Sutton, Steve - Assistant Vice Chancellor
ssutton@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-6849

Greetings from UC Berkeley!  Like many, my path into this profession began with my own undergraduate experience.  As a student at a large, complex public institution, I struggled to find my way.  I eventually discovered my path through involvement as a student leader when I became a resident assistant.  After working as a resident assistant for three years, my life was changed forever in positive and profound ways!  This experience prompted me to pursue Student Affairs as a career.  Today, after twenty-five years in the profession, I am blessed to work with a group of talented, creative individuals, each with their own story, that are committed to helping all new students and families be successful during their transition to Cal, and assist each of them as they forge their own path towards success. 

I have been at UC Berkeley since January 2009, returning to the campus where I began my professional career as a Residential Life Coordinator in 1987. During that time away, I worked at universities in Florida and Texas in a variety of student affairs areas, such as student activities, student union management, and I worked as a dean of students, as well.  Before returning to Cal, I served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.  The University of Houston is where I completed my doctorate having studied the retention of students enrolled in web-enhanced classes.  I have also been active in the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), having been involved in the Commission for Administrative Leadership and two convention planning teams, as well as other leadership roles.

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Kwong, Katherina - Administrative Assistant
kkwong01@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-9624

I have worked in Office of Student Development for about 6.5 years.  I just recently returned in March 2011 from the RSSP Budget Office because RSSP and the campus were going through an Operational Excellence reorganization and I was requested to move to the RSSP Budget unit last year. Before I came to UC Berkeley, I worked in the private sector as a Bookkeeper, managing expenses and collecting past due revenue. I received my B.S. degree in Business Administration specializing in New Venture/Small Business from Cal State University, East Bay (Hayward). I also received a certificate in Accounting and Finance from UC Berkeley Extension. I enjoy working as a bookkeeper because this keeps my accounting skills fresh. I enjoy working on financial projects as well. I also speak Cantonese, which is a dialect of Chinese. Hope to talk to you sometime!

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Dr. DeGuzman, Glenn -
Director of Assessment & Operations
glenndeguzman@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-4510

Welcome! My focus is to assess and oversee several OSD programs and services to support a positive living and learning environment for campus community. I have been a student affairs professional for over 17 years, spanning four universities, primarily as an administrator with some stints as an adjunct faculty. My experiences cut across many functional areas including residence life, multicultural affairs, leadership development, and student conduct. I received my BA in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, a MS in Student Affairs from the Colorado State University, and my Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne. In my current role, I am excited to oversee a team of dedicated professionals committed to assist students during their transition to our wonderful campus. When not in the office, I love spending time with my family, stay active playing a lot of different sports to burn off all the Filipino food I eat, and love anything connected to Comic-Con. 

Bowers, Kate- Assistant Director,
Leadership & Community Standards
kbowers1@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-9179

Taylor, Anne - Office Manager
anne@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-4177

Hello and welcome to my corner of the OSD neighborhood! I've worked here since 1989 (has it really been that long?), starting out as an Administrative Assistant and evolving along with the department over the years into my current position as OSD's Office Manager. Working at the university, and OSD in particular, has given me the opportunity to meet and work with many talented and interesting people during my time here at Cal. I look forward to meeting and working with those of you who plan on joining us in the future. :)

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Sgt. Jewell, Don- Residential Security Sergeant
djewell@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-8561

Ciao, I am D. Jewell and I am delighted to be a member of the Office of Student Development in Residential and Student Service Programs team. I have been a Police Officer for 15 years with various municipal police agencies and have been here at the University of California for 5 years. I am a graduate of Southern Illinois University, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Adult Education and a minor in Human Resources. I am also an adjunct instructor of Criminal Justice at a local college. I am a firm believer of self-assessments and prioritizing your life, taking the positives with passion and the negatives with grace. If ever you are in need of assistance, please feel free to stop by or if you just want to say hello.

