Meet the Corps
We are the 2022-23 USC College Advising Corps! For 2022-23, our USC CAC team of 43 advisers and four supervisors serve 40 high schools in eight school districts. We are very proud that our USC CAC advisers hail from diverse backgrounds and are recent graduates from colleges across California (and across the US), who bring their passion, skills, and talents to enrich the lives of their high school students. Get to know each member of the team with the short bios and photos below. Advisers are featured by the school district that they serve.
Meet the Corps
Administrative Team
Our USC College Advising Corps (USC CAC) is led by a program director and four program coordinators. They supervise our college advisers, ensuring that they have the guidance and support to do their best advising possible. Our administrative team also works closely with our high school partners, meeting with on-site liaisons and providing updates on our advisers’ progress towards program objectives and goals.
Ara Arzumanian (Ed.D. University of Southern California) is the long-time Director of the USC College Advising Corps for the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice (CERPP) at the USC Rossier School of Education. For twenty years. Dr. Arzumanian has been a youth worker in the areas of mentoring, college access, after school, juvenile justice and street outreach.
Benjamin Robles (B.A. University of California, Los Angeles) is the Assistant Program Director for USC
CAC for the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice. Most recently, Benjamin managed outreach efforts for a science education non-profit serving minority communities within South Los Angeles. As head of community engagement, he implemented a community partnership program focused on providing a science education curriculum to underserved and underrepresented children. Benjamin also led a veteran’s group within South Los Angeles. United by the common bond of service, this group offered members the opportunity to make an impact within their community. As a native of Los Angeles, a veteran, and a first-generation college graduate, Benjamin enjoys working within culturally diverse and multidisciplinary teams that making a positive impact locally and nationally. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Benjamin also participates in academic research within the Center. Service has always been an important factor in Benjamin’s life, and he is very excited to be a part of the Corps.
Mariah Jacobo (B.A. Cal State Dominguez Hills), is a Program Coordinator for USC's College Advising Corps for the Center for Enrollment, Research, Policy, and Practice. Mariah was a student-athlete at Long Beach City College where she obtained her associate's degree in Psychology and later transferred to the California State University of Dominguez Hills. During her undergrad at CSUDH, she became a research project lead for the positive psychology research lab where her focus was academic engagement in first-generation college students. This is where she discovered her passion for encouraging students to pursue a post-secondary education. Before becoming a Program Coordinator for USC CAC, Mariah served as an adviser at Compton High School for one year, where her leadership and optimistic energy were highly valued by her colleagues and students. She is excited to carry that momentum with her as she oversees 9 LAUSD high school partnerships. Her leadership skills will be a great contribution in supporting advisers in their professional development while becoming an asset to the USC CAC program.
Ara Arzumanian (Ed.D. University of Southern California) is the long-time Director of the USC College Advising Corps for the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice (CERPP) at the USC Rossier School of Education. For twenty years. Dr. Arzumanian has been a youth worker in the areas of mentoring, college access, after school, juvenile justice and street outreach.
At USC, he has overseen the growth of the program to directly serve over 10,000 students annually in multiple school districts across Los Angeles county. In its ten years of existence, USC CAC has directly assisted over 70,000 students to enroll in college. During that time Ara earned his doctorate in higher education administration from the Rossier School of Education, earned the staff recognition award “for creating a culture of community,” was a fellow of the Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund Young Men of Color 2019, and was awarded USC’s Order of Arete medal for excellence in leadership and community service.
