

updated 09/2021