91成人导航

Meet Rachael Daniels 鈥�27, MSL Program

Rachael Daniels 鈥�27 said she has been 鈥済enuinely enjoying my first semester of graduate school.鈥� She said it鈥檚 been an adjustment to get back into an academic mindset since she hasn鈥檛 been a student since 2010.

鈥淚鈥檓 energized by the challenge and by the diverse perspectives of my peers,鈥� Daniels said. 鈥淏alancing the workload with full-time work, family life and community commitments is testing (and sharpening) my time-management skills.鈥�

She said she is enjoying all of her classes but if she had to pick one, her favorite is legal analysis with professor Benjamin Herzberger.

鈥淗e breaks down legal writing with exceptional clarity and his Zoom sessions are both substantive and highly interactive; a great forum to ask questions and learn from my peers,鈥� she said. 鈥淒rawing on his experience as a deputy legislative counsel, he brings practical insights that make the material engaging and immediately useful.鈥�

After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology, she spent most of her career as a marine science and environmental educator with nonprofits, zoos and aquariums.

鈥淚 did not originally plan on law school,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s the political landscape shifted and I watched environmental protections being stripped and the EPA dismantled in key areas, I felt compelled to do more.鈥�

She decided to pivot toward environmental policy which led her to explore graduate programs and discovering McGeorge鈥檚 .

Daniels said the program aligns perfectly with her interests and goals, offering the flexibility she needs to keep working full time while earning her degree.

鈥淲ith my background in marine biology and years of experience as an environmental educator, I鈥檝e seen firsthand the importance of fostering appreciation for our ecosystems,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e also recognized that lasting impact requires strong policies and protections at the legislative level.鈥�

Daniels grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Pocono Mountain High School East and then the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Later, she attended graduate school at East Stroudsburg University where she earned her teaching certification in secondary education in biology.  

Her goal is to use her law degree to work in policy and advocacy, helping to shape and defend regulations that safeguard oceans, waterways and lands.

鈥淯ltimately, I see this work as an extension of my lifelong commitment to protecting the natural world, shifting from teaching about ecosystems to actively shaping the policies that preserve them,鈥� she said.

Meet Zahra Alfalak-Porter 鈥�27, MSL Program

Zahra Alfalak-Porter 鈥�27 said it's been a challenging but rewarding experience. Adding that law school is a completely new academic field of study for her. Alfalak-Porter received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in pre-history and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in critical theory from UC Davis. Because she was a double major, it took her five years to complete.

Alfalak-Porter is a first-generation student. She grew up in San Francisco attending junior college and then transferring to UC Davis. Her concentration is in  at McGeorge.

鈥淎lthough I work around legislation, it has been hard adjusting to the information,鈥� Alfalak-Porter said.

She said both of her professors are great, but she likes her contracts class a little bit more than the other class.

鈥淪tudying law has always been in the back of my mind but I never took the leap until now,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 work in the legislative side of higher education, so it seemed like a natural progression to learn more.鈥�

According to her, McGeorge offered an amazing online master鈥檚 program so that is why she chose to pursue a degree at the institution.

鈥淚'm able to still work full-time, and I study in the evenings,鈥� Alfalak-Porter said. 鈥淚 hope to develop my expertise more, so I can continue analyzing, reviewing and advocating for the proactive higher-education legislation for all California college students.鈥�

Alfalak-Porter added that she is especially interested in serving those from underserved communities. She currently works for the governing system for all 116 California Community Colleges (CCC) throughout the state.

The CCC program called the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 91成人导航 Islander Student Achievement Program (AANHPI SAP) helps bridge equity gaps for AANHPI students, first-generation students as well as underserved students.

鈥淎s someone who is also under this AANHPI umbrella, I am not only professionally motivated but also personally motivated in the progress and success of the AANHPI SAP,鈥� Alfalak-Porter said. 鈥淭herefore, I would not want to join a program where I could not continue this work, that is so important to me.鈥�

She said McGeorge's MSL program allows her to continue her work, while learning more expertise to bolster her efforts in the CCC space.

Meet Dr. Laura Savage 鈥�27, MSL Program

Dr. Laura Savage 鈥�27 is a scholar in every sense, earning an Associate of Arts in behavioral and social sciences from Berkeley City College, a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and African studies from San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts in education for social justice and equity at San Francisco State University. She went on to pursue a Doctor of Education, educational leadership for social justice from California State University East Bay.

Savage has her own consulting business and works for the Court Appointed Family Engagement Specialist (CAFES). She works in special education advocacy law.

She said working as an advocate does not allow her the opportunity to go into the courtroom with her clients. Adding, a lot of clients have complained that they wished she could finish the proceedings and go into the courtroom with them.

鈥淚 like working in advocacy; there is a sense of justice and giving a voice to those who have been stifled,鈥� Savage said.

She also has a son who has disabilities, and that experience has led her to work in advocacy. Before she had her son, she worked in special education.

鈥淢y son is my inspiration,鈥� she said.

She said she has a renewed interest in law and is happy to be at McGeorge.

鈥淚 love it here; I really feel inclusion here and appreciate how interactive professors are here,鈥� she said.

She said she has always wanted to take a course on Critical Race Theory, and the class has lived up to her expectations, stating that now more than ever since the class is diving into tough topics, like immigration law and citizenship.

Savage grew up in the Bay Area and is currently living in Stockton.

Meet Andres Mayorga 鈥�27, MPA Program

Andres Mayorga 鈥�27 was born and raised in Sacramento. He attended Sacramento Charter High School and is an alumnus of the 91成人导航, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership from Bernerd College in June 2025.

He began the  program this semester and said it has been exhilarating.

鈥淚n the short time I have been a student, I have been able to network, attend various professional events and join organizations within McGeorge as well as in the local community,鈥� he said.

He said he has always been interested in the functions of the U.S. government and politics, especially regarding civic engagement and civil rights protections. Although he never knew that he would end up pursuing an MPA degree at a law school.

Mayorga decided to pursue an MPA degree at McGeorge because he works for the university鈥檚 91成人导航 Health Care Collaborative, which is located on 91成人导航鈥檚 Sacramento Campus. He wanted to continue his education at the 91成人导航. Additionally, McGeorge has a strong reputation within the local, state and federal government, which he thinks will guide him towards a more meaningful career and network.

鈥淧ublic service is such a large and broad field to work within,鈥� he said. 鈥淒uring my time in the program, I would like to learn about the different realms I could take my career, whether that means working for local, state, the federal government or non-profits.鈥�

He added that he knows that his passion for public service and the skills as well as connections that McGeorge is equipping him with will have a successful impact on his career.