Presenter Profiles

Communications Studies Student at Santa Clara University

Ahira Foster is a rising senior at Santa Clara University majoring in Communication Studies and is pursuing law school upon graduating in the spring.  He also just finished his summer internship with VMware where he was able to work as a communication intern for the Global Communications team.

Accounting and Finance student at Santa Clara University

Alejandra is a motivated, self-starting, and goal-oriented person with proven abilities in helping uncomplicate the lives of executives and senior managers. Likewise, she is highly competent in the overall management of a professional office. She has flourished in her work in the areas of administration and finance. Additionally, she is a creative problem- solver with a talent to steam line processes, improve morale, resolve conflict and exceed realistic goals. Most importantly, she always bring personal integrity, honesty and strong work ethics in her profession. She just recently completed my summer internship and received a full time offer with KPMG upon graduation.

Computer Science Student at Santa Clara University

Ana is a first-generation student studying computer science at Santa Clara University. She is passionate about problem solving and programming. Ana wants other women to consider computer science and is always willing to help open the door for them. 

Executive Director of Career Center at Santa Clara University

Dylan Houle is excited to come to work each day to help deliver on the promise of higher education for all of our students: a good job, social capital, and economic mobility in pursuit of a more humane, just, and sustainable world. Dylan has more than 15 years of experience in teaching and education, career services and alumni engagement. As someone whose own career path has not been linear, he appreciates and emphasizes the importance of developing transferable skills, building relationships, and being open-minded and adaptive. He holds a BA in English from San Francisco State University and a MS in Teaching from Fordham University. 

Sociology Major Santa Clara University Class of 2023 Alum

Jessica Cuellar (she/her/hers) is a San Jose native and mother of two with a deep commitment to making a positive impact on society. She is a first-generation college student who earned her associate of science degree in Administration of Justice from Evergreen Valley Community College. As a transfer student, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a concentration in community and social justice from Santa Clara University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu and Alpha Kappa Delta National Honor Societies and received the Peter-Hans Kolvenbach S.J. University Award.

Focused on service to others, during her time on campus Jessica was part of the Lead Scholars program, a member of the Latinx leadership incubator, and participated in a week-long immersion with the Ignatian Center and Kino Border Initiative to provide direct humanitarian assistance and accompaniment to migrants. With hopes of creating a sense of belonging and inclusion for future commuter, transfer, and parenting students, she conducted research with both the sociology department and the religious studies department. In her last quarter, she worked closely with and alongside professors in the sociology and history department as a peer educator.

Currently, she is a mentor and court-appointed advocate for youth involved in the justice system with the FLY Program. She is also a LEAF (Latino Education Advancement Foundation) mentor providing support services, and advocating for educational equity for low-income Latinx Students and their families in East San Jose as they pursue higher education. In the near future, she plans to attend law school and become an attorney practicing law in juvenile justice and dependency. 

Ph.D., Director of Special Projects, College of Arts and Sciences representing the REAL Program at Santa Clara University

Professor Katy Korsmeyer is a dedicated educator at Santa Clara University, recognized for her impactful work in science education and community engagement. Through initiatives like the Santa Clara County Biotechnology Education Partnership, she has fostered hands-on learning in high schools and facilitated professional development for teachers in biotechnology. Her contributions extend to facilitating donations of educational resources, creating the Silicon Valley STEM Internship program, and organizing the National Biotechnology Education Conference. Furthermore, her commitment to mentoring women in STEM led to the Young Explorers program in collaboration with the Association for Women in Science, promoting hands-on activities in K-8 classrooms. Professor Korsmeyer's holistic approach underscores her commitment to advancing science education and empowering future STEM leaders.

Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach, Undergraduate Admission

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 such as LLI.

Associate Director of Center for Student Involvement

Lori (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director and co-lead for the Campus Engagement Working Group where she enjoys connecting with campus partners and students.  She received her bachelor's in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management and her master's in Counselor Education from San Jose State University. She is currently working on her Educational Doctorate at SCU in Social Justice Leadership. She is excited to be a double Bronco and be the first cohort to graduate from the program.

