CLA Distinguished Alumni 2011

Alyce LaViolette

Alyce LaViolette ’69, ’80 is a nationally recognized expert in the area of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. Among the numerous agencies where she has worked as a consultant, trainer or expert witness are the U.S. Department of State, the L.A. County Superior Court and the YWCA Women’s Shelter Program.  In 1979, she founded Alternatives to Violence, one of the first programs in the country for spouse abusers.  It was through her graduate work at CSULB, volunteering at Women Shelter, that her career began.  In 1981, she chaired the committee that sponsored the first domestic violence walk in Southern California and later co-chaired the Southern California Coalition’s Walk-a-thon to end domestic violence in 1982.  She has presented at workshops or meetings in Japan, Israel and New Zealand, and as a book author, has appeared on various television and radio programs speaking about domestic violence.  She returns to CSULB frequently to speak to students on the subject.  At present, LaViolette sits on the editorial board for the Journal of child Custody and co-chairs the Association of Batterer’s Intervention Programs.  Among her numerous awards are the 2009 Soroptimist Women of Distinction Award, 2004 Statewide California Coalition on Battered Women Lifetime achievement Award and 1989 Friends of Women’s Studies Alumni Award at CSULB.  LaViolette lives in Long Beach with her partner, Gail, and has a son, Jay, daughter Corinne, and stepdaughter, Kristen.

John McElroy

John McElroy ’78 recently celebrated his 25th anniversary with Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA). At present, he is the senior vice president and general counsel, overseeing all corporate and legal issues for the auto company. Previously, he has held various senior management positions, including vice president of human resources, information systems and administration from 1997-00. A member of the California Bar Association, McElroy joined MMNA in 1985 as an attorney in the company’s legal department. While attending CSULB, he was heavily involved in intramural sports. Today, he is a longtime supporter of the Beach Fund and the 49er Athletics. His wife, Megan, who left the university to pursue a career as a professional dancer; late mother-in-law, Elma C. Beck (2007, B.S., OCST vocational arts), attended CSULB. The father of three children, Carly (21), Quinn (17) and Tess (13), McElroy is proud of his family and says they are “the highlight of my life. Nothing else really comes close.” He loves being physically active and stays busy with distance running (half-marathons), swimming and weight-lifting, as well as taking both travel pictures and pictures of family and friends. He remains true to his CSULB major and continues to enjoy reading.