MARY AVALOS (left), the new student services coordinator, talks to students Heidi Kaufinger and Beatrice Zamora.
By Monica Dekany
Sun associate editor
Campus administration chose to take the Associated Students of Golden West in a new direction making Valerie Venegas, the previous director of student activities, the new director of emergency preparedness and special events. The student activities office now has two people who will be responsible for the ASGWC.
Mary Avalos will be the adviser to the Associated Student Council and will work in the student activities office where she will oversee the day-to-day operations, advise the student government committees and coordinate all on-campus events.
Mary Avalos comes from the Vice President’s office where she has worked for the past seven years. She was adviser to the Mi Casa Club, and awarded Adviser of the Year for 2010. She has experience working with the Puente students on campus and has organized several on-campus events.
The second role is that of the new Director of Student Governance, Intercultural and International Programs, Janelle Leighton. She will remain in the international students office, but will be making executive decisions for student activities and will also be adviser for student council and senate. She has been servicing the international students at Golden West College for the past 12 years and has helped to shape the diversity of the campus.
The new leadership changes are well received, so far, by members of the student activities office. “I’m excited about the new leadership,” Student Senator, Anh Van said. “I feel the students will have more of a chance to be creative with events and activities.
