Arlie Ricasa, elected to the Sweetwater Board of Trustees in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 and 2006, is the Director of Student Development at Southwestern College. She previously served Sweetwater students as a counselor at Granger Junior High, Montgomery and Sweetwater High Schools.

Her history with district campuses also includes student teaching in reading, peer counseling, study skills, and health and social living. Twice she has been honored by Whos Who Among America's Teachers, an award recognizing the top 2% of educators in the nation.

As a South County native and Mar Vista High graduate, she has long been active in community and educational causes. Ms. Ricasa serves as a board member for the MAAC Project of San Diego County and the Chula Vista Police Activities League where she helped launch a student scholarship program. She is also a member of FILAMEDA of San Diego and of the UCLA Filipino Alumni Association Advisory Board and the YMCA. Ms. Ricasa was also appointed a delegate assembly member to the California School Boards Association (CSBA), and was nominated as representative for the Urban Schools Committee of CSBA.

The tenth child in her family, Ms. Ricasa was encouraged by her parents, Antonia and Narciso Ricasa, to achieve educational success. She holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA in psychology and a master's degree in counselor education from San Diego State University.

A Chula Vista resident, Arlie and her husband, Ed Bagaporo, have four daughters and one son.