Student Clubs

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HOW TO START A STUDENT CLUB?

The creation of a Student Club is a five-step process with instructions found in our Student Clubs Manual.  The process includes: Application, Application Review, Interview, Agreement, On-boarding Meeting.  Pacifica Graduate Institute encourages students to explore and further their interests at the Institute and outside the classroom that contribute to their development as members of the Pacifica and global communities. This policy sets forth students’ rights and responsibilities, as well as Institute expectations, regarding the establishment and conduct of Student Clubs and their activities.  Due to our unique residential model, it can be difficult to connect with students from other cohorts and programs around shared interests, whether they are academic, professional, or personal in nature, as well as shared identities. Student Clubs provide an opportunity to voluntarily connect with one another to create meaningful connections that may enrich the student experience.  For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

WHAT ARE THE STUDENT CLUB GUIDELINE AND PROVISIONS?

All Student Club activities must be done in consistency with the Student Conduct Policy (as outlined in the Student Handbook), through orderly means and must not disrupt the learning environment or Institutional functions/operations. Clubs should be open to all students without discrimination. Members of student clubs are responsible for their actions and must conduct themselves in accordance with the policies, procedures, and regulations of the Institute. Further details of all guidelines and provisions for student clubs can be found in our Student Clubs Manual.

WHAT IS THE CONDUCT AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR POLICY?

The purpose of a conduct policy is to respect and safeguard the intention of the faculty, administration, staff, and students to create an atmosphere where learning and dialogue can flourish. Whenever engaged in any activity related to being a student – whether in the classroom, offices, campus, residential areas, on shuttles, or in any form of correspondence with other students, staff, or faculty – students are expected to maintain themselves and behave in an orderly and respectful, professional manner and in a sober, drug free, and capable condition. Orderly behavior means behavior that does not disrupt regular academic life and complies with school policies. For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

WHAT ARE PACIFICA’S EXPECTATIONS FOR CIVIL AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR?

As a student and as a professional, you are expected to maintain civil and professional behavior befitting your pursuit of advanced degrees and future professional positions. Whereas many fields offer guidelines and professional standards of behavior expected of students pursuing these fields, we additionally require the following student commitments to civility, regarding in-person, online, phone, Zoom, and other forms of communication as well as in any setting where they represent themselves as a student at Pacifica (i.e., practicum or research sites). For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

WHAT ARE THE DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS AND INCLUSION AT PACIFICA?

All student clubs at Pacifica Graduate Institute are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that is accessible to all members, including those with disabilities. Clubs are required to ensure that all activities, communications, and meetings are accessible and accommodating to students with disabilities, in compliance with Title IX, ADA and the broader inclusion policies of Pacifica. For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

WHAT ARE THE CLUB PRIVILEGES?

Student clubs at Pacifica enjoy privileges including the ability to recruit new members, use campus resources and branding, access funding, and receive support from the Student Club Committee.  For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

WHAT ARE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLUB LEADERS?

The role of student leaders is rooted in building good working relationships and mutual respect with club members, student peers, faculty, and staff. All club leaders will be expected to complete training provided by the Institute as determined by the Student Club Committee. Knowing the various roles and responsibilities of student leaders will help in creating productive interactions and positive impact for the club. For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

HOW MUCH ARE STUDENT CLUBS ALLOWED EACH YEAR IN APPROVED EXPENSES?

Student Clubs are allowed up to $150/quarter for approved expenses ($600 maximum annually). Student Clubs are required to follow all financial rules, regulations, and policies outlined by Pacifica and the Student Services department. Proper fiscal management is taken seriously and failure to uphold institutional policies could result in disciplinary action. For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

Institutional financial support is not guaranteed and is dependent upon the fiscal health of the Institute. 

DO CLUBS NEED TO PLAN EVENTS?

It is important that clubs develop events, programs, workshops that enhance the educational and overall experience of members and the Pacifica community. The Student Club Committee must approve all activities. For more details, please refer to our Student Clubs Manual.

WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?

