Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-960-2739
Email: chjmendo@hotmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christina-mendoza2000
B.S., Public Affairs, 2000, Indiana University, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
MBA, 2003, University of Phoenix
In my current professional role at UScellular, not only do I serve as Senior Executive Assistant Chief People Officer and Chief of Strategy, Partnerships & Towers, but I also have the honor and privilege to assist our Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Since the murder of George Floyd, I have thrown myself into learning everything I can about all races, backgrounds, and most importantly people. I read books, listen to podcasts, educate myself, and share with my teams when I see key opportunities that can be applied to their teams. I co-host of our annual Inclusion Summit attended by all 5,000 associates, where we cover different topics such as Neurodiversity, Burnout, and Body Diversity, for example. Currently, we are working on dynamic conversations for National Arab American Heritage Month in April and a proactive approach to the upcoming 2024 election as well.
I am committed to serving and giving back to community. Not only am I a current O’Neill SPEA Alumni Board Member and founder of the Elizbeth Hopper Memorial Scholarship at Purdue, but I also serve as Treasurer of my Condo Association Board, member of Lane Tech Boys Soccer Booster Club, and I organize several volunteer events for the administration community at UScellular. This year, I also began serving as Board Secretary for Future Cycle Breakers, a non-profit based in Northwest Indiana. Our mission is to champion entrepreneurial leadership among minority youth to uplift our communities. Our after school and summer programs are currently running in Chicago Heights, East Chicago and Hammond, IN. We are a working board, and I am responsible for building the budget, creating partnerships, keeping track of outstanding operational items, and assisting with grant applications. Recently, I met a student who was accepted to IU Kelley School of Business, and after inviting her to “Bring on IU: Chicago Event”, she has decided to minor at O’Neill!
I am entering my first year as mentor for The Big Shoulder Fund, whose mission is to provide support to schools with demonstrated need which provide a quality, values-based education for Chicago’s children. I have been mentoring four sixth-grade students who won Tengelsen Farm and Frolic Scholarship. We meet each month and talk about anything they would like – of course, when they bring up college, it is only natural for me to share about IU and my wonderful experience attending college here. We also discuss anything from books to Spanish to teaching them how to complete a NCAA March Madness Bracket. Overall, I have been volunteering with the organization for the last five years, and I have also organized school supply drives, donated office supplies, and attended service days.
I am currently in my second year as board member for the Admin Awards. The Admin Awards are an administrative professional's highest honor, and it is the first and only public recognition program of its kind in the country that focuses specifically on recognizing and rewarding the achievements, dedication, and importance of administrative professionals. Last year, I nominated five administrative assistants – (three of which were finalists, leading UScellular to win the Founder’s Award). This coveted award recognizes a company who provides an exceptional work environment for administrative professionals. This year, I plan to nominate the admin team for six awards. Admins are the strategic partners to their executives; we are extensions of them and bring significant value to organizations. Executives would not be able to lead without an Executive Assistant; at the end of the day this role is a leadership role.
I have gained extensive knowledge through all of my experiences at UScellular and volunteering my time. I am extremely excited to be a knowledgeable resource if elected to IU’s Board of Trustees. My goal is to be an ally and voice for all humans - this includes students, administration, professors, and alumni. At the last Chicago Event I attended back in February; I had the honor of meeting President Pamela Whitten. I went in with a hard question for her about affirmative action and the SCOTUS decision on college admission. We had a great conversation, and I was able to learn what IU’s action plan is. She explained how this decision will not affect the BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) Community of future students. I am not afraid to ask tough questions, but I will also jump in to offer viable solutions.
I am grateful for the opportunity to potentially be elected to the BOT. Participating in this process has allowed me to reflect on and share my love for IU, along with my vision as to how I will impact the BOT. I look forward to connecting with the many IU Alumni from all walks of life, who are the true embodiment of what it means to be a HOOSIER.
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