2014-2015 Femtors/Mentors
Miguel Alcala
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First generation Chicano college graduate. I obtained my Bachelors degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University. Currently in the Social Welfare graduate program, I plan to work towards the elimination of social inequalities that impact the Latino/a community.
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Stephanie Arteaga
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School of Public Health
[email protected] Stephanie Arteaga is a Bay Area native that has been working in Public Health since she began her undergraduate work at SFSU in 2008. She is interested in health disparities in Sexual and Reproductive Health, especially for young Latina women. Most currently she has worked on a study of young women of color and the factors that affect the contraceptive decision-making.
Stephanie is an MPH candidate in the Maternal and Child Health concentration. |
Magdalena C
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Social Welfare
[email protected] I am a bit of a nomad, having lived "all over" in several states in the U.S. and two different countries in Latin America, and my interests are similarly diverse and spread out. I studied Spanish and Sociology (with a heavy dose of art classes) during my undergrad years, worked for a few years afterwards at a community clinic, and now I'm a grad student at UC Berkeley's School of Social Welfare. Academically and professionally, I am interested in social justice, gender equity, health equity, sexual health, and mental health. My future plans involve working towards eliminating health disparities, advocating for reproductive justice, and preventing sexual violence.
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Natalie Camarena Lopez
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bio
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Luis Cuellar
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Social Welfare
[email protected] I was born and raised in San Francisco, moving around a bit but spending most of my time in the Upper Haight and Sunset. I completed my BA in sociology at UC Santa Cruz in 2009. After graduating from UCSC, I moved to Oakland and began working for a non-profit that provides mental health services to kids and families throughout the Bay Area. I worked as a counselor, family finder, and supervisor over the span of five years. I recently began working towards earning my MA at Berkeley's school of social welfare.
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Manuel R. Cuellar
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Department of Spanish and Portuguese
[email protected] I'm a doctoral candidate in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. I was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico where I lived until I finished high school. I then moved to L.A. where I attended Glendale Community College and graduated from UCLA with a double major in Italian and Spanish. Currently, my research as a graduate student at Cal approaches the fiesta as both a trope and a performance practice shaping notions of race, gender, and sexuality in contemporary Mexican cultural production.
In my free time, I enjoy going for walks, running, cooking, and, of course, dancing. In fact, I'm part of a performing company--Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco. |
Omar Davila
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Department of Education
[email protected] Omar is a doctoral student in the Language, Literacy and Culture program at the Graduate School of Education. He is also a Graduate Student Research Associate at the Center for Latino Policy Research. His research interests lie at the nexus of race, educational equity, and community empowerment. Omar is particularly interested in how social justice curricula and asset-based models of teaching develop the academic competency of Students of Color while equipping them with the necessary skills to empower and rebuild their communities. Prior to attending UC Berkeley, Omar was a McNair Scholar and a summer research fellow at Yale University and Michigan State University. He has presented his research at various national conferences, including the 2014 American Educational Research Association and a featured presentation at the 37th Annual Association for Women in Psychology.
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Marco Antonio Flores
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Department of Ethnic Studies
[email protected] Marco Antonio Flores was born in Manzanillo, Colima, México. He was raised by his tías and abuelas until he immigrated to the United States in 1994. Currently a graduate student in Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, his interests include Chicana/o experimental film, visual culture, and queer aesthetics. He is a member of the undocumented queer movement, pursuing activism through art practice as a medium for community transformation. However, he’s often drawn to the magic that nightfall brings, matters of the heart, and the poetic musings of life.
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Jacky Fuentes
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I am a first year in the Social Welfare department with a background in Criminology and Sociology. My concentration is in Children & Families, in which I hope to work in school settings to increase the access to resources and mental health services in order to promote wellness and educational success. In addition, I am very interested in the college experiences of first gent students and believe academic families are essential in helping us navigate this journey. Finding our space and finding our voice in academia can be daunting, but we do not have to do this alone. Fun fact: I wish I was left-handed and I love Norteñas.