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Cohen, Aaron - Resident Psychologist
acohen@uhs.berkeley.edu | (510) 643-5017

I am a licensed psychologist working with Counseling and Psychological Services. I am happy to have my office at the Residential and Student Services Building. This is an exciting collaboration between CPS and OSD in order to meet the mental health needs of students living on-campus. I came to Cal in 1999 when I did my post-doctoral training at CPS. I have also worked at Social Services and most recently at the Disabled Students' Program. I was born and raised in Chicago and remain loyal to all my Chicago sports teams. Go Cubbies, Bulls and Bears (both Cal andChicago)!!!

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Snider, Jessica - Administrative Assistant
jsnider@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-3280

I have been working at UC Berkeley since 2006.  Prior to coming here, I worked as an Academic Adviser at the University of Phoenix.  I have an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Arizona.

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Hershkowitz, Robin - Manager, Student Initiatives & Special Projects
rhershkowitz@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-8565

I began my Berkeley career in 2007. I started as a Resident Director for the Apartments, but now I currently work with hiring, training, and developing opportunities for student employees in the Office of Student Development. Prior to that, I worked in housing and residential life at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

Laura Butler - Conduct Specialist 
lbutler@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-2600

Hello!  I serve as a Conduct Specialist with the Center for Student Conduct and am currently located in the Residential and Student Services Building.  My additional higher education experiences include leadership and development, academic advising, inclusion, athletics, orientation programs and assessment.

I completed my Master’s degree at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in Counseling and Guidance specializing in Higher Education and Student Affairs.  I hold two Bachelor’s degrees, one majoring in Journalism and Broadcasting emphasizing in Public Relations and Marketing; the other in Sociology emphasizing in Criminal Behavior from Oklahoma State University.

I am excited to serve as a liaison with RSSP and to be surrounded with the excitement and passion in the Office of Student Development.

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McRipley, Lisa - Manager, Community Development & Inclusion
lmcripley@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-7129

Hello!  I am Lisa McRipley, and I am the Manager for Community Development and Inclusion in OSD.  I am originally from the metropolitan Detroit, Michigan area and I love all things Detroit, especially the Detroit Pistons and the culture!  I attended Northwestern University and Oakland University where I received my Bachelor’s in Communications.  Later, I attended the University of Michigan and received my Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration.  Professionally, I worked at the University of Michigan as a Coordinator in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA); served as Assistant Dean and Director of Student Diversity Programs at Mills College; and most recently was the Director of the Intercultural Center at St. Mary’s College of California.  As Manager of Community Development and Inclusion at Cal, I direct Critical Dialogues Across Differences (CDAD), and advise the Bears Breaking Bread (BBB) dinner dialogue series.  I love what I do because I’m able to work with students and staff on developing a community at Cal where all people feel they belong and are appreciated for their multiple social identities!

Gerdes, Cora - Assistant Director, Units 2 & Clark Kerr Campus
cgerdes1@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-5764

Hello my name is Cora Gerdes and I am an Assistant Director in Residential Living.  I am originally from Illinois where I received my undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College.  I was an accountant for several years before I decided to pursue my passion to work with college students.  Since receiving my Masters from University of Arizona, I have worked at Cornell University, San Jose State University and Stanford.  I truly enjoy working in the Office of Student Development at Berkeley where I deeply believe in our mission.  I look forward to meeting you.

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Tran-Taylor, Michael - Assistant Director, Unit 3, Maximino Martinez Commons, Apartments
mdt@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-8600

I am originally from the Midwest, having grown up in a small Indiana town. I attended North Central College just outside of Chicago and received my degree in Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology. I then attended Northeastern University in Boston where I earned a Master's degree in
Student Development and Counseling, and worked for a year in Student Activities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After graduating I managed Residence Halls at the Pratt Institute in New York City and Reed College in Portland, Oregon before coming to California to work here at Cal in 2003. I enjoying reading, watching movies, and am a passionate fan of college sports, my favorite teams are the Cal Bears and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish!

