Madeleine Mejia EdM ’00 Runs for HAA Director
Voting began April 1. Eligible voters will have the option of voting either online or by paper ballot. Completed ballots must be received by 5PM (EDT) on May 14. All holders of Harvard degrees may vote for HAA elected directors.
Congratulations to HCSC board member Madeleine Mejia EdM ’00, a long time HCSC board officer, who has been nominated to serve a three-year term as a Harvard Alumni Association Elected Director. She is an assistant professor of literacy and reading education at California State University, Fullerton. If elected, she would serve on the HAA Board, an alumni advisory body that aims to foster a sense of community, engagement, and University citizenship among Harvard alumni around the world. HAA Elected Directors provide leadership for the HAA and its various committees, a capacity often demonstrated by a record of service to Harvard and an ability to communicate widely and effectively with other alumni.
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Interview with Harvard Alumni Association Elected Director Candidate, Madeleine Mejia EdM ’00
by Cynthia Torres ’80, MBA ’84, Past President, Harvard Club of Southern California
Q. Please tell us about yourself.
A. I grew up in Huntington Beach and live in LA, two cities dear to my heart. I am an assistant professor of Literacy and Reading Education. In this role, I prepare K-12 teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of a literacy expert — skills I gained while at Harvard and developed when I was teaching 1st and 2nd grade in Boston.
Q. Please tell us a bit about your Harvard experience.
A. I think of my time at Harvard as a shared journey marked by collaboration, mutual support, and a collective commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Community became the cornerstone of my experience.
Q. You have been a longtime Harvard alumni volunteer. Please tell us about that experience.
A. Now, as a nominee for the HAA Board, I carry this deep appreciation for community with me. As a longtime Harvard alumni volunteer in various roles, like VP of Programs for the Harvard Club of Southern California, co-chair for the Anti-Racism and COVID-19 Committees, and co-founder of the Harvard Latino Alumni Alliance in Southern California, I have witnessed the transformative power of creating spaces that allow Harvard alumni to connect, collaborate, develop and execute new ideas, and support one another.
Q. Why do you want to serve as an HAA Elected Director?
A. My goal is to contribute to the Harvard community’s continued vibrancy, ensuring that the sense of togetherness and shared purpose that defined my student experience persists and grows stronger for current and future generations of Harvard alumni. If elected, I am committed to giving back to the institution that has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional development. I plan to leverage my experiences and dedication to enhance the alumni experience, promote engagement at a larger scale, and strengthen the bonds that make the Harvard community truly exceptional.
Q. Final thoughts?
A. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the Harvard community in a new capacity.