Lori was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in San Jose, California. She has one daughter, 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 guinea pig, 1 fish, and 1 hamster (yes, a small farm!) She enjoys doing arts and crafts, visiting the animal shelter with her daughter, and going to the beach.

Computer Science student at Santa Clara University

A first-gen aspiring software engineer, Luis Herrera is eager to learn, develop, and grow in the tech field. Luis is a determined and driven problem-solving leader, with a passion for engineering new ideas through the use of creativity and innovation. He aspires to create software that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of people, but also make direct communication with computers more accessible for everyone. My adaptability and solution-oriented persona have been defining characteristics to strive for results in a fast and efficient way, while also being collaborative by applying diversity, inclusion, and building trust with those around him.

Partner & Director of Impact, Career Launch

Marieli Rubio is a Partner and Director of Impact for Career Launch. As a first-generation college student at Santa Clara University she was taught the Career Launch Method directly from Sean when she was a sophomore. Marieli immediately began to create a professional network from scratch. In doing so, she earned a competitive internship within a civil engineering division of a prominent construction company between her sophomore and junior year. Marieli reflects, “It was a life-changing experience, it opened my eyes to the realities of what I was learning in the classroom and it increased my self-confidence for my career going forward.”

Associate Professor of Education, Educational Leadership Program at SCU

Pedro E. Nava completed his Ph.D. from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education in the Urban Schooling division.  His dissertation was titled Sin Sacrificio No Hay Recompensa: Apoyo as (Im)migrant Parental Engagement in Farmworking Families of the California Central Valley.   The focus of his research and teaching are in urban and rural schooling inequality, critical pedagogy and critical race theory, immigration and education, family-school-community engagement, and participatory action research. Prior to his time at UCLA, he completed a Master’s degree at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education with a specialization in administration, planning and social policy, and Bachelor’s degrees from California State University at Fresno in Liberal Studies and Chicano Studies.

Director of Marketing - Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University

Ricardo Cortez, the Director of Marketing at the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, deftly integrates the Bay Area's abundant diversity to drive marketing success, prioritizing practical, functional, and impactful design that resonates with specific audiences. With a keen eye on trends within design, technology, and government, his multifaceted background in public service, education, and artistry yields high-caliber creations that deeply engage San Jose's residents and the broader community. Beyond design prowess, Ricardo's adeptness spans effective communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration, aligning his creative acumen with the imperatives of public service. As a digital media artist, Ricardo works across technology, sculpture, and installation, weaving together elements of cultural identity, personal technology experiences, and popular culture. With exhibition participation across the United States and international publications, his work in emerging technologies reinvigorates nuanced cultural identities, uncovering shared societal threads. His enduring commitment to producing culturally significant pieces that foster interactive experiences not only enriches audiences but also informs his teaching, where he imparts this unique multi-disciplinary perspective to his students.

Author, Storyteller, and Social Entrepreneur

Rosanna Alvarez is an award winning author, braided storyteller, and social entrepreneur. A lecturer by day, she teaches at San José State University and is the Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Eastside Magazine. Her book Braided [Un]Be-Longing is an International Latino Book Awards Finalist for The Juan Felipe Herrera Best Poetry Book Award.

She is also the recent recipient of the Distinguished Preservation Service Award for her work in writing, publishing, teaching, and performing. Her work has been published in Label Me Latina/o, Journal X, Modern Latina Magazine, Chicana/Latina Studies, St. Sucia Zine, and Eastside Magazine, among others. 