Prior to joining CERPP, Ara oversaw three youth programs and the development of a new mentoring program in Boyle Heights. Previous to that experience, he was the Vice President of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles overseeing several programs and managing mentoring for over 1,500 matches. He developed a new corporate partnership model with Union Bank winning the National Rising Star Award. Before joining Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ara had been tapped by the international non-profit, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), to direct the Generation Next Mentorship Program (GenNext). As the director of GenNext, Ara assembled the team that grew the program five times in size and increased its services to students with the award of a prestigious US Department of Education Grant. During his tenure at GenNext, Ara served as the chair of the Glendale Healthy Start Collaborative and sat on Glendale Unified School District’s Student Attendance Review Board and the violence prevention committees of five schools. It was his experience as a youth outreach worker with the City of Glendale’s Youth Outreach Program that brought Ara to AGBU’s attention. He was a member of the three-person team that developed it from the ground up, providing intensive case management to students facing high risk factors. Specializing in violence intervention/prevention, direct street outreach, runaway recovery and cross-cultural peace-making, Ara and the team worked with over 1,800 students in five years. Due to his experience and expertise in the field of youth development, he has been invited to guest lecture at USC, UCLA, CSUN and CSULA on youth development and challenges facing America’s youth.
Benjamin Robles (B.A. University of California, Los Angeles) is the Assistant Program Director for USC
CAC for the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice. Most recently, Benjamin managed outreach efforts for a science education non-profit serving minority communities within South Los Angeles. As head of community engagement, he implemented a community partnership program focused on providing a science education curriculum to underserved and underrepresented children. Benjamin also led a veteran’s group within South Los Angeles. United by the common bond of service, this group offered members the opportunity to make an impact within their community. As a native of Los Angeles, a veteran, and a first-generation college graduate, Benjamin enjoys working within culturally diverse and multidisciplinary teams that making a positive impact locally and nationally. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Benjamin also participates in academic research within the Center. Service has always been an important factor in Benjamin’s life, and he is very excited to be a part of the Corps.
Joseph Frisina (B.A. California State University, Northridge) serves as a Program Coordinator for USC’s College Advising Corps within the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy, and Practice. As a first-generation college student, Joey began his academic journey at Pasadena City College, where he earned an A.A. in Sociology before transferring to California State University, Northridge, to complete his B.A. in Sociology. Joey's passion for youth development was sparked early in his career while working in an after-school program at his former elementary school. This experience ignited his love for mentoring and supporting young people, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.
With over a decade of experience in youth-focused roles, Joey has excelled in nonprofit leadership with the Boys and Girls Club, classroom teaching, and serving as an athletic director. His unwavering commitment to empowering adolescent youth and helping them realize their full potential has been the driving force behind his career. Joey is excited to bring his extensive experience and dedication to the USC College Advising Corps, where he is committed to guiding students in achieving their college and career aspirations.
Mariah Jacobo (B.A. Cal State Dominguez Hills), is a Program Coordinator for USC's College Advising Corps for the Center for Enrollment, Research, Policy, and Practice. Mariah was a student-athlete at Long Beach City College where she obtained her associate's degree in Psychology and later transferred to the California State University of Dominguez Hills. During her undergrad at CSUDH, she became a research project lead for the positive psychology research lab where her focus was academic engagement in first-generation college students. This is where she discovered her passion for encouraging students to pursue a post-secondary education. Before becoming a Program Coordinator for USC CAC, Mariah served as an adviser at Compton High School for one year, where her leadership and optimistic energy were highly valued by her colleagues and students. She is excited to carry that momentum with her as she oversees 9 LAUSD high school partnerships. Her leadership skills will be a great contribution in supporting advisers in their professional development while becoming an asset to the USC CAC program.
USC College Advising Corps: Compton Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our advisers better who serve in the Compton Unified School District in four high schools.
Ninethe Villafuerte (B.A. California State University Long Beach), is a second-year adviser, placed at Compton Early College High School. Ninethe grew up in the city of Paramount and graduated from Paramount High School. With the support of many loved ones in her life, Ninethe pursued her post-secondary education at CSULB, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Human Development. Here is where she
developed an interest in studying the difference in socioeconomic status between societies. Coming from a low-income household, Ninethe is a proud, first-generation college graduate. She hopes to set an example for plenty of students who are following similar dreams of being the first in their families to attend college. Ninethe developed her passion for working closely with youth during her undergraduate years. She served as a private tutor during the pandemic, helping students thrive in their studies following very unusual and difficult circumstances. She continued her work with students as a college tutor with the AVID program. Throughout this job, she worked closely with first-generation high school students from diverse backgrounds to strengthen their educational abilities while providing college readiness. Since then, Ninethe developed a passion for helping underrepresented students pursue post-secondary education. The USC College Advising Corps has given her the great opportunity to further influence students in her work. As a college adviser, her main goal includes increasing the college attainment rate for students of low-income communities to provide equal opportunities for all.