You will find below the name and contact information of people who are your main contacts for any questions or information on Student Clubs.

• • • General questions: studentservices@pacifica.edu

Student Club Committee Members

Lauren Lastra, M.P.A.

Lauren Lastra (she/her), MPA, is Director of Student Services and Accreditation Deputy at Pacifica Graduate Institute who is committed to a just and mission-centered approach to organizational life. She has served as a member on several councils and committees, including Pacifica’s Diversity Task Force focused on Student Matters, the Diversity and Inclusion Council, and the President’s Task Force on Campus Climate and Employee Morale. She has worked at Pacifica since 2009 in various capacities, including as the Institute’s Sustainability Coordinator and in the Office of the President. Prior to coming to Pacifica, Lauren lived in the Valparaiso region of Chile where she worked as an Educator for the United Nations Development Program. Lauren actively serves as the current President and Founding Board Member of Santa Ynez Valley Pride, as well as past Board Director of People Helping People in Solvang, CA. She is a mama, outdoor enthusiast, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

Geovany “Geo” Lucero

Geovany “Geo” Lucero (they/them) is the Student Services Coordinator at Pacifica. They are committed to serving students as a resource and amplifying DEI practices on campuses. Geo has over 4 years of experience in student affairs and enjoys being a part of people’s academic journey. Prior to working at Pacifica, they studied feminist studies (B.A.) at University of California, Santa Barbara. While attending UCSB, they were involved in student organizing, advocacy, and leadership throughout various campus organizations such as the Multicultural Center, Hermanas Unidas de UCSB, Associated Students, and more. Their leadership as the 2021-22 Student Advocate General tackled areas such as: return-to-campus guidelines/COVID-19 policies, student housing crises, academic policy/procedure accountability, and student casework. They developed a passion for helping students navigate through their campus resources, programs, and policies in hopes of alleviating any pressures or roadblocks. Geo has worked in student affairs, event programming, public speaking, community advocacy/organizing, as well as dabbling into their barista skills at Starbucks. They enjoy exploring restaurant recommendations, attending live shows/concerts, and adventuring nature with their two dogs, Sage and Gansito.

Dr. Rica Toribio

Dr. Rica Toribio serves as the Vice President of Strategic Enrollment and Student Services at Pacifica. As a foreign-born Filipino immigrant, Dr. Toribio has personally experienced and continues to behold the plight of underrepresented communities on California collegiate campuses. She had to navigate the U.S. higher education system as a new arrival, needing to acculturate into its new milieu. During her undergraduate studies at UCLA, she observed fellow Filipino Americans, seeing their scholarly trajectories based on their socioeconomic backgrounds and their parents’ level of education, but without acknowledgment of their academic or extracurricular achievements that could be attributed to their ethnicity or culture. Filipinos have become cultural straddlers because of decades of Western influence. She has therefore devoted her professional and scholastic endeavors to streamlining administrative processes to allow for a multitude of ethnic voices to be heard and represented, as well as to understand the necessity to diverge from panethnic labeling that elicits misguided assumptions about specific clubs. She received her Bachelor’s in English Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); her Master’s in English Literature at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA); and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Deneatrice Lewis, MS

Deneatrice Lewis, MS, is the Vice President of People, Culture, and Belonging at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She engages with students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community partners to foster an inclusive culture. Overseeing Human Resources, she identifies challenges, crafts strategic solutions, and integrates Pacifica’s goals into HR and organizational development.

Deneatrice is an experienced HR professional with a background in both private and public educational environments. She has worked at the University of La Verne, American Career College, San Bernardino Community College District, Woodland Joint Unified School District, and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Leadership and Organizational Management, both with a concentration in Human Resources, from the University of La Verne.

Hired as Director of Human Resources at SBCC during the pandemic, Deneatrice advanced systems, processes, and relationships with integrity and compassion. In 2022, she became the interim VP of HR.

Colleagues describe Deneatrice as a calming presence in chaos and a compassionate, thoughtful leader who balances the needs of the organization while recognizing the value of every individual’s story.