Professor Mona Alsoraimi-Espiritu’s journey in education and public service is a testament to her unwavering commitment to social justice and community engagement. Before earning her bachelor’s degree, she took a significant step that would shape her entire career: she signed up for the Peace Corps. This decision marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to helping others and laid the foundation for her future endeavors in academia.
Her time as a Peace Corps volunteer was transformative. Experiencing loneliness and cultural isolation abroad, she developed a deep empathy for her immigrant parents who faced similar cultural and language barriers when coming to the United States. Despite recognizing her more privileged situation, these experiences humbled her, deepening her understanding of the positionality of immigrants. “We are not here to be bystanders,” she often emphasizes, reflecting her belief in active participation in societal change.
Professor Alsoraimi-Espiritu started her college education at the San Diego Community College District and then earned her bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University and later her master’s degree at Georgia State University, solidifying her commitment to education as a means of social justice. Her early career further clarified her vision; she saw herself making a difference through teaching and empowering others in the education sector. This period of her life was marked by a growing awareness of the importance of public service, and she began to see teaching as a powerful tool for enacting change. “Teaching is a form of social justice,” she asserts, a principle that has guided her throughout her academic career.
Professor Alsoraimi-Espiritu’s experiences abroad continued to shape her perspective. During her time in Mongolia, she often felt like an outsider, particularly when her host dad teased her about her accent. This experience brought her a greater sense of humility and a deeper awareness of the struggles faced by immigrants, like her own parents, in the U.S. It was a reminder of how challenging life can be for those who are marginalized, and it further fueled her commitment to advocating for social justice in her work.
Back in the United States, Professor Alsoraimi-Espiritu found fulfillment in her involvement with Pillars of the Community, a nonprofit organization focused on mobilizing community change and social justice. Reclaiming Our Stories, which began as an effort to bridge the gap between the community and academia evolved into the community project that was then published by CityWorksPress, and later taught in several classes at City College. CityWorksPress went on to publish two additional books based on the Reclaiming Our Stories project involving a variety of city College students, and faculty members. This project exemplified her dedication to creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard and validated.
Today, as the Academic Senate President at City College, Professor Alsoraimi-Espiritu is focused on fostering greater faculty involvement and ensuring that higher education upholds its integrity. She is committed to encouraging faculty to exercise their rights as a policymaking body, referencing the legislation “AB1725” to remind them of their power. “We have real power,” she asserts, a realization that came from her diligent study of legislative references and training materials.
Looking ahead, Professor Alsoraimi-Espiritu envisions retiring as a faculty member at City College, a place where she hopes to invest all she can in students and faculty. She strongly believes in the democratizing power of community colleges, which offer individuals a pathway to a living wage and the potential for upward mobility and self-actualization through education. “We have potential,” she states, reflecting her unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.