Snapshots of Success
Class of 1989
"Take the time to try new things at Chabot College. Don’t feel pressured to rush into a field. Find out what you enjoy, and you will find your purpose.”
Photo Credit: Michael Craig
Gene grew up in the San Leandro and was familiar with Chabot College because his siblings and other family members attended the school. Unsure of his field, he enrolled in several different classes while working at Miller’s Outpost folding clothes in Southland Mall. His defining moment came when a history instructor gave extra credit to students who applied for summer internships. He was accepted into an internship with Congressman Peter Stark’s office just before transferring to CSU Long Beach.
During the summer of 1989, this experience - including driving the congressman to different speaking engagements - motivated him to pursue political science. After graduating from Chabot in Spring 1989, he landed an eye-opening internship in Washington DC with the Small Business Administration. That Fall, he attended CSU Long Beach, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. During this time, he also interned for Congressman Mel Levine and worked for the CSU Long Beach administration.
From 1993 to 1995, Gene served as the White House correspondence writer on behalf of former President Bill Clinton, also handling logistics and security detail for President Clinton and Vice President Biden. Gene has had a rich career, working closely with state/federal legislators and government agencies on state initiatives and election campaigns. He has served as a liaison between government agencies, local communities, and private firms regarding land use for economic development. He also has experience working in tech start-ups and joint ventures with international trade.
Today, Gene is known as a political strategist, where leaders rely on his expertise in government affairs. He currently serves the Office of Public Affairs for Alameda County.
Gene’s advice for current students: Take the time to try new things at Chabot College. Don’t feel pressured to rush into a field. Find out what you enjoy, and you will find your purpose. Nothing is impossible.
Interview Credit: Tomoko Roudebush