Get a linkedin. Seems overrated, but I remember cold-calling for some professional opportunities and the person I wanted to work with looked at my linkedin while we were on the phone. The person eventually wrote me a letter of recommendation and we still keep in touch.
You can request special treatment. Office hours are best, but you can request to meet outside of office hours if you work/have other commitments during those times. Waitlist for a class may go slowly, but you can e-mail and say why you are interested in that class.