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Thomas, Shannell - Resident Director, Unit 1 (Cheney, Christian)
shannell@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-0014

Hellooooooo!! My name is Shannell Thomas, and I am one of the Unit 1-derful Resident Directors. Since graduating from the University of South Florida with my Masters of Education, I have worked as a Resident Director at both The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and the University of California, Berkeley. I have been at Cal for 10 years, and have learned much from my colleagues, the students and the local community. I continue to enjoy my work with the Berkeley community, so there is no definitive end in sight for me, with regards to my "Berkeley" career :-). My areas of interest include Social Justice, Intercultural Communication and Wellness.

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Randle, Marney- Resident Director, Unit 1 (Deutsch, Slottman)
marney.randle@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-1727

I am the new Resident Director for Deutsch and Slottman Halls in Unit 1!

In this role, I will work with the Native American Theme Program. I am originally from the Central Valley, about 90 minutes from Berkeley. I attended UC Santa Barbara, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Black Studies. I earned my Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. My experience includes residential life, multicultural affairs, international education, student leadership, admissions and recruitment, and fraternity and sorority life. My interests include multiracial identity development, social justice and diversity education, including outreach and retention.I enjoy involvement in professional associations, presenting, and other collaborative endeavors. In my spare time, I love to travel, write, explore new places, and spend quality time with great people!

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Lynch, Jason - Resident Director, Unit 1 (Putnam, Freeborn)
Jason.Lynch@berkeley.edu | (510)643-6282

Hello!  My name is Jason Lynch, and I am a Resident Director for Unit 1.  I am originally from North Carolina where I earned my undergraduate degrees in both Biology and Psychology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and an M.S. degree in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University (NCSU).  Throughout my career I have worked in various functional areas such as Conference Services, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Residence Life at UNCW, NCSU, the University of Virginia, Duke University, and the University of Tennessee Knoxville.  I love working with college students and you'll often find my office door open, so please feel free to stop by to say hello!  

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Witt, Nicole- Resident Director, Unit 2 (Ehrman, Wada)
nwitt@berkeley.edu | (510) 643- 9406

Hello Cal! I am the Resident Director for Erhman & Wada Halls. I moved to California after earning my M.Ed. in College Student Affairs from Penn State. During my time at Penn State, I worked in career services and student conduct and also completed an internship in orientation programs at UC Merced. I’m originally from Wisconsin, where I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies.  I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially hiking and gardening.  I’m excited to be in Berkeley and work at Cal!

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Grace Poon - Resident Director, Unit 2 (Cunningham, Towle)
gracepoon@berkeley.edu| (510) 642-0010

Hello Cal! My name is Grace and I am the Resident Director for Cunningham & Towle, where I will also be working with the Asian Pacific American Theme Program (APATH). I received my B.A in Economics at UC Irvine and my M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at New York University. At NYU, I worked with residential programs, student organizations, and Greek life. I have also served as a facilitator for dialogue courses regarding gender, orientation, diversity, and social justice and interned for the Commission on Asian American & Pacific Islander Research in Higher Education and San Jose State University's Cross Cultural Center. I am passionate about identity development and creating inclusive communities. I also love yoga, hiking, and watching Food Network. If you ever need a hug - come on over to my office! 

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Griffith, Matt - Resident Director, Unit 3 (Norton, Spens-Black)
mattgrif@berkeley.edu| (510) 643-2622

Greetings, all! I'm Matt Griffith and I serve as the Resident Director in Unit 3 for Spens-Black and Norton Halls. I am thrilled to become a part of the Berkeley community and work with Unity House as a part of my role! Prior to Berkeley, I was a lifelong resident of the great state of Michigan. I am proud to be born and raised in the one of the best cities in the world- Detroit. From Detroit, I went to the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) and received a B.A. in Sociology and Afroamerican Studies and an M.A. in Higher Education. Throughout my student and professional career, I have gained experience in social justice education, campus programming, development and philanthropy, and leadership development education. I love the arts, singing, reading, politics, all things pop culture, and food! Feel free to stop by and say hi!

