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About The Pastor Center

The Pastor Center was founded in late 2015 as a result of a shared vision by Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor and ASU to provide the practical experiences, skills, and networking opportunities for students to become effective civic and political actors. Located in the ASU Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, the Center promotes political engagement and public service among ASU students and the broader community. The Center serves on a national stage as one of twenty-five university-based public service institutes participating in Harvard University’s National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement, launched by the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics.

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MISSION:

The Pastor Center for Politics & Public Service prepares students for effective civic & political engagement.

 



Strategic Objectives

 

A. Increase institutionalized voter registration infrastructure, faculty/staff resources, and student organization training, resources, and support

B. Facilitate coordinated student-led get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaigns across campuses, college units

A. Promote familiarity with candidates and key races

B. Increase understanding of statewide ballot propositions

A. Develop students’ advocacy and citizen lobbying capacities

B. Support Participatory Governance and Public Participation Models

A. Moderator Training

B. Public Engagement and Public Issue Framing workshops

A. Student-led policy events and workshops

B. Partnered nonpartisan efforts with internal and community partners

A. Spirit of Service and Andrew Goodman Foundation scholarship programs

B. Civic leadership training resources and support for internal and external partners

A. Consistent engagement with current and former elected officials and policy leaders from across the ideological spectrum

B. Partnership with nonpartisan and multi-partisan advocacy and public policy organizations and initiatives

A. Public Service Internships & Volunteer Programs

B. Public Policy Career Exploration & Professional Development

 

 

Center Staff

 

Alberto Olivas, M.Ed.

Executive Director

 

Alberto Olivas, M.Ed.,is the Founding Executive Director of the Congressman Ed Pastor Center for Politics & Public Service at Arizona State University, an initiative to help students learn the skills for effective civic and political engagement. Apart from this role, Alberto provides training and technical assistance on issues related to civic education, public dialogue, and public engagement.

Prior to coming to ASU, Alberto was Executive Director of the Center for Civic Participation serving the ten colleges in the Maricopa Community College District. Previously, Alberto was Vice President of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and has served in appointed leadership positions for Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull, as Director of the Governor’s Office for Equal Opportunity; and as State Voter Outreach Director for Arizona Secretary of State Betsey Bayless. Governor Janet Napolitano appointed Alberto to the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs.

Alberto has served on the boards of several national civic organizations, including the editorial board for the Public Service Review, the National Civic League, Democracy Works, and Public Agenda. Locally, he served on the Court Leadership Institute of Arizona for the Arizona Supreme Court, and as Vice Chair of the Arizona Town Hall board of directors. He previously served as board chair for KidsVoting Arizona, and on the boards of directors for Valley Leadership, the Arizona Human Rights Foundation, the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens, and the Newtown Community Development Corporation.

Alberto has a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from ASU, a Master’s degree in Education from NAU, and graduated from the Civic Seminary at Citizen University. He lives in Tempe, AZ with a Carolina Tarheels fanatic and three entitled rescue dogs.EducationB.A. Anthropology, ASU (1996); M.Ed., NAU (2007); Civic Seminary, Citizen University (2018); Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy Fellowship (2011); Valley Leadership Institute -Class 22 (2000); Mesa Leadership Training & Development (2008); Tempe Leadership Academy(1999).

 

Feb 2016 by Heather Beshears
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Tiffany Thornhill, MSW, MPA

Program Coordinator Sr.

Tiffany Thornhill was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and moved to Arizona in July 2011. Tiffany spent several years working in administrative roles for government organizations before pursuing degrees in higher education. Tiffany earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Glendale Community College before transferring to ASU. Tiffany is a three-time Sun Devil graduate having earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.As a mother, educator, social worker, and social justice advocate; Tiffany is vehement about being a voice for the underrepresented and dedicated to helping humanity attain liberation from oppression.

As a multicultural Black woman (African, Native, European), Tiffany knows firsthand the experience of navigating society and higher education from a multicultural lens.Tiffany began mentoring students in 2019 while pursuing her MSW/MPA and began teaching in the Fall of 2020. She has since developed an emotionally intelligent and nurturing style that encourages, empowers, and inspires her students to reach their highest potential. Tiffany is passionate about creating a socially just, equitable, and inclusive society. She knows this is done through a culturally inclusive societal framework and by nurturing the next generation of change agents. Tiffany is passionate about creating safe spaces for multicultural people in this world.

 

 

 

 

    After his election to the United States House of Representatives, Congressman Pastor served on the House Appropriations Committee, the Education and Labor Committee, the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.Pastor was the son of a miner from Claypool, Arizona and the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from ASU.After graduating, Pastor became a teacher at North High School where he taught chemistry and later went on to serve as the deputy director of the Guadalupe Organization Inc., a community-based nonprofit organization. Pastor’s work with students, families and seniors motivated him to enroll in the College of Law at ASU where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1974.Following law school, he joined Governor Raul Castro’s staff where he enforced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ensure that every worker had an equal opportunity to work in a discrimination-free environment.

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    In 1976, Pastor was elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors where he served three terms. In 1991, Pastor was elected to Congress. In addition to serving on numerous committees and subcommittees, Pastor also served as a Chief Deputy Whip. He was appointed to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 113th Congress and served on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.Pastor also served on local and national Boards of Directors, including Neighborhood Housing Services of America, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), National Job Corps Alumni Association, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), Arizona Association of Counties and Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC), among many others.Pastor retired after serving 23 years in Congress. At the time, he was Arizona's senior member of Congress. He passed away on November 28, 2018.

 

Congressman Ed Pastor Archived Papers

Following his retirement from public office, Congressman Ed Pastor donated over 300 boxes of materials to ASU Libraries. These materials are available for research purposes:

Ed Pastor Papers 1977-1992

 

Preliminary Inventory of the Ed Pastor Papers 1966-2009

 

Learn more about Ed Pastor's legacy

 

 

 

 

Contact Us

The Congressman Ed Pastor Center for Politics & Public Service

pastorcenter@asu.edu

Arizona State University
411 North Central Avenue, Suite 750
Phoenix, AZ 85004

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