Berenice Negrete, placed at Compton High School, is a first-year adviser. She graduated with a degree in Cognitive Science and a minor in Data Science from UC Berkeley. During her time at Berkeley, Berenice was 
actively involved with Hermanas Unidas, a statewide organization that provides academic, community service, and social opportunities for predominantly Chicanx/Latinx college students. She served as the chapter's Academic Chair for a year, where she organized academic workshops, efficient study halls, and a monthly newsletter filled with essential resources to support students' academic success. Later, as aCo-Chair, she led the chapter's leadership team while fostering a supportive environment for members. Berenice also gained experience as a Data Analyst for UC Berkeley’s Residential Life Department, where she contributed to the development and analysis of satisfaction and experience surveys. Her work provided insights that helped the department implement new policies and events, demonstrating her commitment to driving positive change within the community. Additionally, she volunteered her time reviewing college application essays and presenting on the college experience to seniors at her alma mater, El Rancho High School. Through these experiences, Berenice discovered her passion for helping underrepresented students reach their goals by demystifying higher education. She is excited to continue this work through the Corps, guiding more students as they plan for life after high school.
Adamaris Figueroa (B.A. California State University of Long Beach), is a second-year college adviser at
Domínguez High School. Throughout her college career, she was heavily involved with working and volunteering for youth after-school programs. Immediately after graduating from Long Beach, Adamaris worked as a mental health worker supporting those in need. She has a good understanding of the importance of K-12 academic achievement and the challenges individuals face when it comes to managing their social and emotional well-being while navigating their academic lives. Adamaris Figueroa is a product of her site placement, she too received the guidance of USC CAC as a high school student at Dominguez High School, where she is now able to support students herself and be a positive impact on them as they were to her.
Allegra Gutierrez (B.A. University of California, Los Angeles), placed at Centennial High School, is a second-
year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in Chicano/a Studies. She transferred from Santa Monica College, where she was active in the Scholars and Adelante Programs. She served as the Psychology Club Secretary, as well as an SMC Student Ambassador. As an ambassador, she met with new/prospective students in the Welcome Center and assisted hopeful transfers in their application process. Being a first-generation student, and the daughter of Mexican-American Immigrants, she found a passion for advising first-generation students in navigating higher education. Once at UCLA, Allegra joined Bruin Partners, traveling to Phoenix Continuation School and tutoring students in effort to catch up on HS graduation credit. Having to balance being a full-time commuter student and working part-time, Allegra dedicated any free time to volunteering in education throughout LA. She later taught mediation facilitation to 6-8th grade students in Inglewood, utilizing her Words Work mediation training. Through UCLA, she was also able to tutor/mentor 9-12 students in all subjects at the Mar Vista Family Center. Allegra created connections with students from underrepresented backgrounds and pushed them to strive for academic excellence. Most importantly, she learned to shape educational obstacles as opportunities for growth, passing this mentality onto each site. A Bay Area native, Allegra fell in love with Los Angeles and is now a proud Bro-jan! During her time as a USC College Adviser, Allegra’s goals are to assist all of her senior students in post-high school plans, while eliminating imposter syndrome by reassuring each student they do belong in higher education.