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Vianney Gavilanes
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Vianney was born in Jalisco, Mexico and migrated to the US at the age of 6 to San Leandro, CA where she has lived ever since. She is in her second year of the PhD program in the Social and Cultural Studies program in the Graduate School of Education. She is always interested in giving back to her community because she believes investing in quality relationships is key to navigating any system.
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Vicky Gomez
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I am a first year DrPH student in the School of Public Health. I was born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission district. As a single mother, I attended City College of San Francisco and then transferred to San Francisco State University (SFSU). I graduated with degrees in Raza Studies and Health Education. During my time at SFSU, I advocated for living wages, access to health care services for underserved populations and educational rights for prisoners. In 2009, I graduated with my Masters of Public Health degree from SFSU. I am passionate about eliminating cancer health disparities in the Latino community by developing culturally sensitive interventions that reduce barriers to screening and health care access.
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Genesis Ibarra
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I am originally from Southern California. I am a first generation born in the U.S and first in my family to attend college and now obtain a master's degree. I did my undergraduate studies at the University of San Francisco where I double majored in Theology & Religious studies and Latin American studies. After completing my BA I moved to D.C. where I participated in a volunteer program similar to AmeriCorps and worked at a local non profit. After my time there I returned to Southern California and worked for a school district for a little over a year in the Nutrition service department. I enjoy sight seeing, meeting new people, reading, dancing, cooking and speaking Spanish.
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René Kissell
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Originally from Milwaukee, WI, René Espinoza Kissell is pursuing an M.A. in Policy, Organizations, Measurement, and Evaluation (POME), also known as Education Policy. Her current research focuses on the racial politics of school reform, grassroots organizing for educational equity, and the use of market mechanisms such as choice and competition in schooling, especially for underserved youth. René received her BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was involved in McNair, MEChA, and Students United for Public Education. René has worked in various areas of education, from a summer bridge program counselor for high school students of color to a teaching assistant for a kindergarten dual language immersion program. Her research interests are rooted in her experience as a youth organizer around immigration reform, through which she has gained insight into the dynamics of power, privilege and oppression through a social justice framework. She is passionate about leveraging rigorous research to help answer pressing questions in communities, especially within the educational system.
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Carlos Macias Prieto
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Spanish and Portuguese
[email protected] My name is Carlos Macias Prieto. I was born in Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico and grew up in the San Francisco Bay. After graduating from high school I continued my studies at Chabot Community College in Hayward, California. I then transferred to UC Berkeley in the Fall of 2003 and completed a B.A. in Chicano Studies. After working at a non-profit organization as a case manager and counselor for two years, I began my graduate studies at Purdue University, where I studied American Studies, focusing on Early American/Colonial History. After completing my MA Degree I returned to the Bay Area and worked at Laney Community college for two years in the TRIO SSS program. I’m currently a first year PhD student in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Cal; my research focuses on Spanish American historiography and early American/colonial literature. My goal is to obtain a PhD to later become a professor in colonial studies, American studies, or Ethnic/Chicano studies.
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David Maldonado
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I am informed by my life experience, which includes being formerly incarcerated and an addict/alcoholic. I've experienced intersections at the margins of society but have learned to overcome them. Being Chicano from the Bay Area also informs my understanding of challenges in both pedagogy and structure. I see my experiences as a source of upliftment and understanding. I recently finished my BA in Chicano studies at UC Berkeley, having graduated with honors and a 3.9 GPA. As I begin Masters coursework and research, I'm finding the work very rewarding and of course rigorous. I'm excited to share my experiences and successes in different capacities.
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Vivian Ojeda
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School of Public Health
[email protected] Vivian Ojeda graduated from Cornell University in 2009, earning a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Spanish. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as a research aide for the Clinical and Translational Science Center at Weill Cornell Medical College. After two years, she went on to pursue an MD at New York University School of Medicine. Throughout her time in medical school, she has engaged in various community service activities including free health screenings to recent immigrants at the Mexican Consult and Spanish sessions on diabetes and nutrition at the local adult education center in Harlem as part of NYU’s Health Literacy Program. Through these projects she not only sought to provide preventive services to those in need but to also pass along tangible skillsets that allow patients to take better care of themselves and their family members. Active within the Latino Medical Student Association, Vivian is on the national executive board as membership co-chair. She is here at Berkeley through the 11-month interdisciplinary MPH program. With the prospect of going into Obstetrics and Gynecology, she intends to use this one year to focus on the educational and preventative approaches to addressing the health disparities affecting the reproductive health of Latinas.