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Blake, Marlon - Resident Director, Unit 3 (Ida Sproul, Priestley) mjblake@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-0009

Hi World!  My name is Marlon Blake.  I will be a Residence Director in Unit 3 for Ida-Sproul and Priestley Halls.  I am a recent graduate of Western Illinois University where I obtained my Master’s degree in College Student Personnel. I enjoy sports, hiking, running, reading and playing chess. My life philosophy is “Peace can only be achieved when meeting a complete stranger you are automatically invested in their happiness.”  I am excited about joining the CAL family and I look forward to a new chapter in the Bay area.  GO BEARS!

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Lou, Heather - Resident Director, Foothill (La Loma, Hillside)
hclou@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-8873 7783

Hello Cal Bears! My name is Heather (she/her pronouns) and I’m the Resident Director for Foothill Complex (La Loma & Hillside). I’m from Torrance, California, but proudly call the Bay Area my home. I earned my B.S. in public relations from San Jose State University and M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from University of Vermont. I have a variety of professional experiences- and most recently served as an Area Coordinator at Smith College. Some of my passions in student affairs include advocating with and for underrepresented populations, critical race theory, oppositional consciousness, womynism, intersecting and fluid identities, API and Multiracial identity development, queer theory, non-dominant leadership, social media, and art as a form of resistance.

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Shanks, Levi - Resident Director, Bowles, Stern
lbshan01@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-1726

Greetings Cal! I am the Resident Director for both Bowles and Stern Halls!  I am originally from the beautiful bluegrass state of Kentucky, but now call California home!  I attended the University of Louisville (Go Cards!) for my undergraduate career where I received Bachelor Degrees in both Political Science and Spanish! Prior to coming to Berkeley, I was a graduate student at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!); there, I received a Master Degree in College Student Affairs Administration and worked as a graduate assistant with the Department of University Housing.  My interests in student affairs lie in leadership and service development, community engagement and immersion, students in transition and Greek Life. Please feel free to stop by my office in Stern Hall or catch me at the DC any time!

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Duncan, Della - Assistant Resident Director, Unit 4 (Foothill/Bowles/Stern/La Loma)
dduncan@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-9704

Greetings Cal! My name is Della Duncan and I am the Assistant Resident Director of the Unit 4 area (Foothill/Bowles/Stern). I am originally from San Francisco, I graduated from the U C. Davis with a bachelors in International Relations and Sociology, and I am most recently coming from San Jose where I worked as a Senior Assault Prevention/Intervention Specialist for the YWCA Silicon Valley Rape Crisis Department and a Bay Area Educator for the Girls Leadership Institute. My student housing career started at U.C. Davis, where I worked as a Resident Advisor for the Leadership Dorm and a Cultural Programmer for the Multi-Ethnic Program.   My specialties in the field of student development include gender specific programming, leadership development initiatives, and sexual assault prevention and advocacy. Aside from residence life, my interests include hiking, drumming, abstract oil painting, speaking Spanish and Swedish, and scuba diving. Feel free to drop by my office in Foothill to say hi!

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Castellanos, Diana - Resident Director, Apartments (Channing-Bowditch, Jackson House, Manville) and Beverly Cleary
diana.c@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-6922

Greetings!!!! My name is Diana Castellanos and I’m currently a Resident Director at Channing-Bowditch, Jackson House, and Manville Apartments and Beverly Cleary Hall. I hail from the East Coast spending my time between Jersey and New York.  Before arriving to Bear Territory, I was at the University of Buffalo, where I received my Master of Education in Student Affairs Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Studies.  While at UB I served as a graduate assistant in the Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement; Greek Affairs; and the Intercultural Diversity Center.  I also served as an ACUHO-I Intern in the summer of 2008 as the Assistant Resident Director for the Summer Bridge Program. I’m super excited to be here, if you ever want to talk about snow storms or buffalo wings come visit me in the Unit 3 Central Building L 15A

