Amanda Stayton
My name is Amanda Stayton and I am from Elk Grove, CA. I graduated in four years from CSULB with University Honors, a BA in Political Science and minor in Communication Studies. I worked throughout college to afford myself several engaging opportunities. In my four-year experience as a member of Delta Gamma sorority, I was elected Vice President of Communications, served on the Panhellenic Council and was a member of the Greek honors society, Order of Omega. I was selected by Delta Gamma to attend the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute with fraternity men and sorority women across North America where we developed our leadership skills. The women in Delta Gamma who studied abroad were very inspiring to me and in spring 2013, I took a leap of faith and headed to Florence, Italy for a semester. I have since then encouraged and supported Delta Gamma members to Study Abroad.
I was also engaged in my academic departments. I was a peer tutor for the Communication Studies department and was selected to participate in an apprenticeship with the Los Angeles County Superior Court Justices at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach. It was through this experience that I connected with and interned for Long Beach’s City Prosecutor, Doug Haubert, and later would join Councilwoman Stacy Mungo’s team as an office manager.
I love Long Beach, which is why I decided to stay after graduation. I have joined several local organizations since then including: CSULB Alumni Association, Junior League of Long Beach, Red Shoe Society of Long Beach, CSULB’s Beach Athletic Club, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and Delta Gamma Long Beach Alumni Chapter. I enjoy playing beach volleyball, traveling and never turn down Italian cuisine.
I work for SCAN Health Plan in their Public & Government Affairs department as the Legislative and Community Outreach Coordinator.
I serve as the bridge between SCAN Health Plan and the local community organizations and agencies, as well as with elected officials at the Federal, State and local levels. I engage these groups to bring SCAN Health Plan’s expertise to them, so some work days include travel to Washington, D.C. and Sacramento.
Working for SCAN Health Plan has afforded me the opportunity to further serve the Long Beach community and California’s seniors. Seniors are amazing and I am honored to be able to advocate on their behalf with the support of the SCAN team.
- Do you display CSULB memorabilia at work?
I have a CSULB coffee cup and an alumni license plate. You can also likely catch me in my Long Beach baseball hat on the weekends around town or at Blair Field.
Connect with your local community. Join groups and organizations and get to know your local leaders and government officials. Being able to give back to my community in a professional capacity has been very fulfilling personally and professionally.
The day I finished my thesis, entitled – Power in Communicating Legislation: How Well Did the Obama Administration Explain the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)? Not only was I very excited to not have to wake up at 5 a.m. to write and edit, but I was very fortunate to work with Dr. Charles Noble. I am beyond grateful for his mentorship through the process and I was able to use my thesis as a writing sample for my current position.
CSULB provided a solid foundation for my professional career, so the transition was easy. I connected with local groups, developed a strong social network and continue to work on my professional development. It was a great experience and CSULB adequately prepared me to join the work force.
It was an easy decision for me to want to remain a part of an institution that provided me an excellent education, a safe space to grow and develop myself and memories I will never forget.
Engaging with my community, advocating for what I believe in, traveling and meeting new people. Eventually, I would like to pursue graduate school. I am on board for where ever this train takes me, may that be California or possibly Washington, D.C. – I won’t rule anything out.
