Student Profile: Fresno City College — Danielle Valdez

FCC student and ASG President Danielle Valdez

Associated Student Government (ASG) President Danielle Valdez first started at Fresno City College in 1983 after graduating from Hoover High School, where she was busy with student government and sports. But college didn’t work out as she had planned and she dropped out. “It’s always been in my heart to come back to college, but I’ve always made excuses–can’t afford it, don’t have time. And I made that excuse for many years,” she said.

Her goal is to make students more aware of student government and what FCC has to offer.

After years of working in retail, she knew she needed a college degree to advance in her career and returned to FCC. Now, at age 42, Danielle sees her earlier experience as a bonus, as she represents all students at FCC in her role as ASG president. She says that she understands what it was like to be here as an 18-year-old and what it’s like to be here as an older student. She identifies with both generations and wants to make the college experience better for them.

In addition to attending classes, she works in College Activities, and as ASG president sits on a number of college committees, including the Presidential Search committee. This has given her a unique look at the inner workings of the college. While challenging, her busy schedule has been interesting and a tremendous learning experience.

Her goal is to make students more aware of student government and what FCC has to offer. “My first year here, I had no clue what Fresno City College had to offer. Once I got involved in student activities, then I saw all the benefits,” said Danielle. “As student body president, it is my job to inform students and find ways to pull them back in. We need to get motivation back in not just for our students but staff as well.”

Her plan includes visiting as many classes as she and other ASG officers possibly can, personally meeting faculty and staff, and getting the word out to students about ASG. “The goal is to inform students that they have a student government that will listen to them and is basically their voice,” she said.

Danielle wants to transfer to California State University, Fresno and study business. Her goal is to work in a management position at a company here in the Valley. Another reason Valdez was eager to return to college was her mother–a single parent who raised Valdez and her brother. “My mother has sacrificed and given up so much. For me to give back to her for everything she’s done would be to get a college degree,” she said. “I just want to show her that what she taught me wasn’t a waste, it just took me a little longer to figure it out.”

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