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Ulmer, Amber – Interim Resident Director, Apartments (Channing-Bowditch, Jackson House, Manville) and Beverly Cleary
arulmer@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-6922

Hey there Cal Bears! I am Amber Ulmer and will be serving you as the Interim RD for the Apartments and in Unit 3. I'm originally from Union, Maine and have moved all over New England before hoping to the left coast a few years ago. I have a masters in Higher Education Student Affairs from UConn (Go Huskies!) and a bachelors in Middle School Science Education. I live in San Francisco with my family about a block from Golden Gate Park. I have lots of passion for working with Queer and Trans* professionals and students. As well as discussing issues related to Environmental Justice. 

Delo, Kristin - Resident Director, Clark Kerr Campus
kdelo@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-9243

Hello Cal! I am the Clark Kerr Campus Resident Director, where I both live and work. I first came to Cal as an ACUHO-I intern in the summer of 2006, as an Assistant Resident Director with the Summer Session Program. After spending the summer in Berkeley, I returned full-time the following academic year. Before coming to Cal, I worked as a Resident Director at American University in Washington DC. I earned my Masters of Education in College Student Personnel from Ohio University, where I worked in the office of Health Promotion. I also earned my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!) Here at Cal, I am also an instructor with RAD, a self-defense class for women. I am excited to be working with all of the amazing students here at Cal! Please stop by my office in Clark Kerr and say hello!

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Silvis, Janine - Assistant Resident Director, Clark Kerr Campus
jsilvis@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-9517

My name is Janine and my friends call me “j9”. I got my bachelor's degree from Humboldt State University, in Critical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies. While at HSU, I was actively involved with a variety of activist movements, with particular emphasis on issues of sustainability, race, sexuality and mental health. I was active in residence life at my undergraduate institution and previously served as an Assistant Resident Director and Leadership Development Coordinator at UCLA. I enjoy attending conferences and have presented on topics focusing on survivor centered student leadership and academic counseling for hyper-involved students. Over the past six years, I have developed a passion for student development and active programs and I look forward to continuing that work at Cal as the Assistant Resident Director for CKC!


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Dohse, Amanda - Resident Director, Maximino Martinez Commons
amandadohse@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-8593

I'm excited to be joining the UC Berkeley team this year and to be working with the Maximino "Max" Martinez Commons community. I began my career in student affairs as an RA during my undergraduate experience at Iowa State University. After completing my Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies I worked at the University of Minnesota as an Admissions Counselor. In 2009, my husband and I moved to California and I worked as a Residential Life Coordinator at San Jose State University for three and a half years. I whole heartedly enjoy assisting college students in navigating their academic experience and building healthy communities with thoughtful citizens. I also have a passion for mental health awareness and education. I am a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and facilitate several training sessions on the topic each year. Please stop by my office anytime. I am looking forward to getting to know you!

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Anthony, Jason - Academic Program Coordinator, Unit 1
jason.anthony@berkeley.edu | 510-643-3420

Hi There! My name is Jason and I'm a recent addition to the Academic Services Staff as of this past January 2012.  I'm originally from Eastern Long Island, New York, but I'm quickly turning into a Californian. My higher education career has spanned the past 12 years and brought me to several different east coast institutions including Columbia University, The New School University, John Hopkins University, Brown University and The George Washington University.  Professionally, my career has afforded me the opportunity to work in various student affairs areas including student activities and leadership development, disability access and support, higher education opportunity, religious life support, to academic services. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and my Master of Arts in Higher and Post-secondary Education Administration at Teachers College- Columbia University in New York, New York.  I'm looking forward to the challenges that await me here at Cal and working with our great student employee team, our residential faculty and our residents. Please stop by and visit me in the Academic Services Center in Unit 1.