Edwin Alvarado (B.S Kinesiology (Sports Studies) California State University of Northridge) is placed at Dominguez Compton High and is a second-year adviser. Before being a college adviser, Edwin worked in the fast food industry, retail as well as the automotive industry. This allowed him to learn a lot of transferable skills such as teamwork, flexibility, adaptability, time management, and working under pressure. After graduating Edwin
received a temporary position at Santa Monica College for Student Clerk Services. It was his first time working at a community college and being surrounded by students made him feel like he was back in school. A couple of months after he received a part-time job as an Academic Mentor for UCLA's athletic department. Edwin managed a unique caseload of 10-12 freshmen or transfer student-athletes by monitoring academic and eligibility processes but also transitioning into UCLA's academic environment. He would also report and collect data every week to full-time staff in Academics, Students Services, and Coaches. Edwin has always been a big fan of sports mainly soccer and having that opportunity to not only work for UCLA but also with athletes was a great experience. Edwin also had a deeper appreciation for academics as he saw how rigorous students' caseloads would be. Edwin accepted a job opportunity at Moorpark as an exam proctor. Edwin was still looking for his first full-time job and ran across a USC posting about a position called College Adviser. Edwin having had previous experience working with students, felt that working for USC's CAC could help him grow as a young professional and also help the male demographic apply to college.
Jamie Morales (B.A. Scripps College) is a first-year adviser serving Compton High School She grew up in Los Angeles and graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College of the Claremont Colleges
with a major in psychology. As a low-income, first-generation student, Jamie recognizes that navigating and accessing higher education without a reliable support system can be challenging. Given her experiences, one of Jamie’s goals during her undergraduate years was to engage in college access programs. She served in various college mentoring roles while in college and has assisted students across LA County with their college applications. Through her college mentorship work, she has enjoyed witnessing the significant growth underserved students can achieve and the more secure futures they can attain when provided with support. As a College Adviser, Jamie aims to continue this work by further uplifting all students to pursue their higher education plans. Her goal is to present higher education as an accessible and achievable option for all students, regardless of their background and identities
Ninethe Villafuerte (B.A. California State University Long Beach), is a second-year adviser, placed at Compton Early College High School. Ninethe grew up in the city of Paramount and graduated from Paramount High School. With the support of many loved ones in her life, Ninethe pursued her post-secondary education at CSULB, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Human Development. Here is where she
developed an interest in studying the difference in socioeconomic status between societies. Coming from a low-income household, Ninethe is a proud, first-generation college graduate. She hopes to set an example for plenty of students who are following similar dreams of being the first in their families to attend college. Ninethe developed her passion for working closely with youth during her undergraduate years. She served as a private tutor during the pandemic, helping students thrive in their studies following very unusual and difficult circumstances. She continued her work with students as a college tutor with the AVID program. Throughout this job, she worked closely with first-generation high school students from diverse backgrounds to strengthen their educational abilities while providing college readiness. Since then, Ninethe developed a passion for helping underrepresented students pursue post-secondary education. The USC College Advising Corps has given her the great opportunity to further influence students in her work. As a college adviser, her main goal includes increasing the college attainment rate for students of low-income communities to provide equal opportunities for all.
Berenice Negrete, placed at Compton High School, is a first-year adviser. She graduated with a degree in Cognitive Science and a minor in Data Science from UC Berkeley. During her time at Berkeley, Berenice was actively involved with Hermanas Unidas, a statewide organization that provides academic, community service, and social opportunities for predominantly Chicanx/Latinx college students. She served as the chapter's Academic Chair for a year, where she organized academic workshops, efficient study halls, and a monthly newsletter filled with essential resources to support students' academic success. Later, as aCo-Chair, she led the chapter's leadership team while fostering a supportive environment for members. Berenice also gained experience as a Data Analyst for UC Berkeley’s Residential Life Department, where she contributed to the development and analysis of satisfaction and experience surveys. Her work provided insights that helped the department implement new policies and events, demonstrating her commitment to driving positive change within the community. Additionally, she volunteered her time reviewing college application essays and presenting on the college experience to seniors at her alma mater, El Rancho High School. Through these experiences, Berenice discovered her passion for helping underrepresented students reach their goals by demystifying higher education. She is excited to continue this work through the Corps, guiding more students as they plan for life after high school.
