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Meet Senior Human Resources Officer Desiree Gonzalez

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, we are highlighting stories from DA employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service. Meet Senior Human Resources Officer Desiree Gonzalez.

Desiree has worked for the County for 24 years, of which 22 of those years have been at the DA’s office. She started off as a student worker and worked her way up to Senior Human Resources Officer for the Human Resource Management Unit. Her wide range of duties include position management, recruitment, transfers, human resources policies and procedures, Covid management, workplace accommodations, workers’ compensation, leave administration, benefits administration, employee relations, performance appraisals and appeals, discipline, and performance management.

When she’s not busy working, she spends her free time with her family and two little dogs, a Yorkiechon and a Pomapoo.  She also loves travelling because it gives her the opportunity to discover and appreciate different cultures. Read more about what inspired Desiree to pursue a career in public service, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?

“My grandmother impressed upon me the importance of giving back to the community.  My mother had a career in public service as a public-school teacher for 32 years and my aunts and uncles also retired from careers in public service. They were excellent role models.  I could see how much happiness they derived from serving the public and that inspired me to follow that same path.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“My favorite part of the job is being able to interact and engage with employees at all levels and being able to positively impact people’s careers. I also love the variation of the work; no two days look the same.”

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you/why is it important?

“It is a time for me to connect to my heritage and honor the accomplishments and contributions of Latinos to our community. I was raised to be proud of my heritage and celebrate our cultural holidays. It is important to recognize where you come from and encourage others to achieve their goals.”

Read more Hispanic Heritage Month stories from the DA’s Office, here.

HR Chief Honored by Japanese American Citizens League

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that the DA’s Chief of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been awarded the Civil Rights Leadership Award by the San Diego Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). Jerrilyn “Jerri” Malana received the honor at the San Diego JACL’s annual awards gala on Saturday, October 7 at Sycuan Hotel & Casino.

Malana was recognized for her work on improving civic education and civic engagement in the community. She is the Chair of the Civic Engagement & Outreach Committee for the California Lawyers Association.  Malana is also an active member of the Civic Learning Partnership for San Diego County, which seeks to improve civic education in grades K to 12.  She is a former member of the statewide Power of Democracy steering committee, which promotes civic education initiatives.  Malana was also a founding Advisory Board member for the Academy of Law at Crawford High School in San Diego.

“Jerri Malana’s tireless work in the community to improve the lives and learning of students across the county focused on civic education, an essential building block to democracy, is impressive. She is well-deserving of this special award by the JACL— one of the oldest civil rights organizations in our nation,” said DA Stephan. “I’m very proud of Jerri’s civic commitment and we are very fortunate to have her providing outstanding leadership inside and outside our office.”

​Malana was the first Asian Pacific American attorney to serve as President of the San Diego County Bar Association, which is the region’s oldest and largest legal organization. She is a past President of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego. Malana served on the Board of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She is a past member of the State Bar of California’s Council on Access & Fairness, which works on diversity and inclusion matters. Malana also served on the Executive Committee of the Bench-Bar Coalition (BBC) in California.

The mission of the San Diego Japanese American Citizens League is to actively advocate for universal civil rights and social justice. They do this through fostering cross-cultural awareness and understanding, as well as preserving and cultivating the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American experience in San Diego and the U.S.  The JACL is recognized for its dedication to the Japanese American community by supporting social wellness, providing cultural and educational programs for the youth, promoting communication between local Japanese American organizations, and responding to the needs, concerns, and ideas of the people in the greater San Diego region, who share a common bond of Japanese heritage.

Malana has been a Chief Deputy District Attorney at the DA’s Office since 2016. She serves as Chief of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and as Special Counsel. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is ranked #6 on Zippia’s “Best Government Companies to Work For” in San Diego.