This year, Adriana Dos Santos became the second individual to serve as a student trustee representative for the San Diego College of Continuing Education on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees. Student trustees also serve as their college’s associate student president, rotate attendance at board meetings, and are committed to serving and advocating for student interests by promoting diversity, community, and academic success.

As the 2023-2024 student trustee, Dos Santos, 35, participated in state and federal advocacy from Sacramento to Washington, D.C., where she lobbied for funding to renovate old campus buildings and for more basic needs resources including mental health services. She met the United States (U.S.) Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, Senator Laphonza Butler, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, and Congressman Juan Vargas. Back home, she proudly marched in the San Diego Pride Parade and the 42nd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.

“The most memorable experiences I have had serving as student trustee were participating in the board meetings and voting on issues that interfere in the daily routine of many students and the opportunity to attend conferences that discussed the importance of empowering adult learners and the workforce,” said Dos Santos.

Back at the College of Continuing Education, she studies English as a Second Language (ESL), Healthcare, Child Development, and Japanese calligraphy. Together with the college’s Associated Student Body (ASB) leaders, Dos Santos organized events for her fellow students including Arab American Heritage Month and Women’s History Month. 

Dos Santos has a long history of serving her community. She achieved a degree in physical education with an emphasis in special education in her home country of Brazil. During her career, she worked with different groups from children to seniors and had the opportunity to represent Brazil during an exchange program in Japan to learn about the Japanese educational system.

While she misses her family and her native language, Dos Santos found a community at the College of Continuing Education through the ASB. She advises her fellow students, “I recommend getting involved on campus for anyone who enjoys working for the community and who is interested in understanding more about public policy.”

Following her studies at the College of Continuing Education Dos Santos will transition to Mesa College.