Megalis Lopez has had a bond with Cerritos College since her days as a student when she walked the same halls that she now gives so much of her time and effort.

She worked three jobs, and was a full-time student during her tenure as a student on campus.

That effort has paid off by being named the Classified Employee of the Month, followed by a job promotion.

Promoted shortly after receiving the Classified Employee of the Month honor, she was recently elevated to the position of Liberal Arts Divisional Secretary from her previous staff position of Intermediate Typist Clerk.

English professor Steve Clifford expressed his feelings about Lopez’s promotion.

“We were all really happy to hear that she was going to be the new secretary clerk for the division. We all very much depend on her for our class scheduling, flex forms as well as variety of additional administrative tasks.”

Lopez graduated from Cerritos in 2001 with an Associate’s of Arts degree in general education followed by transferring to Cal State Dominguez Hills, where she graduated with her Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology.

She also worked as an adult hourly employee for the Student Services department, and also met the man who would become her husband on the campus of Cerritos as well.

Lopez commented on her Classified Employee of the Month accomplishment and promotion, saying, “It takes a lot of focus and detail. It’s always good to have a challenge. It’s always good to master it [a task] and feel like, yes, I did it. It’s always good to get better, so I am very, very pleased and happy that I was able to be promoted.”

While the duties of the new job title carry much more work and responsibilities, the exact same character-driven traits, which led to her promotion, also drive her to continue to go the extra mile when helping people.

Some of the new job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, handling the separate payrolls for the divisional staff employees and faculty, scheduling for the instructors, paperwork for the division and the overlooking and compiling of the curriculum needs for the division.

Division Clerk Jeanne Harmon commented on what it is like working with Lopez from a professional perspective.

Harmon said, “I started working with her in early July of this year and it has been a perfect balance for me in collaborating with her to help this division run as smoothly as possible. I wouldn’t enjoy my work as much as I do without her.”

Lopez credits her professional success to her spirituality as well as to her husband. She commented on how her spirituality has assisted her.

“Faith makes you flourish and it gives you a different perspective in your life. It gives you a different appreciation and respect, and I take pride in the work that I do every day, being a mother, and I really appreciate having the opportunity to live a healthy life.

“I work hard and I make sure to be a positive person every day and I make sure to try to be the best at everything that I do because I feel that through my faith that, that’s what is expected of me.”

English department chair David Fabish commented on what Lopez brings to the department saying, “She is warm and efficient and is a delight to work with. She is able to anticipate what we need and is a wonderful asset.

Lopez is widely regarded in the English department as an asset. English department clerk Lynn Velez spoke on Lopez’s work ethic.

“She has a great work ethic. She’s a great leader; very professional and always puts work first, and she prides herself on the dedication of her work.”

The drive and passion that Lopez shows on a daily basis is a small part of why she was selected as employee of the month.

She is seen as a valuable asset around the entire division because of her positive attitude, extremely motivational work ethic, as well as her focus to detail.

Outside of her professional life, Lopez is also a married mother of four children. She met her husband on the campus of Cerritos while working in the Student Activities department as an adult hourly employee.

Along with her continued desire for professional success and spiritual growth, Lopez desires educational growth as well, and would like to one day return back to school.