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Carlos Penilla
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School of Public Health
[email protected] Mr. Penilla has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology, and over 14 years of experience conducting Spanish-language research at UCSF. He is currently pursuing a
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree at UC Berkeley. Through his doctoral dissertation he hopes to expand his reach and efforts to influence policies and programs that promote a healthy food environment for underrepresented minorities in order to prevent childhood obesity. His dissertation will specifically examine maternal and paternal behavioral influences on the development of Mexican American children’s eating behavior. After graduating from the DrPH program, Mr. Penilla plans to continue collaborating with researchers, physicians, and community stakeholders to lead the charge for policy change to improve the health of all children. |
Jeremy Ramirez
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Jeremy is pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration from California State University - Long Beach. He was born and raised in Southern California and has since lived in Washington, Texas, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, D.C., Kuwait, and Iraq. Jeremy served in the US Army as a medic, nurse, and hospital administrator. He has been awarded the Combat Medical Badge, Airborne Parachutist Badge and several Army Commendation Medals. His research interests include: patient engagement, disparities on health, and access to care for underserved populations. Mr. Ramirez is also a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
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Sylvia Sanchez
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Sylvia is pursuing a Master’s of Science in Public Health and will graduate in May 2015. She is originally from Los Angeles and obtained her undergraduate degree in Microbial Biology at UC Berkeley. After graduation, she spent a few years working on campus in a molecular biology and toxicology lab. Although not her initial career choice, she enjoyed research and Berkeley so much that she decided to stay for graduate school. Her current research focuses on hormone levels in blood and their effect on disease, particularly breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. On her spare time, she enjoys reading classic novels, surfing Netflix, and trying new recipes from cookbooks.
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Michael Singh
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School of Education
mvsingh2@berkeley.edu Born and raised in the Sacramento Valley, Michael Singh attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate where he majored in Ethnic Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies. After a year of working in high schools he returned to Cal as a doctoral student in the department of Social and Cultural Studies in the Graduate School of Education. His research looks at the ways in which Chicano male subject formation is (re)created in public schools, and calls for pedagogies which can decolonize and re-imagine Chicano masculinity in such a way that allows students to think critically, heal, and work against hetero-patriarchy. Outside of academia Michal enjoys hip hop music, running, cooking and drawing parallels between Chappelle’s Show and his daily life.
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Bianca Suarez
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First generation Mexican-Puerto Rican college student Bianca Ayanna, is a current doctoral student in the Social and Cultural Studies program within the Graduate School of Education. Raised in Detroit by a single mother, Bianca is the first of her siblings to graduate high school and go on to pursue higher education. She attended and graduated from Detroit Public Schools before earning her B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago where she also minored in Black World and Latin American Studies. She went on to earn her M.A. in Educational Policy Studies from DePaul University while working for a center for university-community partnerships advancing issues central to Black and Brown working poor/class communities. As a feminist scholar of color, her research focuses on the intersections of domestic colonialisms in urban America, racism, poverty, neoliberal educational policy, and radical educational thought and activism. She has taught at the college level in Education and Gender/Women Studies and worked as a researcher for the UC Labor Center. Bianca will soon begin her dissertation project which is an oral based people’s history of the politics of race, class, and freedom in the Detroit Public Schools System from 1954-2004.
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Lauren Valdez
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Lauren is currently pursing a dual master degree is City Planning and Public Health. She has an undergraduate degree from Berkeley with a major in Architecture and a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. More recently, Lauren has worked in the field of Environmental Justice as a community organizer and health correspondent in Wilmington, CA. In 2011, Lauren conducted research in Brazil on a Fulbright Fellowship. Professionally, Lauren has years of experience producing multimedia, and coordinating nonprofit projects internationally.
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