Mary Figueroa, ​Secretary - Area 3

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Mary Figueroa was first elected to the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees on November 7, 1995, having emerged from a crowded field of 11 candidates and one open seat. Trustee Figueroa was last re-elected by voters in November 2016 and is current president of the Board of Trustees. 

Ms. Figueroa's community involvement began at the age of 16. Her community organization involvement has included past and recent membership in: 

• • • Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center Board of Directors
      
      
    • City of Riverside Human Relations Commission
      
      
    • San Gorgonio Girl Scout Council Board of Directors
      
      
    • Departmental Women's Liaison Council/Department of Corrections
      
      
    • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission/Department of Corrections
      
      
    • Blueprint for Volunteer Diversity Planning Committee
      
      
    • American Diabetes Association Board of Directors
      
      
    • LATINO Network
      
      
    • Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
      
      
    • Riverside Mayor's Use of Force Panel
      
      
    • State of California Attorney General's Civil Rights Commission on Hate Crimes
      
      
    • NAACP
      
      
    • Riverside Chapter Board of Directors of the National Latino Peace Officers Association
      
      
    • Inland Empire Hispanic Leadership Council
      
      
    • South Coast Air Quality Management Control district/Environmental Justice Advisory Group​
      
      
    • Eastside Think Tank 
      
      

Ms. Figueroa recently retired from the State of California Department of Corrections after 21 years at the California Institution for Men in Chino as a correctional counselor. Previously, she was employed by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office as a victim witness advocate assigned to the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit; with RUSD as a substitute teacher; city of Riverside as a placement counselor in the Summer Youth Employment Program; and with the Riverside County American Red Cross. ​

​Ms. Figueroa realizes that having received her high school diploma from John W. North High School and a graduate from the University of California, Riverside with a B.A. in Chicano Studies and Political Science, these have provided her with the self esteem and confidence needed to return her services to the community. Having grown up in the Eastside of Riverside to a single mother, but with the family support and additional mentoring from individuals who have crossed her life, Ms. Figueroa advocates that given the opportunity, every child regardless of background can be a success. Ms. Figueroa believes that she is a living example of that concept.​