Marissa Roy ’10, a candidate for LA City Attorney, joined the Feminism Club for a conversation about her personal experiences and insights in politics. Currently a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice, Marissa has spent her career bringing civil rights and consumer protection litigation on behalf of local and state  governments, representing workers, immigrants, tenants, and consumers.  

One influence from high school, Marissa thinks about daily, is her experience with ComedySportz and theater. “It was more important than law school in teaching me to think on my feet,” she notes. “Improv teaches you to pivot when you get a hard question. It has helped in politics and in law.” 

Marissa credits Flintridge Prep for preparing her to be curious and inquisitive in her educational pursuits. In college, she was intentional about taking courses across all departments, drawing connections among them. “The most useful experience for me has been any sort of interdisciplinary opportunity — it helps me view issues through a different lens,” she says.  

Patience and empathy are essential traits that have served Marissa well, though she says being willing to listen, not for strategy, but for understanding, has been the most effective tool in her toolkit. She described moments on the campaign trail when “being open to hearing another person’s point of view and not appearing stuck in ideology” led to moments of commonality.