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Padilla, Maria - Academic Program Coordinator, Unit 2
mlucerop@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-8673

I am delighted to join a team of energetic and highly skilled student services professional staff! I have enjoyed a 30+ year career in higher education administration as a multicultural education and retention specialist. I am a beneficiary of the Department of Education Trio Programs and was an Upward Bound student at Howard University. This led to a life-long commitment to serving low-income, first generation college students. At Cal I implemented and administered both a comprehensive community college transfer academic enhancement retention program and a faculty-mentored undergraduate research program. I currently design and conduct anti-discrimination and sexual harassment prevention programming for the campus and serve as an early resolution facilitator for discrimination concerns. As Co-Director of the Interactive Theater Program, I collaborate with the Department of TDPS, Gender Equity Resource Center and UHS Health Promotion staff to develop experiential learning prevention education programs on issues salient to Berkeley students. I have a special interest in addressing attitudinal barriers that exist for student with less visible disabilities and collaborate with DSP and the Disabled Students Union on awareness activities. I especially enjoy connecting students to services and academic enhancement opportunities that will enrich their overall experience. Cal is a wonderful place for all!

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Lee, Legacy - Academic Program Coordinator, Unit 3 and Maximino Martinez Commons
legacylee@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-1727

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Villaluz, Roxanne- Academic Program Coordinator, Unit 4
rox.annev@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-2907

I am originally from San Jose, but I have lived in Virginia, Texas, and all over California. My academic trajectory falls short of typical. I majored in Biology at UC Irvine (zot, zot!), but three and half years later I left because of financial difficulties. I eventually returned to Fresno Community College then transferred to Fresno State where I completed a BA in Liberal Studies, MA in Linguistics, and a single-subject teaching credential in English Literature. Discourse analysis and the phonology of American Sign Language are areas of interest. I am fascinated by Victorian Literature. I am semi-fluent in Spanish as well as my native language Ilokano. While I was at Fresno State, I worked at The Learning Center first as a tutor and eventually I became the Academic and Learning Coordinator. I returned to Northern California, and just prior to Cal, I was a production/line cook at the Oakland Whole Foods and attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Feel free to come up to my office in the Unit 4 Academic Center to talk, eat, laugh, and enjoy the view.

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Tipton, Tavie - Associate Director, Family Housing
tippy@berkeley.edu | (510) 526-8505 x213

I hail from St. Louis Missouri originally. I started at University Village Family Housing in 1986. Before that I was a property manager for the John Hancock building in Chicago. Since 1998 we have torn down and replaced 976 apartments for student families. Our mission is to support the student and their family members, so that they can graduate and go out into the world and do good things. I think that's a pretty good goal for all of us. Email is my best mode of communication.

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Siecienski, Jen - Assistant Director, University Village
jen.s@berkeley.edu | (510) 542-3109

I really love working at Cal! I've worked in the Office of Student Development since 2007, first at the Clark Kerr Campus and now at UVA. I really enjoy and appreciate working with students and their families!  I have also worked in Residence Life at Smith College, UC Santa Cruz, Lehigh University, and the University of Toledo. I love to spend time with my daughters, knit, bake, exercise and travel. I'm an avid Giants fan, and go to as many games as I can. Stop by my office – I love having visitors!

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Martin-Rugo, Dawn - Director, Recreation and Community Services
dmrugo@berkeley.edu | (510) 526-1033

I started out at UC Santa Cruz in 1973 as a student and student employee (yes! Freshman year I served food at the Dining Hall--yay). I've worked on the Santa Cruz campus for the Theatre Dept and the Office of Financial Aid, at UCLA as a consultant to the Department of Foreign Students and Scholars and finally at the Berkeley campus for Women's Athletics, Department of Recreational Sports and at University Village. I've enjoyed the opportunity to serve on the Albany Youth Task Force, multiple PTA boards, Berkeley Bear Swimming, the Positive Coaching Alliance Parent Education Committee, with the Writer-Coach Connection at Berkeley High and these last couple of years as a facilitator of CDAD (Critical Dialogues Across Differences) at UC Berkeley.