Adamaris Figueroa (B.A. California State University of Long Beach), is a second-year college adviser at
Domínguez High School. Throughout her college career, she was heavily involved with working and volunteering for youth after-school programs. Immediately after graduating from Long Beach, Adamaris worked as a mental health worker supporting those in need. She has a good understanding of the importance of K-12 academic achievement and the challenges individuals face when it comes to managing their social and emotional well-being while navigating their academic lives. Adamaris Figueroa is a product of her site placement, she too received the guidance of USC CAC as a high school student at Dominguez High School, where she is now able to support students herself and be a positive impact on them as they were to her.
Allegra Gutierrez (B.A. University of California, Los Angeles), placed at Centennial High School, is a second-
year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in Chicano/a Studies. She transferred from Santa Monica College, where she was active in the Scholars and Adelante Programs. She served as the Psychology Club Secretary, as well as an SMC Student Ambassador. As an ambassador, she met with new/prospective students in the Welcome Center and assisted hopeful transfers in their application process. Being a first-generation student, and the daughter of Mexican-American Immigrants, she found a passion for advising first-generation students in navigating higher education. Once at UCLA, Allegra joined Bruin Partners, traveling to Phoenix Continuation School and tutoring students in effort to catch up on HS graduation credit. Having to balance being a full-time commuter student and working part-time, Allegra dedicated any free time to volunteering in education throughout LA. She later taught mediation facilitation to 6-8th grade students in Inglewood, utilizing her Words Work mediation training. Through UCLA, she was also able to tutor/mentor 9-12 students in all subjects at the Mar Vista Family Center. Allegra created connections with students from underrepresented backgrounds and pushed them to strive for academic excellence. Most importantly, she learned to shape educational obstacles as opportunities for growth, passing this mentality onto each site. A Bay Area native, Allegra fell in love with Los Angeles and is now a proud Bro-jan! During her time as a USC College Adviser, Allegra’s goals are to assist all of her senior students in post-high school plans, while eliminating imposter syndrome by reassuring each student they do belong in higher education.
Edwin Alvarado (B.S Kinesiology (Sports Studies) California State University of Northridge) is placed at Dominguez Compton High and is a second-year adviser. Before being a college adviser, Edwin worked in the fast food industry, retail as well as the automotive industry. This allowed him to learn a lot of transferable skills such as teamwork, flexibility, adaptability, time management, and working under pressure. After graduating Edwin
received a temporary position at Santa Monica College for Student Clerk Services. It was his first time working at a community college and being surrounded by students made him feel like he was back in school. A couple of months after he received a part-time job as an Academic Mentor for UCLA's athletic department. Edwin managed a unique caseload of 10-12 freshmen or transfer student-athletes by monitoring academic and eligibility processes but also transitioning into UCLA's academic environment. He would also report and collect data every week to full-time staff in Academics, Students Services, and Coaches. Edwin has always been a big fan of sports mainly soccer and having that opportunity to not only work for UCLA but also with athletes was a great experience. Edwin also had a deeper appreciation for academics as he saw how rigorous students' caseloads would be. Edwin accepted a job opportunity at Moorpark as an exam proctor. Edwin was still looking for his first full-time job and ran across a USC posting about a position called College Adviser. Edwin having had previous experience working with students, felt that working for USC's CAC could help him grow as a young professional and also help the male demographic apply to college.
Jamie Morales (B.A. Scripps College) is a first-year adviser serving Compton High School She grew up in Los Angeles and graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College of the Claremont Colleges
with a major in psychology. As a low-income, first-generation student, Jamie recognizes that navigating and accessing higher education without a reliable support system can be challenging. Given her experiences, one of Jamie’s goals during her undergraduate years was to engage in college access programs. She served in various college mentoring roles while in college and has assisted students across LA County with their college applications. Through her college mentorship work, she has enjoyed witnessing the significant growth underserved students can achieve and the more secure futures they can attain when provided with support. As a College Adviser, Jamie aims to continue this work by further uplifting all students to pursue their higher education plans. Her goal is to present higher education as an accessible and achievable option for all students, regardless of their background and identities
Jonathan Bartlett (B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara) is a first-year adviser serving Centennial High School in the Compton Unified School District. Growing up in and out of the foster care system, Jonathan realized from an early age the lack of resources within disenfranchised communities. While attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, Jonathan joined the Guardian Scholars Program and learned various ways to assist underprivileged individuals.
