Alumni Spotlight: Brenda Duran ’02

Director of External Affairs at LA County Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department (JCOD) 
Associate of Arts in Journalism, 2002

As the Director of External Affairs for the LA County Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department (JCOD), Brenda Duran leads strategic communication initiatives that amplify the voices of communities impacted by the justice system. But long before she shaped public narratives at the county level, she was discovering her passion for storytelling inside the newsroom of Talon Marks.

“Cerritos College gave me mentors who helped shape my path, experiences that challenged me, and a deeper understanding of the kind of impact I wanted to make,” Brenda reflects on her time as a Falcon over twenty years ago. “It’s where I found my voice and my purpose.”

A proud first-generation college student, Brenda earned her Associate of Arts in Journalism from Cerritos College in 2002. Her time as a staff writer and later Editor-in-Chief of Talon Marks helped solidify her love for writing and leadership. More than just a student publication, the newsroom became a training ground for storytelling with impact.

After Cerritos, Brenda transferred to the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She went on to work as a journalist, covering underrepresented voices and holding systems accountable—work that sharpened her investigative skills and deepened her commitment to social justice.

As her career evolved, Brenda transitioned into government communications, where she found new ways to blend storytelling, strategy, and public service. Over the past decade, she’s led the development of three public communications departments across Los Angeles County agencies, including as the Director for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder County Clerk and Deputy Executive Officer of Communications and Creative Services at the Executive Office of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

In her current role at JCOD, she crafts government initiatives that promote second chances, civic engagement, and justice reform throughout the county.

Brenda’s expertise lies in crafting strategic and compelling messaging for a wide array of public programs and outreach efforts. She has built communications departments from the ground up and led the successful launch of numerous multimedia campaigns across various platforms, such as editorial, TV and radio spots, social media, billboards, and public service announcements endorsed by notable public figures.

Brenda’s impact extends beyond her day job. She is a co-author of the book Latinas in Public Relations: Shaping Communications, Communities, and Culture and played a key role in redesigning LA County’s “I Voted” sticker to better reflect the diversity and spirit of civic participation. She is also active in mentorship and community advocacy.

“Cerritos wasn’t just a chapter in my life—it was the launchpad,” she says. “The relationships I built, the lessons I learned, and the confidence I gained there have guided me throughout my entire career.”

To today’s Cerritos College students, especially first-generation students like herself, Brenda offers heartfelt advice: “Your path might not look like anyone else’s—and that’s your power. Dream big, take up space, and always pay it forward.”