Name: Waconda Alvarez
Position: Student Wellness AA II
Date of Hire: September 1, 2005
Where reared: California
Education: Currently pursuing a Bachelor degree in Social Work
Professional Background: Ms. Alvarez is a single mother of three and a student at UNLV majoring in Social Work. Waconda grew up in Oxnard, California moving to the Las Vegas area several years ago.
She recently applied for and became a Clark County Foster parent in Emergency and Planned Placement. Ms. Alvarez has worked in Case Management, Curriculum Development, conducted Transitional Living Training and developed and presented a series of Male Responsibility Workshops at Unity Village group home.
For several years, Ms. Alvarez was with the Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) at UNLV. She was instrumental in re-establishing relationships with United Way for Gifts-in-Kind and through her persistence and perseverance the program is up and running. In addition to the Gifts-in-Kind program, Waconda set up the Retail Donation Program which included scheduling with store managers to explain The Center’s programs. She prepared the necessary Match Forms in order to submit the retail value of the donations. This was a necessary part of the Gifts-in-Kind Program. Because of her diligence the program generated over $300,000 in match.
In addition to the above areas of experience she has managed and maintained accounts for 500+ members, monthly statement preparation, account reconciliation and billing. sales audits, prepared aging reports, collaborated with Lost Prevention in order to reduce employee theft, she also was part of the collection’s section and compiled and organized paperwork for all daily transactions.
Waconda has a wide area of expertise which qualifies her to work in a variety of situations. She’s a very compassionate person who has a high level work ethic. Ms. Alvarez is an organized and conscientious individual. She has set goals for herself educationally and personally which she is in the process of attaining.
Her family is her first priority and, as a single parent, she has been diligently pursuing a better life for them and herself.
Favorite Quote: “Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are” -Bernice Johnson Reagon
