Professional Staff
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She, Her, Hers
Paulina has an M.A. in Education with a concentration in Student Affairs & Educational Justice. She has dedicated her life to advocating for college access and retention efforts that ensure students succeed in our K-14 educational system.
Paulina Raygoza
Director
praygoza@uci.edu
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They/Them
Check back soon!
Vacant
Assistant Director
email@uci.edu
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They/Them
JJ is a first-gen college graduate with a B.A. in Psychological Sciences at UCI. They strive to serve underrepresented communities through a liberation psychology framework & to provide students with a welcoming space for their personal growth.
JJ Jimenez
Program Specialist
jocelyij@uci.edu
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She, Her, Hers
marbell@uci.edu
Marbell Gomez-Davidson
Administrative Assistant
marbell@uci.edu
Student Staff
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She, Her, Hers
Hi! My name is Alia and I am a fourth year Psychological Science major. I joined SOAR because I want to develop fun programs for students and create a safe & welcoming space on campus for all. I aim to publicize on campus resources and specialize in advocating for mental health resources and care. I love plushies, crochet, and matcha lattes! I hope to make new friends and support our community at UCI <3
Alia Munn
Program Co-Director
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She, Her, Hers
Hello, my name is Chidera, I am a third year student studying Business information Management. Outside of sore I love spending time with my friends playing tennis and board games. I joined so because I wanted a place to showcase my creativity through programming and event planning and I hope to also serve the student body at Uci through these programs.
Chidera Okoroama
Program Co-Director
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Helloooo! I'm Andrew and I am a 4th-year student majoring in Political Science and minoring in History. Beyond SOAR, I love going on road trips and visiting new places when I get the chance, especially during the Winter and Summer. This year, I am excited to be one of your Affiliate Co-Chairs and I aim to continue to expand my passions for empowering students and connecting with our UCI community.
Andrew Nguyen
Affiliate Co-Chair
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Hey everyone, I'm excited to meet you all this year! In my free time, I like catching up on tv shows, playing video games, or trying out new recipes. I also like exploring new places that are interesting or I've never been before. And don't feel afraid to reach out to me about anything, I'm always open to chatting as well.
Simon Xiong
Affiliate Co-Chair
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She, Her, Hers
Hi! My name is Luz, I'm a third year studying Mathematics, aspiring to be a math educator in secondary education. I enjoy dancing, thrifting, taking silly pictures, and spending time with family. Knowing that SOAR is a student-led program, I joined with the goal to help identify student barriers and provide holistic support for underrepresented communities.
Luz Hernandez Hernandez
Pathfinder Coordinator
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She, Her, Hers
Hello!! I'm a third year, Biological Sciences major, and proud first-gen student. Outside of SOAR, I love outdoor activities, dancing folklorico, and spending quality time with friends and family. I joined SOAR because I want to help foster a welcoming environment here at UCI and support students with their transition to college!
Nemi Hernandez
Pathfinder Coordinator
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Hey everyone! My name is Alex (He/Him/His) and I am a 4th year Psychological Sciences major. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA ( specifically the Culver City area) and I am a bit of a thrill seeker! As a Pathfinder Peer Educator I hope to continue growing and utilizing my skills to empower and connect with those around me so that we can all take one more step towards actualizing our goals!
Alex Ruiz
Pathfinder Peer Educator
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She, Her, Ella
Hola! My name is Brenda, and I am a fourth year studying Sociology and Education Sciences. I am from the Coachella Valley, and am obsessed with finding the best matcha spots (I am very picky about my matcha). I joined SOAR because I love to work with fellow students and understand the difficulties of navigating higher education, especially as a first generation and low income student.
Brenda Ortiz
Pathfinder Peer Educator
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Hi! I'm a third-year Psychological science and social ecology double major. When I'm not at the SOAR Center, I enjoy binge-watching shows and going to the beach at night. I joined SOAR because I wanted to work one-on-one with my fellow peers here on campus and be able to guide or impact my mentees to some greater outcome. I see this as also an opportunity to get involved with student involvement here on campus.
Florence Quoi
Pathfinder Peer Educator
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She, Her, Hers
I joined SOAR to support fellow students throughout their UCI journey and to advocate for underrepresented communities. I wanted to be a part of SOAR's mission to ensure students graduate within four years by providing essential resources and peer consultations. The SOAR office truly stood out to me on campus and has brightened my time at UCI!
