Reaching out boldly
Dale Maglalang
Majors: Asian American studies and human development
Anticipated graduation year: 2014
Why is UC Davis the one for you? “One of the best experiences I’ve had at UC Davis is taking Asian American Studies classes and eventually double majoring in it with Human Development. When I took my first Asian American Studies class here, I felt empowered and I was able to slowly understand my identity as an Asian American. I also experienced how tight-knit the Asian American Studies Department is — everyone is supportive, from my peers, staff, faculty and alumni. The department makes sure that the staff and faculty are easily accessible and our needs as students are met.”
What do you hope to be your legacy here at UC Davis – what marks have you made or changes that you hope will continue? “I have been privileged to be part of many organizations on campus but I was most involved with BRIDGE: Pilipin@ Outreach & Retention at the Student Recruitment and Retention Center (SRRC). We outreached to underrepresented high schools twice a week for a year and provided workshops to students about higher education, social justice issues and Ethnic Studies topics. Furthermore, I co-coordinated our annual youth conference, Pilipin@ Youth Conference. I hope that my legacy lies in the knowledge of the students I outreached to, whether they have a better understanding of navigating higher education and resources available to them, an appreciation of their identity, history, and culture — and the passion to back to community.
Tell us about one person at UC Davis who has enhanced your life or your work? “Robyn Rodriguez, a professor in Asian American Studies, has been an inspiration to me because for one. It’s rare that I would see a professor who looks like me or understands my background in a university setting. She encourages students to be involved in the community and talked about her work with various organizations such as the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco. Rodriguez inspired me to continue to ask questions, research about the community, and make a difference. She’s been an amazing mentor who sees potential in her students and challenges us to think critically and apply what we’ve learned to our work.”
