STAFF BIOS
Joanna M. Hernandez, Director
Student Success Initiatives
Joanna Hernandez grew up as a first-generation Latina & former foster youth student. Over her past 10 years of work experience in higher education, she has specifically focused on advocating for first-generation & low-income students’ needs, is a practiced counselor, and seasoned program developer. She is passionate about the future of higher education and ensuring it is a safe & inclusive environment for all student communities. Joanna is currently an Educational Leadership doctoral student at Cal State Long Beach, and completed her master’s in Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan, and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Latin American & Iberian Studies from UC Santa Barbara. She currently serves as the Director of Student Success Initiatives Office providing leadership to programs that support foster youth, student parents, undocumented students, transfer success programs, community partnerships, as well as first-generation and low-income students. Prior to this appointment, she served as the TRIO project director at UC Irvine and worked as an EOP counselor at UC Santa Barbara. Joanna is a new mom, loves her dog & cat, enjoys hiking, lover of urban art and music. Please feel free to reach out to her if you would like additional support or want to get connected to any of the SSI programs.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail:joanna.hernandez@uci.edu
Dianna Mendoza, Office Manager
Student Success Initiatives
Dianna has worked at UCI for 25 years all within the Division of Undergraduate Education. Since Fall 2011, she has been working as the Office Manager for Student Success Initiatives and Transfer Student Hub. Dianna is excited to meet the students our office serves and help them achieve their goals while at UCI. If you have general questions about Student Success Initiatives, please contact Dianna Mendoza.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail: dmmendoz@uci.edu
Dr. Sonia Valencia, Program Director
TRIO Scholars Program
Dr. Sonia Ivette Valencia is a Mexican immigrant and first-gen college graduate. Raised in Orange, CA, she received a B.A. in English, Women’s Studies, and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Riverside. As an undergraduate student, Sonia studied abroad, worked with student orientation, and was involved in research. She has an M.A. in English from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in English from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research examines representations and treatments of environmental catastrophes in Latinx cultural production. Sonia is committed to advancing educational access and equity and to supporting the academic and career goals of first-gen, low-income, and BIPOC students. She is a devoted cat mom, avid reader, podcast enthusiast, and true crime fanatic.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail: soniaiv@uci.edu
Stephanie Aguilar, TRIO Counselor
TRIO Scholars Program
Stephanie Aguilar is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Chicano/Latino Studies. As a first-generation and a non-traditional student, Stephanie began her higher education path by transferring from a community college to a 4-year institution. Additionally, Stephanie is also a Trio SSS Alumni which caters to first-generation, low income and/or students with a disability. Being part of TRIO has played a pivotal role in shaping Stephanie’s academic and professional career in higher education. With 7 years of experience within TRIO SSS, Stephanie has served both in professional and student roles which has allowed Stephanie to understand the unique needs of students navigating the complexities of higher education. Subsequently, Stephanie is passionate about advocating for students facing similar challenges, and firmly believes that students possess a unique voice and story that embodies resilience and perseverance. Beyond her academic pursuits, Stephanie is a devoted mother to her 10-year-old son, Jason, who has served as her motivation throughout her educational journey. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys nature walks, cooking, traveling, and watching K-dramas.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail: celiasa@uci.edu
Brighitte Preciado, Retention Programs Director
Student Success Initiatives
Brighitte grew up in the Los Angeles area and has over 15 years of experience within higher education including residential life, student activities, and outreach and retention. Brighitte earned her B.A. in Film and Media from UC Berkeley and her M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. Brighitte served as the Director of the TRIO Scholars Program at UC Riverside and most recently supported student organizations and events at Scripps College as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement. As a first-generation college graduate, Brighitte is passionate about providing mentorship, advising, and support to students within underrepresented communities.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail: bsprecia@uci.edu
Rosemary Sanchez, Summer Bridge Counselor
Student Success Initiatives
Tatiana Apelu, Academic Achievement Counselor
Student Success Initiatives
Tati, a proud double alumna of California State University, San Marcos, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Sociological Practice. During her student days, Tati’s dedication to student-centered work grew as she assumed important roles in various student services departments. Her personal journey as a first-generation Samoan woman, coupled with her experience as a former foster youth, amplifies her capacity for empathy and understanding for vulnerable student populations. Her gratitude for the campus support programs that contributed to her own success fuels her passion to student success. In her previous role within the non-profit sector, Tatiana played a pivotal role in the development of the nation’s largest vocational/trade scholarship for current and former foster youth.
