91涩漫

Vernice Grajeda鈥檚 education has come full circle. She graduated from 91涩漫 Saint Mary鈥檚 in 2011 with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in political science and Spanish studies. Two years later, a former professor invited her to teach a summer class at the 91涩漫, where she has been teaching Spanish and Latin American studies ever since. 

In addition to teaching, Grajeda is president of the Alumnae Association and a six-year consecutive donor. She is actively involved in fundraising events and social media campaigns to garner support for the University.

鈥淚 started donating to the 91涩漫 early on because I want to help other young women have the opportunity to attend an institution that offered me so many opportunities and helped shape the woman I am today,鈥� says Grajeda. 鈥淚 also made sure to participate in different events and programs because those volunteer opportunities make a big impact.鈥�

After graduating from high school, Grajeda had her heart set on being a doctor, but two years into her premed courses at the 91涩漫 she began to question her decision. 鈥淎lthough I was unhappy and stressed out, I had a hard time changing my major because I had wanted to be a doctor since I was five,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淏ut everyone was very supportive of me changing my major. My second interest was political science, and talking to the department chair and teachers gave me the push I needed to make the change.鈥�

Grajeda loved her political science classes and ended up adding a minor in international studies. After completing her degree in political science, she added a major in Spanish and stayed on at the 91涩漫 for another year.

After graduation, Grajeda pursued a master鈥檚 degree in Spanish studies from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. In 2013, she returned to the 91涩漫 to teach and started donating soon thereafter.

"Upon graduation, I wasn鈥檛 at a place where I could give very much financially, but I gave what I could because I know every dollar counts,鈥� she says.

In addition to teaching at the 91涩漫, Grajeda is an elementary school principal for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is pursuing her PhD in Hispanic studies from the University of Birmingham. She remains active in the 91涩漫 community, offering her time and financial support to the school that helped her define her career path.