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Resident Director, University Village - Vacant

Kim, Joonie – Residential Services Coordinator
joonie@berkeley.edu | (510) 526-8505 ext. 222

Hello!  I came to the Bay Area with my husband in 2003 and fell in love with it!  I started working at University Village as a Resident Advisor before taking the current position as Residential Services Coordinator in 2008.  I provide administrative services for the Village residential programs and activities, and my duties include hiring, purchasing, monitoring budget, web management and listserv announcements.  I love working with the diverse community in the Village especially with the international families, and have been collaboratively working with Berkeley International Office to reach out to the group via workshops and orientations.  Before coming to Berkeley, I worked 10 years in the engineering sector, and consider myself a newcomer in student development.

I am a Bay Area native, born in San Francisco and raised in the East Bay. I love working here at UC Berkeley, and really enjoy the variety of challenges present in my current position as Academic Programming Coordinator in Student family Housing. I graduated from UC Berkeley myself, with a degree in Sociology, and as both a parent of two teens and as a former UC Berkeley student, I particularly appreciate the diversity of needs among our residents in Student-Family Housing.
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El Zofri, Mueen - Academic Center Consultant

Naranjo, Layla - Director, Incentive Awards Program
macorna@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-7481

Hola! My name is Layla Naranjo and I am the Director of the Incentive Awards Program (IAP). My time at U.C. Berkeley started in 1999 (wow, time flies!) as an incoming undergraduate. I majored in Chicano Studies and minored in Spanish. As a low-income, first-generation college student, navigating Cal was often challenging academically and personally. Connecting to the Chicana/Latino Student Development Office not only helped me in my various transitions, but it also gave me the opportunity to work as a Student Group Advisor/Coordinator. This experience exposed me to various positions within a university setting and provided insight into the inner workings of a campus. As a result, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career where I would have the opportunity to make an impact on a student’s college experience as a staff member or later an administrator.
Upon graduating from Cal, I began my professional career as the Administrative Assistant for IAP. Since then, I was a University Partnerships Officer where I outreached to high schools in the East Bay as well as Salinas and an Academic Achievement Counselor. In 2010, I served as Summer Bridge Interim Director where I had the chance to gain a deeper appreciation of the many facets of OSD. I completed my Masters coursework in General Counseling from St. Mary’s College in Moraga and hope to attain a PhD in the near future. I am excited about the opportunity to work with such an amazing and dedicated group of people and students.

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Administrative Coordinator-Vacant
(510) 643-1894

David Melena- University Partnerships Officer
d_melena@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-7740

Hello! my name is David Melena and I am thankful for the opportunity to join the Incentive Awards Program family as a University Partnerships Officer.  I am a proud UC Berkeley alumni (Class of 2012!) with a bachelor's degree in Comparative Ethnic Studies. As a University Partnerships Officer I intend to share my experiences as a low-income, first-generation college student with prospective students with the goal to empower and encourage them to build their own path towards higher education. I am committed to be a bridge to future generations of students who aspire towards higher education despite facing socio-economic disadvantages and be a resource to their families throughout the transition from high school to Cal. 

As a student at Cal, I served as the director of high school outreach for the bridges multicultural resource center where I organized recruitment and outreach efforts in under-represented, low-income communities across the K-12 and community college systems. I had the privilege to serve as program coordinator for the Berkeley Scholars to Cal mentoring program from 2010-2013 and I was selected as the Chancellor's Public Fellow for the American Cultures Engaged Scholarship Program. My experiences at Cal have reaffirmed my responsibility to continue to empower low-income and first-generation college students who are seeking to find a space in higher education to rightfully call their own.

Djenilin Mallari - University Partnerships Officer
djenilin_mallari@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-1798

Hello! I'm Djenilin Mallari, a University Partnerships Office with the Incentive Awards Program (IAP). Having recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Social Welfare, I am thrilled to work with potential scholars from San Francisco and Sequoia Unified School Districts, as well as schools around Northern Alameda County.