As a college adviser, Jonathan hopes to show discouraged students that higher education is not only possible but achievable. He believes his passion for helping others, combined with his lived experience as a first-generation college student, will serve him well in his role. Jonathan is excited to meet his students and help them prepare for life after high school graduation.
USC College Advising Corps: Duarte Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our adviser better who serves in Duarte Unified School District in one high school.
Julia Lo (B.A. University of California, Irvine), placed at Duarte High School, is a first-year College Adviser. As an Asian-American and first-generation transfer student, Julia's journey began at Mt. San Antonio College, where she earned Associate’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology. There, her counselors’ unwavering support helped her overcome imposter syndrome and achieve her goal of transferring to a University of California school. Inspired by this transformative experience, Julia dedicated herself to making a similar impact on other students, advocating for educational equity. Julia transferred to UC Irvine, where she earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Social Policy and Public Service. During her time there, she worked as a Graduate School and Research Peer Consultant in the Social Sciences Academic Resource Center, assisting students with graduate school applications, internships, and research opportunities. This role sparked her passion for counseling, as she found great fulfillment in guiding students toward success. Additionally, Julia served as a Peer Educator at UC Irvine’s Counseling Center, delivering psycho-educational workshops that promoted mental health and intervention strategies. This experience further fueled her dedication to combating mental health stigmas, recognizing their critical role in academic achievement. Currently, Julia is pursuing a Master’s in Educational Counseling at the University of Southern California, with aspirations of becoming a counselor at universities or community colleges. Determined to make an impact, Julia wants to foster growth mindsets for her students. As a College Adviser with the USC College Advising Corps, her mission is to help students recognize their full potential and guide them to their path to achieving their goals. Julia is committed to empowering diverse student populations through targeted counseling services.
Julia Lo (B.A. University of California, Irvine), placed at Duarte High School, is a first-year College Adviser. As an Asian-American and first-generation transfer student, Julia's journey began at Mt. San Antonio College, where she earned Associate’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology. There, her counselors’ unwavering support helped her overcome imposter syndrome and achieve her goal of transferring to a University of California school. Inspired by this transformative experience, Julia dedicated herself to making a similar impact on other students, advocating for educational equity. Julia transferred to UC Irvine, where she earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Social Policy and Public Service. During her time there, she worked as a Graduate School and Research Peer Consultant in the Social Sciences Academic Resource Center, assisting students with graduate school applications, internships, and research opportunities. This role sparked her passion for counseling, as she found great fulfillment in guiding students toward success. Additionally, Julia served as a Peer Educator at UC Irvine’s Counseling Center, delivering psycho-educational workshops that promoted mental health and intervention strategies. This experience further fueled her dedication to combating mental health stigmas, recognizing their critical role in academic achievement. Currently, Julia is pursuing a Master’s in Educational Counseling at the University of Southern California, with aspirations of becoming a counselor at universities or community colleges. Determined to make an impact, Julia wants to foster growth mindsets for her students. As a College Adviser with the USC College Advising Corps, her mission is to help students recognize their full potential and guide them to their path to achieving their goals. Julia is committed to empowering diverse student populations through targeted counseling services.
USC College Advising Corps: Glendale Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our advisers better who serves in Glendale Unified School District in two high schools.
Bryant Melgar (B.A. California State University, Fullerton), Bryant Melgar (B.A. California State University, Fullerton), is a second year adviser at Herbert Hoover High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Human Services. As a first-generation college graduate, Bryant has always understood the importance of seeking support from counselors and advisors. He spent his time at CSUF participating in various success programs that propelled him to excel in his academics. As a member of CSUF's Male Success Initiative program, Bryant led workshops and attended various conferences, which helped him discover a passion for helping others achieve their academic goals. Through his group counseling internship, Bryant also discovered a passion for empowering others. When he learned about the USC College Advising Corps, Bryant found it a great opportunity to help other students achieve the fullness of their potential, which is something that the MSI program supported him with during his undergraduate career. He is excited to remain with the Hoover Tornado family and continue to increase the college-going culture at Hoover High!