Multimedia Artist and Designer

Rubén Darío Villa, a pioneering first-generation Chicano multimedia artist and designer, was born to Mexican immigrants in San Jose, CA. A graduate of Santa Clara University, he embarked on an unexpected journey, securing a role at Apple as a "Photoshop Expert" despite lacking proficiency in the software. After leaving a lucrative tech career due to burnout, Villa founded Fúchila Fresheners, an internationally recognized pop-culture-inspired car freshener company. Currently serving as a Visual Designer and Global Brand Lead at Google, he also established a creative studio in Gilroy, CA, dedicated to exploring "Chicanostalgia" and broader Chicano identity themes. Villa's multifaceted roles as a designer, brand strategist, artist, speaker, and writer are complemented by his active community engagement in the South Bay Area, where he dedicates substantial effort to empowering minority and women-owned businesses and Latinx youth aspiring to enter Silicon Valley. Villa's impact extends through his involvement on the board of Digital NEST, a nonprofit fostering tech careers for Latinx youth in rural areas, as well as his role as a commissioner on the City of Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission and advisor on the City of San Jose’s Public Art Advisory Committee. In the heart of the Garlic Capital of the World, he resides with his wife, Veronica, and their endearingly adorable children, Luna de Aztlan and Teocalli.

Founder of DREAMers Roadmap, Girl Scouts of NorCal Board Member & Ethnic Studies and Sociology major student at Santa Clara University

Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca is the Founder and CEO of DREAMers Roadmap, a mobile app platform that helps undocumented students navigate the necessary resources to access higher education. This has been Sarahi’s passion for the past 8 years and she continues to advocate not only for the undocumented but for socially and economically disadvantaged communities as well. It is this level of activism that has put her in the spotlight of continued conversations centered on national immigration policy.

Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca is a White House Champion of Change recipient in 2014, has received 5 House of Representatives Awards, and was named in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2016. She has lived experience as a former undocumented student herself, who had to drop out of community college to work to help support her family. Sarahi’s personal experience informs her unwavering vision: to help hundreds of thousands of undocumented students eliminate educational barriers to achieve their full potential and success. 

In 2020, she directed two major campaigns serving people of color, #FirstOfTheMonth, where she and two other local organizations came together and raised 2.4 million dollars to help the most vulnerable impacted by Covid-19. The other #Supplies4FarmWorkers, a grassroots community-led campaign organized by 100% volunteers, served families affected by the California fires and Covid-19. They distributed items such as backpacks, food, PPE, school supplies, and other essentials to families at farmworker camps and fields.

In May 2022, Sarahi joined The Sobrato Family Foundation as the Senior Program and Strategy Advisor where she leads all community engagement and played a key role in advising Silicon Valley's newly approved ten-year strategy centering Community Voice and Lived Experience.

Currently, Sarahi is a full-time student at Santa Clara University pursuing a Major in Ethnic Studies and a Minor in Sociology. After graduating from high school 15 years ago, she is set to graduate in June 2024 and will pursue a Doctorate in Education. She hopes her advocacy and research will one-day influence policies in making higher education more equitable for all.

Director, One-Stop Enrollment Center

Trista has worked at Santa Clara University since October, 2000. She worked in the Financial Aid Office for 12 years and became the Director of the SCU One Stop in 2012. Prior to her time at Santa Clara, she was a Branch Manager at a financial institution. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from San Jose State. 

Chief of Staff to the Chief Privacy Officer at Cisco, Motivational Speaker

Veronica currently serves as the Chief of Staff to Cisco’s Chief Privacy Officer.  Leveraging her passion for empowering individuals to own their data, she launched Ask Veronica which focuses on consumer tips to improve privacy and cybersecurity posture. CBS aired a segment featuring her Ask Veronica YouTube channel. CBS also highlighted her continued service to Students Rising Above, a college preparedness program for first generation students overcoming obstacles such as homelessness, domestic violence, and incarcerated family members. She benefited from this program when she was a minor, and it is a great honor to give back to an organization that transformed her life.

Yesenia Magdaleno-Solis

Community Engagement Manager - Student & Identity, Santa Clara University

Yesenia “Yesi” Magdaleno-Solis is an eldest daughter and first-generation Mexican-American from Castroville, California. She is beginning the MBA program at Santa Clara University, after earning a B.S. in Sociology and a B.A. in Spanish Studies in June of 2020. She currently works at SCU’s Alumni Relations department, manages the student engagement efforts and leads seven Alumni identity-based communities: Asian Pacific Islander, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern & North African, Native American, and Veterans. Outside of work, Yesenia enjoys painting en plein air, going on walks to coffee shops, visiting nearby beaches, and trying new restaurants with friends.