My passion for higher education was cultivated during the years I spent at UC Berkeley. As a student, I had the opportunity to work with underrepresented students from predominantly low socioeconomic backgrounds (both high school and community college students) and support their endeavors towards higher education at a four-year institution. I look forward to broadening that experience and supporting students at IAP's partner high schools as they pursue an education at UC Berkeley.

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Reynoso, Mónica - University Partnerships Officer
mreynoso@berkeley.edu | (510) 517-9595

Greetings! I am Mónica Reynoso and I am a University Partnerships Officer with the Incentive Awards Program. I oversee the recruitment and outreach efforts at San Francisco and Salinas partner high schools; as well as manage the service requirement component for the current IAP students. I am passionate about my work in IAP, and hope to continue to assist in creating educational environments that foster academic success, motivation, personal growth, and persistence.
Prior to joining the IAP Team, I completed my master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma (OU), where I studied Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in Student Personnel Services. In addition to my studies at OU, I served as a Resident Director and an office staff for both Housing and the Vice President for University Outreach. As a U.C. Santa Cruz undergraduate, I majored in Psychology and minored in Education. My work experience includes University of Oklahoma, U.C. Santa Cruz,U.C. Merced, and San José State University.

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Loya, Phillip - Los Angeles Pre-collegiate Manager
p_loya@berkeley.edu | (323) 983-1887

Hello! I started working at UC Berkeley in the Fall of 2008 as the Incentive Awards Program’s Pre-collegiate Academy Coordinator. I moved to Los Angeles as PCA’s Program Manager in 2010 and now I am one of four University Partnership. Officers recruiting low-income high school students from underserved communities for the Incentive Awards Program. Prior to working at the university, I was the Program Manager for a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles called the Youth Policy Institute where I managed eight middle school after-school programs located throughout Los Angeles. I attended Cal from 2001-2005 as an IAP Scholar and I majored in Political Science. It was an awesome experience and I am very happy to help recruit future potential IAP Scholars and Cal students. Go Bears!

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McGiffert, Jerel- Academic Counselor
jmcgiffert@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-1247

During the course of the last fifteen years, I served as an advocate for students labeled “at-risk”, “average”, and “high achievers” with the goal of building working alliances with students, individually and collectively to help them achieve both personal and academic success.  My intention is to focus on building academic confidence & the holistic growth of IAP Scholars by helping to equip them with necessary tools to manage transitions and navigate the world of academia.

Before returning to UC Berkeley, I earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in English and a Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Counseling from San Diego State University. I also earned Master of Science degree in Counseling with a dual focus of School Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University East Bay. I served as the Veterans Counselors with CSUEB, Academic Counselor with EOP at CAL, an Educational Counselor with Navy College Coronado and provided transitional support for middle and high school students in Northern and Southern California.

Wright, Brieanna - Academic Counselor
bwright32@berkeley.edu | (510) 642-9567

Hi! I'm Brieanna and I am one of the Academic Achievement Counselors with the Incentive Awards Program. I am a proud alum of UC Berkeley with a BA in Social Welfare and a minor in Ethnics Studies. I am also an alumni of the Incentive Awards Program, I have a unique experience of benefiting from IAP as a student and now have the pleasure of working with this program as professional staff member. I am currently working on completing my Masters degree in College and Career Counseling. I love working with students and talking to you all about your individual experiences as well as assisting in your personal, academic, and professional development.

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Blum, Sasha - Counselor, Licensed Psychologist
sashablum@berkeley.edu | (510)643-9079

I am a licensed Psychologist providing personal and career counseling as well as outreach to Incentive Awards Program Scholars. I have been with IAP for 6 years and have been providing clinical services to U.C. Berkeley students since 2002. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Florida and my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Akron, Ohio. I have worked at several universities across the country including Cleveland State University, University of Florida, and U.C. Davis. I completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the U.C. Berkeley's Counseling and Psychological Services in 2003. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, training for local 5k races, and traveling. I am the proud parent of a 4 year old boy, 6 year old girl, and 9 month old triplet girls.

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