Outside of work, Tatiana is a powerhouse in competitive powerlifting and a culinary creative who enjoys reimagining popular recipes.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail: tapelu@uci.edu
Jordi Conde, DREAM Scholars Counselor
Student Success Initiatives
Jordi Conde (he, him, his) is a proud First-Generation, undocumented professional/scholar. Having been undocumented for the last twenty plus years, he is committed to helping students explore and develop their identities in a higher education setting that can be carried onward. Jordi values student development, mentorship, creating a sense of belonging for all students, and promoting inclusive & diverse opportunities.
Most recently, Jordi completed his Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Student Development in Higher Education (SDHE) from Cal State Long Beach. In addition, he is a proud UC alumni, graduating with both a B.A. in Politics and B.A. in Latin American & Latine Studies from UC Santa Cruz.
Outside of work, Jordi loves to spend time with his two dogs (a Corgi/Husky mix and a German Shepherd/Labrador mix), being outdoors, hiking, bicycling, reading, going to Dodger games, and enjoys photography.
Office: 2200 Student Services II
E-mail: jcondeme@uci.edu
Kenya Garay, Gateway Scholars Counselor
Student Success Initiatives
Kenya is a first-generation college graduate. Coming from a low-income, immigrant family, her goals have always had education in mind. She has a passion for working with students navigating similar backgrounds as she did growing up. She has worked in education for more than 10 years in different fields such as K-12, the nonprofit sector, and ultimately higher education. She currently serves as the Gateway Scholars counselor of Student Success Initiatives providing services to students who come from historically underrepresented populations.
Kenya is an active person who enjoys hiking and going to the beach in her free time.
Vacant, SSI Coordinator
Student Success Initiatives
TBD
Eric Yang, International Student Excellence Program Coordinator
Student Success Initiatives
Eric Yang holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Irvine. With a wealth of experience in direct student support services in higher education, Eric has demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering inclusive academic environments.
In his previous role, Eric served as a advocate for underserved student populations, overseeing campus programs for undocumented students at UC Riverside. Additionally, he has spearheaded nonpartisan youth-led organizing initiatives across LA County and Orange County.
As an immigrant from South Korea, Eric is passionate about advocating for equitable access to higher education, believing in the transformative power of education to unlock individual potential and cultivate fulfilling career pathways for all.
Currently, Eric is thrilled to contribute to the International Student Excellence Program at UCI as the International Peer Group Program Coordinator. In this role, he enjoys leveraging his expertise and passion for student support to enhance the experiences of international students and foster a vibrant community.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Eric finds joy in exploring his culinary roots through cooking traditional Korean cuisines and unwinding with comedy and sci-fi films in his free time.
Adeeva Myers, Program Director
Transfer Student Center
Office: 2100 Student Services II
E-mail: ammyers@uci.edu
Carlos Martinez, Office Coordinator
Transfer Student Center
Carlos serves as the Office Coordinator for the Transfer Student Center. As a former transfer student himself, he earned his Associate of Arts for Transfer in Psychology from Glendale Community College in California. He went on to graduate from UC Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior.
Carlos’s responsibilities revolve around maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment for both current and prospective Transfer students and their peers. In his role, he oversees front desk operations, as well as the student service needs for a variety of Student Success Initiatives programs, including the Transfer Buddy Program, Transfer BOOST, and Student Parents and Families programs. Carlos also serves as the initial point of contact for TSC guests, families, and campus partners, connecting them with the appropriate campus resources.
Carlos enjoys playing video games, jamming out on the keyboard, and sharing recommendations for shows to binge watch. Feel free to reach out to him with your transfer student experience questions, or to simply share a bright moment in your day.
Office: 2100 Student Services II
E-mail: carlosmm@exchange.uci.edu
Ananda Van Boeyen, Formerly Incarcerated & Systems Impacted
Transfer Student Center
Ananda Van Boeyen grew up as a first-generation, low-income, immigrant family student. She chose to complete her Master of Social Work, having experienced first-hand the power of mentorship and having someone believe in your dreams, dignity, and worth. Ananda has spent over 15 years working with families, early intervention mental health services, people without housing, survivors of domestic violence, immigration detainees, and reentry services.
Ananda is passionate about creating a sense of community and belonging for all students while helping them find their voice and power. Ananda loves the outdoors, whether it is hiking, the beach, or napping under the sun. She enjoys listening to music, attending concerts and festivals, reading, running, working out, podcasts and napping. Please contact her with questions and for support.
Ann Chan, Counselor/Coordinator – Foster Youth Resilience in Education (FYRE)
Transfer Student Center
Vacant, Umoja Counselor
Transfer Student Center
TBD
Vacant, Transfer/FYRE Coordinator
Transfer Student Center
TBD