Alumni Spotlight: Erik Rodriguez Cerda

Erik Rodriguez Cerda, BA in Philosophy Class of ‘19

Erik graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 2019 with a BA in Philosophy. He found that, by strengthening his critical thinking skills, his degree enabled him to look beyond simple answers to understand the structures around him.

Currently, Erik works as a Workforce Programs Coordinator at GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar installer that serves historically disadvantaged communities. In this role, Erik works with trainees and job seekers to sharpen the ‘soft’ skills needed to advance in their careers.

He also participates in after-school mentoring with local high school students, and is an active member of GRID’s internal EID (Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity) team, helping to create an inclusive environment for all staff. Most recently, Erik was selected to travel with select members of this team to Montgomery Alabama to visit the Equal Justice Initiative and to share this experience with the rest of the organization.

In his free time, Erik enjoys spending time with his partner and their four cats, visiting local coffee shops, and perfecting the ultimate vegan cheeseburger.