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Guadalupe Ibarra: Sexual Assault Responder by Day, World Traveler at Heart

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Elizabeth Vasquez
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Kirby Beaton
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

Name:  Guadalupe Elvira Ibarra

Major/Minor: Sociology major and Spanish minor

Year of Graduation:  Class of 2014!

Hometown: Bellflower, CA

 

 

What are three things people should know about you?

I love to travel because I like the feeling of being in a place where no one knows me. I’m really awkward and sometimes I do it on purpose… and I think too much!

Fun Fact?

I’ve hiked Huayna Picchu!

 

What is your position at your current job?

Program Coordinator for the District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Response Team for the Santa Barbara County!

What exactly do you do?

I coordinate between 21 agencies in the county which includes law enforcement, rape crisis center, district attorney, child welfare services, nurse examiners, child forensic interviewers, victim witness advocates, the department of justice, and crime lab to provided forensic medical exams to victims of sexual assault and forensic interviews for child abuse cases.

How did you hear about it?

Honestly, I found the job posting on Craigslist! I was looking through Craigslist and found the job posting on a Sunday evening, I emailed them that same day, got a response from them by Monday, scheduled an interview for Tuesday, a follow-up interview Thursday and by the following Monday I was hired.

What are some challenges about your job?

Some challenges are that I am a one-person office so I work alone the majority of the time. I do have co-workers on the SART team but I don’t have immediate co-workers that I see everyday or see on a consistant bases. Also, it’s challenging fostering a team atmosphere when everyone has their own agency that they belong to.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

Being a part of a team that has a hand in providing resources to surviviors and helping them begin to heal. I love how my team works towards being able to prosecute and find justice within a system that isn’t always easy to navigate through.

How long have you been working there?

For a year and one month!

Do you have any other jobs?

Yes, I am an administrative manager at Crossfit. I manage member accounts, help with gym projects, marketing, and client retention. They say that without me they wouldn’t know what to do. *wink, wink*

What do you miss most about UCSB?

I miss not having to pay back my student loans! LOL. I miss being so close to so many friends and potential friends, the energy from student organizations, and events. I miss the supportive staffs that I have been a part of. And I miss my residents from San Miguel!

 

What were you involved in while attending UCSB?

My first year at UCSB I was in Hall Council for Santa Catalina, North Tower (Woot-Woot)! SCORE, Democratic Process Party, SIRRC, and for my second year, I was in the AS Legislative Council, RHA, CODE, HaU, and HU, and for my 3rd and 4th year I was an RA. Also, I was in an intramural soccer team that won first place for finals.

Do you feel that your major/minor helps you in your current job in any way?

Yes, because it gives me perspective of how to work with the different agencies and different systems in place in favor of the population I cater to.

What do you miss about IV?

I miss all the food locations! Yeah, I miss the food.

How do you like living in SB?

I love it because there are so many events that go on, festivals, live music and food and the beach is still really close to where I live – only two blocks away!

Any plans for the future?

I plan to stay 2-3 years in my current job and stay in Santa Barbara to pursue a career in law enforcement and then eventually switch gears and work on a college campus through student affairs.

Any advice you would give to students at UCSB struggling to finish their undergrad?

Don’t let your pride get in the way of asking for help, be aware and actually utilize campus resources like CAPS, CLAS, EOP, office hours for professors and making connections with them because a lot of them are really great people who actually want to help students.

 

Life quote you live by:

I always try to live by the idea that everybody has their own truth and things to offer so I always try to live with an open mind and open heart.

Whats your spirit animal?

I’m going to say it’s a caterpillar. I’m a foodie, I like food! And the changes a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly is just like how I am! I’m all about process and going through experiences. Also, because I’d like to fly!

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Elizabeth Vasquez graduated from UC Santa Barbara back in 2016 with a BA in English. Elizabeth currently resides in the Silicon Valley area and works for Modern Luxury Silicon Valley magazine as a marketing & events coordinator. When she isn't working, Elizabeth enjoys dining out with friends, reading a book and spending time with her two dogs. See what she is up to on Instagram: @iamelizabethvasquez and on Twitter: @MissElizabethLV
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Kirby is a recent graduate from UCSB currently living in Los Angeles. As a proud Her Campus UCSB alum, she's happy to be back on the HC team covering one of her fave shows: "The Mindy Project." On any given day you can find her with her nose in a book (let's be real - it's a Kindle). In her free time, she likes petting dogs, binge-watching TV, and eating a lot of food. Find her on Instagram: @kirbynicoleb or @GirlBossEats.