Alanna Trejo (B.A. 2007) Presidential Aide, California State University Channel Islands

Alanna Trejo (B.A. 2007)
Presidential Aide, California State University Channel Islands

Alanna Trejo didn’t start out as an English major. She began at CSUSB in psychology but English felt like a better fit, especially as she “enjoyed learning about linguistics and analyzing novels in a historical context.” The switch paid off.  What Alanna gained through the English major greatly enriched her professional journey.  “I thought that having a degree in English would tie me down to being a teacher or professor,” she says, “but I was able to branch out into different types of industries.” Alanna is currently the Presidential Aide at Cal State, Channel Islands (CSUCI)—a dynamic role that she notes involves “a range of diverse administrative activities for the President and the Office of the President.” Before this, Alanna worked as an editorial assistant and production coordinator at a publishing company as well as an account manager for a software equipment management company. Alanna graduated with a B.A. in English (Literature Track) in 2007. It was through this degree that she sharpened her abilities to analyze, think, communicate, and edit.  “Having these skills has benefited my career path enormously,” she says. Alanna offers this advice to current students: “Think outside of the box when it comes to using your English degree. Know that you can use it in a variety of fields, not just teaching.”