Shaista Mawlanazada
Pathfinder Peer Educator
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She, Her, Hers
Hi! I'm Jacinda, a 2nd-year Education Sciences major. I enjoy listening to music and spending time with my friends. I joined SOAR because I wanted to collaborate with others who have goals of serving the community!
Jacinda Pang
Pathfinder Peer Educator
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She, Her, Hers
Hi, my Name is Kelly Amador Villarreal from San Diego, CA and I am a second year double major in Education Sciences and Sociology. In my freetime I like to go to the beach, take walks with my favorite music playing and crochet! I joined SOAR because I have always loved mentoring others and sharing knowledge, so I hope to be a small but positive part of students’ educational journey as a mentor! If you have any questions about changing your major, double majoring, course planning, summer session, the Honors Collegium or finding resources I'm here for you!
Kelly Amador Villarreal
Pathfinder Peer Educator
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Hi! I'm a third-year African American Studies/Psychology double major. When I'm not at the SOAR Center, I enjoy going to concerts, discovering new music, relaxing at the beach, and roller skating. I joined SOAR because I wanted to be a part of a team that helped Black transfer students feel more connected to the university. As an Umoja Peer Educator, I look forward to advocating for the African Diaspora and working within the community.
Mia Roddy
Umoja Peer Pathfinder Educator
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Antonio Lee is a Junior Transfer student from the Bay Area in Northern California. He is a professional dancer, actor, and musician who is studying classical voice atUC Irvine. He is passionate about arts, culture, and community. Antonio has always been an activist at heart and he is excited to advocate for students by connecting them with specific resources, events, and opportunities that will
allow them to unlock their true potential. He is dedicated to building a community on campus because he knows how important community support is as a UCI student.
Antonio Lee
Umoja Peer Pathfinder Educator
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Hey! I’m a fourth-year mechanical engineering student with an interest in aerospace. As an undocumented student, I’m drawn to the SOAR Center’s support for underrepresented communities and look forward to enhancing the UCI experience for fellow students. Outside of SOAR, I spend most of my time on my studies and career goals.
Heber Vladimir Jr. Chavarria
SOAR Fellow
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She, Her, Hers
Hi!! I'm a 3rd-year student majoring in Nursing Science. SOAR has been an amazing place where I have connected with many students like myself and built a community where we support, encourage, and lead each other towards success. I joined SOAR because I wanted to make an impact in my community and be a helping hand to anyone who needs it.
Nadia Fierros Altamirano
SOAR Fellow
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Hi, y'all! I'm a second-year political science and anthropology major who is passionate about advocacy! When I'm not hiking with friends, raving about a song, or hanging out with my dog, Buddy, I'm deeply involved in efforts to support under-served communities. I joined SOAR because I am determined to address the lack of Native representation at UCI; a problem within higher education institutions. I believe in bridging the divide of opportunities and I am committed to creating lasting change to build a more inclusive and equitable environment where every student has the chance to thrive.
Jayla Pete
Native American Recruitment Initiative (NARI) Outreach Coordinator
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Hello! I'm Farahnaz, a rising 4th-year Computer Science major passionate about using technology to create accessible educational and healthcare solutions. I joined SOAR as an intern during my freshman year, and it quickly became a place of warmth and support. Now, I am honored to give back to this amazing community by being there for others in the same way—whether it’s through sharing resources, creating accessible websites, or crafting newsletters that connect and uplift.
Farahnaz Hoque
Website & Communications Coordinator
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Hello! I’m Vy and I major in Business Administration. I look forward to applying my passion for graphic design to promote SOAR’s resources to the student community during my 3rd year at UCI.
Vy Tran
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
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Hii! I'm a third-year student studying Art & Education with a minor in Digital Arts. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, painting, socializing with friends, and playing games. I joined SOAR because I appreciate the wide range of resources, support, and programs it offers, and I'm excited to contribute my creative talents to its mission!
Alexis Phuong Pham
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
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She, Her
Hello! I'm a 3rd-year student studying English. Outside of the SOAR, I enjoy reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends. Previously a member of the 2023-2024 GAPP cohort, I joined to better actualize my intended career in higher education. With the support of Paulina, Jennifer, and a community of my peers, I grew to feel empowered in my position as a prospective graduate student. I hope my previous experience and continued learning as an intern will guide students of marginalized communities to look beyond the success of their undergraduate degree.
Sarah Hernandez
GAPP Intern
SOAR Program Interns & Field Study Interns
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She/Her
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TBA
SOAR Program Intern
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She/Her
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TBA
SOAR Program Intern
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She/Her
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TBA
SOAR Program Intern