Genesis Maganda
President

Genesis is native to San Diego and has called City Heights her home for 24 years. She is a proud Hoover High School alumna and attended the University of San Diego where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations in 2016.
 

Prior to her studies at USD, Genesis participated in Reality Changers and is an Aaron Price Fellow alumna. She has been a member of City Heights Rotaract since 2016 and has previously served as Vice President, Club District Representative and Director of Membership. Genesis currently works in property management at Price Philanthropies and also regularly attends local community meetings. In her free time, Genesis enjoys taking dance lessons, coffee, traveling and spending time with family.

Jesus Herrera
Vice President

Jesus is one of the most outgoing guys you will ever meet. A proud San Diego native who was raised in City Heights since age 2. He graduated from Hoover High school in 2016 and went straight to MiraCosta college after.

Before graduating high school, he participated in Ocean Discovery Institute since the 5th grade and carried an immense background in marine science. During his 1st year in college,  Jesus stumbled upon the opportunity to work with a top real estate professional in 2017 and decided to risk it all by leaving college to pursue a sales job for 3 years. Now, 2021, he runs a family business, serves as Vice Presdient for the City Heights Rotaract club, enjoys watching MLB, and continues to find ways to put service above self.

Anadela Navarrete
Secretary

Originally from Oaxaca, when Anadela immigrated to City Heights, she was welcomed with open arms. She grew up serving her community alongside Ocean Discovery Institute, the Hoover High School Cesar Chavez Club and San Diego Canyonlands.

She then went on to be the first in her family to graduate with departmental honors from UCLA with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and a Minor in Chicanx Studies. Her experience living on both sides of the border and witnessing the health inequities that persist in underserved communities motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare. She currently works for SDSURF WIC program where she serves low-income and nutritionally at-risk populations and hopes to be able to pursue medicine in the future. When she is not at a coffee shop studying, she is running at Morley Fields, or dancing at a kermez

Kimberly Sanchez
Treasure

Kimberly Sanchez serves in the Board of Director’s as Fellowship Chair. She was born and raised in San Diego, specifically City Heights. She received her education from SDSU with a Bachelor's of Science in Management Information Systems.  

Her current role is an accountant where she manages the incoming cash flow for a software implementation company. It is her goal to obtain her Master’s in Information Systems, to be able to reach a managerial role someday.  She is a proud to be a community member from city heights. Especially after experiencing Imposter Syndrome due to the lack of minority representation  in her education and workplace. She hopes to motivate others from her community to pursue a higher education. It is her vision to increase community involvement through engaging social events. During her free time she enjoys going to the gym (hitting new PRs), hiking and trying new places to eat.

Yesenia Barragan
Director of Service

Yesenia is very passionate about social justice and equity, social service work and community enrichment, particularly in City Heights. She currently works for a non-profit located in City Heights dedicated to supporting, empowering, and advocating for youth and families in San Diego.

Yesenia has been a member of City Heights Rotaract since 2018 where she has been given the opportunity to give back to her community through service and she is very grateful for that, especially as the Director of Service for this current year. She would love to see CHR continue to collaborate with community members, organizations, and grassroots organizations to create transformative long-lasting change. In her free time Yesenia enjoys cooking, reading, and going on hikes.

Lizette Alvarado
Peach Chair

Lizette is a San Diego native and Social Worker. She has previously served as Secretary of the Board as well as a service committee member for the club. Lizette graduated from University of California San Diego and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University.

In the future she hopes to focus her career on reducing social inequalities through structural change. Lizette is a Social Worker at heart and enjoys spending time with her two dogs. She enjoys serving her community and helping others.

Stephanie Hernandez
Director of Professional Developement

Stephanie is the Transportation & Planning Program Manager at City Heights CDC. She conducts transportation, planning, and environmental policy research and engages with community members, community organizations, and agencies on the complex process behind transportation planning.

Stephanie obtained a B.A in International Security and Conflict Resolution with a specialization in Environment and Security from San Diego State University. She was born and raised in Southeast San Diego, is the youngest of 5 girls, and has dedicated her career to improving the social well-being of working-class communities. In addition to Rotaract, Stephanie is also an alumnus of the Aaron Price Fellows Program, Barrio Logan College Institute, and a proud member of MANA de San Diego. In her free time, she likes to ride her e-bike, hang out with her dog Leela, and support local restaurants across San Diego.   

Rudy Vargas
Past President

Rudy is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Price Philanthropies. Prior to joining the team, Rudy served as a representative to US Senators Kamala D. Harris and Alex Padilla. As Border Affairs and District Director for the San Diego and Imperial counties, he led district operations and engagement throughout the distinct communities in the region.

He had the opportunity to serve in the senate after several years of working at the San Diego City Council. As Councilmember Marti Emerald’s representative to City Heights, Rudy worked alongside City staff and community leaders to steer multi-million dollar projects which included parks, a new fire station, and the first skate park. Rudy has also worked at a number of local non-profits providing resources to some of our most underrepresented communities. The most impactful part about Rudy’s trajectory is that his work has always centered on the community of City Heights. Whether it’s been the federal work around immigration, the advocacy for municipal resources, or even where he’s chosen to volunteer; it’s always been in hopes of giving back to the community that has helped shape who he is today. On his spare time, he serves as Vice Chair of the Ocean Discovery Institute Board of Directors, is the Immediate Past-President of the City Heights Rotaract Club, and he enjoys photography and cycling. He holds degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies from San Diego State University. Rudy is excited to use his experience to leverage community resilience, government, and philanthropy in order to make a bigger impact in City Heights.

Club Advisors

Marge Cole

Advisor

Marge Cole is a Native Californian who grew up in the Los Angeles area. She graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and earned a Master’s Degree at Syracuse University in New York. She returned to California to teach high school Social Studies and English

and served as high school principal and Director of Student Services before retiring in 2004. While serving as high school principal, she joined the Santee/Lakeside Rotary Club in 1996. Marge is currently a member of the Mission Gorge  Rotary Club and serves as Rotary Foundation Chair for the Club. She is an advisor for the City Heights Rotaract Club.  Marge has served Rotary District 5340 as District Governor in 2009-10; Rotary Foundation Chair in 2004-2007 & 2019--2022.  She has also served as Youth Services Chair and Rotaract Chair for the District.  

Pamela Gutierrez

Advisor

Pamela Gutierrez is a native San Diegan who grew up in City Heights. After attending Hoover High School she went on to San Diego State University where she received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration-Management. She worked for many years in the banking industry

before joining the Price Philanthropies - Cardinals Interact Program in 2007, where she is now the Assistant Director. Since then, she earned her Master’s Degree at the University of San Diego in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and was privileged to work alongside many of the Cardinals Interact Alumni who are equally passionate about the community of City Heights to help charter the City Heights Rotaract Club in 2015.  Pamela is a proud mother of two children and is grateful to continue working with the members of City Heights Rotaract  to help make a difference in the community she grew up in. 

Mia Harenski

Advisor

Mia Harenski is a CPA who works with small to medium sized businesses and nonprofits for their audit, tax and accounting needs. She is a third generation Rotarian, having been introduced to Rotary by her grandfather. Mia joined the San Diego Rotary Club in 2012 at 8 months pregnant – probably a first for her club!

Since then she has served on several committees, hosted two Rotary Youth Exchange students and served on the board.  Her favorite part of being a Rotarian is the interconnectedness that comes from being in an organization that is both locally and internationally focused and has over 1 million members throughout the world. She is proud to be a part of a group of people who band together to get so much done.  Mia is married to Drew, has two sons, Jack and Nolan, and an old stubborn beagle named Satchel Moe.