Major: History
Profession: Production supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank, Calif.
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
What are you doing now?
Castro is a production supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios. She is currently managing the environment assets team on Disney's Moana.
How did you get there?
Upon graduating from Pomona, Marisa spent two years working on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. "Traveling the country and meeting many diverse people taught her about how to connect through storytelling. After gaining many valuable experiences, Marisa left to pursue her dream of working at Disney Animation. A friend and fellow 2009 classmate connected Castro with an associate producer for an informational interview. When a job was posted a few months later, she applied and was hired as a production assistant on Wreck-It Ralph.
How did Pomona prepare you?
“Pomona taught me to think critically and learn with an open mind. Unbeknownst to me, my passion is storytelling — and I became aware of it as a history major. At the core, all history is telling stories about our past. Being at Pomona exposed me to many different perspectives and I learned new ways of examining the world we craft around us. Professors, students and staff all contributed to preparing me for life outside of college. One of the most important lessons I learned is not to take anything at face value. You may not know the history behind something, or what it could mean to different people.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Continuing to work for Walt Disney Animation Studios as a senior production supervisor or production manager.
Any advice for prospective or current students?
“Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge that is around you. Branch out and enroll in courses that aren't just for your major, but that study something that has always interested you. Explore new ideas and find your passion. In addition, some of the most valuable lessons I learned and connections I made were outside of the classroom. Give yourself that time to breathe and connect with others on campus about something other than academics.”