UGRD Staff Profiles

A.J. is a native of San Jose, CA but has spent time in each of the four corners of the country. A former transfer student and athlete, A.J. oversees the Transfer process and is the Admission liaison for Athletics recruitment. An admission veteran, A.J. has worked in higher education for over two decades and is also a published author.

Eva has been with the Undergraduate Admission Office since 2003. As VP for Enrollment Management, she serves on the president's cabinet and oversees the operations of undergraduate admission, university financial aid, and enrollment services. Eva worked for ten years in Latino media as a leader in ad sales and marketing for several start-up operations launching into Latin American and the U.S. Hispanic market, including Fox Latin American Channel, USA Networks, Discovery Networks, and El Sition.com. She has served on several boards and committees of local and national non-profit organizations and is currently President of the National Catholic College Admission Association. Originally from Venice Beach, Eva lives in San Jose with her husband and young daughter.

Lorenzo is originally from a very small town with eight graduating seniors in his public high school class. Coming from a close-knit community, he is familiar with the assumptions and fears one may have when considering leaving town for college. Reflecting on his own journey of college, he aspires to clarify the daunting experience for other first-generation students that he once faced himself. Lorenzo has over ten years of experience in college advising and currently oversees new initiatives.

Michaela is a former transfer student and graduate of Santa Clara University. After graduation, Michaela went on to receive her Master’s degree from King’s College London. Michaela is a forever learner, teacher and adviser. She is passionate about the Jesuit philosophy of educating the whole person: mind, body and spirit. Michaela is excited to work with incoming first-year and transfer students and advise students from all backgrounds through the process of accessing higher education.

Although Randy was born in Boston, he grew up and attended school in San Jose. As the first person in his family to attend college, he hopes to share his experiences with other students looking for advice. As a former teacher, he is passionate about education and has always been committed to helping students reach their goals!

Zucel is a San Jose native and is passionate about improving college access for all students. As a first generation and former transfer student, she is passionate about supporting students through the college application process. Jesuit education has played a large role in her life--hopefully, it will for you too.

Derrick grew up in the Bay Area before heading down to Southern California to get his bachelors and masters degree. He is now back in the Bay Area serving as an Associate Director in the Undergraduate Admissions Office. He is passionate in supporting students to discover their identities and achieve their goals. In this role, he hopes to increase college access and to be a resource for students to understand the college application process and how college can be used as a tool to achieve their dreams and passions.

Gaby moved from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico when she was 8 years old and considers herself a San Jose native. Her experience in non-profit, private business, and start-up/tech sectors in the area has given her opportunities to really understand this very diverse community. As a first-generation college student, the love and support from her teachers was monumental for her enrollment and success. Gaby is a Spanish native speaker, has a heart for the immigrant communities and absolutely loves California for its beauty, endless possibilities and diversity.

Junesse was born in Cebu, Philippines and immigrated to the United States when she was ~a year and a half old. She grew up in San Jose, California and continues to reside in the Bay Area with her family and her dog, Mangga (meaning Mango in Bisaya, her family's native language). As an admissions counselor, Junesse is committed to helping students in their pursuit of higher education.

Sarah grew up in Shanghai, China before moving to the Bay Area with her family. She is now the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission. Being a major in International Affairs, Sarah holds a passion for immersing herself in diverse cultures, connecting with people from all backgrounds and exploring excitements from dynamic environments. As a licensed counselor in China, Sarah has a strong background in International Teacher Recruitment for prestigious K-12 School Groups over the past 10 years. Now, she aims to leverage her extensive experience as an in-house Recruiter to support many more students as they pave their University pathways and excel in their future career.

Francine, a native of San Jose, California, brings over 25 years of experience in K-12 and higher education. Her career has been shaped by a passion for fostering growth and student success. As the former Head of School at an internationally recognized private school, she provided strategic insights that fueled school expansion and enhanced student services. Francine has also held leadership roles at Stanford and San Jose State Universities, specializing in student services and financial management.

Rebecca was born and raised in San Jose, CA. After high school, she attended a local community college where she earned an associate of arts (AA) degree. Even though she was the first in her family to attend college, she did not stop after earning her AA. She attended Santa Clara University (SCU) by doing a Transfer Admission Agreement (TAA). Shortly thereafter, she found her way back to the SCU as a staff member; Super Bronco*. Eventually she found herself back in the classroom and earned a master of arts (MA) degree. Her experience in higher education has given her numerous opportunities to understand and navigate the inner workings of the educational system. Given her background, she is passionate about teaching the next generation how to obtain their goals.

Linda was born in Redwood City, California, and raised in the Bay Area in a bicultural and bilingual household that celebrates her Bolivian and Italian heritage. As a transfer student, Linda earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where she focused her studies on OCD in Latinx populations through an interdisciplinary major. She later completed her Master’s in Counseling with a specialization in Latinx populations at Santa Clara University. Linda is a dedicated ally to the immigrant community and is passionate about empowering underrepresented students with the tools, hope, and guidance needed to succeed in higher education. A mental health advocate, Linda also hosts Listening2Linda, a podcast centered on neurodivergence, resilience, and motivation.

Gabrielle grew up in Bexley, Ohio before moving to the Bay Area to get her bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University.  As a student, she completed multiple internships with the SCU Admissions Office before transitioning into a full time role as an admission counselor.  In this position, she aims to assist students in navigating the college application process with greater confidence and showcase all the opportunities SCU has to offer.

A Bay Area Native, Hydeia is passionate about expanding college access to all students and wants to demystify the college application process. Graduating from Santa Clara University with majors in Psychology and Public Health and minors in Religious Studies and Political Science, Hydeia is excited to share more about Santa Clara University with students and families. As a Black, first-generation college student, Hydeia wants to ensure that students see themselves reflected both inside and outside of the classroom!

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Laisha transferred to Santa Clara University as a first-generation college student, ready to take advantage of the many resources available. Her time at Santa Clara was nothing short of memorable, as she became actively involved with the university radio station’s marketing team, LEAD, film, and the performing arts.