Anahit Barutyan, (B.A. UCLA) is a first-year adviser at Clark Magnet High School. Anahit attended UCLA
where she earned her B.A while majoring in political science. She has spent the past six years tutoring children of all ages, which has helped her discover her passion for education. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she also engaged with her community, volunteering at a local early education center. After graduating, she worked as a high school instructor for UCLA’s Summer Discovery program. She independently managed large classrooms of international students, which taught her how to teach and bring together a diverse mix of students. These experiences highlighted the issues in the U.S. education system, which motivated her to work towards bettering that system. This fall, she will be starting her master’s program in education policy at USC, allowing her to combine her passion for education and her expertise in political science. Anahit was drawn to USC CAC after recalling the importance her education played in discovering her future career. As a first-generation student, she had little resources for college access. She hopes she will be able to guide students and provide the resources that she had to learn on her own. The College Advising Corps is the perfect opportunity for her to step in and fill this missing piece.
Ashley Galvez (B.A. San Diego State University) is a second-year College Adviser placed at Crescenta Valley High School. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Counseling and Social Change. She spent her last year in undergrad working as a Peer Advisor in the Psychology Department where
she provided individualized and comprehensive academic advising to students. This is where she discovered her love for educational advising and career counseling. Her prior experiences also include working as a Research Assistant for the SDSU Motivation and Social Identity Lab where she analyzed interventions designed to promote continuous learning. During her time as the Director of Academic Enrichment for her sorority, she connected students to relevant academic resources and hosted events intended to boost academic morale. She has a background working with individuals with special needs as a Behavior Support Leader and Behavioral Technician. She spent the last year working abroad as an Auxiliary English Teacher at a high school in València, Spain and is excited to be back in the LA area, determined to use her experience and skills to help guide students in reaching their maximum potential.
America Melchor Leon (B.A. University of California, Merced) is a first-year adviser at Glendale High School. Born and raised in East Los Angeles in an immigrant Latino household, America is the first in her family
to graduate college, earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in writing studies. Her journey from Los Angeles to the Central Valley allowed her to connect with a community of students who shared her background and identity. While at Merced, America honed her skills as a student writing tutor and catering student manager, developing expertise in team management, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. Prior to joining the Corps, she served as an In-Schools and College Access Intern at 826LA, where she provided one-on-one support to high school students in creative writing and college preparation. Her role there involved helping students craft compelling stories for college applications, scholarships, and book projects. Additionally, America worked with the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools as the Community Engagement Lead for the Parent College Outreach Team. In this capacity, she offered culturally responsive customer service to diverse communities in Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. America’s background and experiences have deepened her commitment to supporting students and families. She is excited to bring this dedication to USC CAC, aiming to provide her students at Glendale High School with valuable college and career opportunities.
Bryant Melgar (B.A. California State University, Fullerton), Bryant Melgar (B.A. California State University, Fullerton), is a second year adviser at Herbert Hoover High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Human Services. As a first-generation college graduate, Bryant has always understood the importance of seeking support from counselors and advisors. He spent his time at CSUF participating in various success programs that propelled him to excel in his academics. As a member of CSUF's Male Success Initiative program, Bryant led workshops and attended various conferences, which helped him discover a passion for helping others achieve their academic goals. Through his group counseling internship, Bryant also discovered a passion for empowering others. When he learned about the USC College Advising Corps, Bryant found it a great opportunity to help other students achieve the fullness of their potential, which is something that the MSI program supported him with during his undergraduate career. He is excited to remain with the Hoover Tornado family and continue to increase the college-going culture at Hoover High!
Anahit Barutyan, (B.A. UCLA) is a first-year adviser at Clark Magnet High School. Anahit attended UCLA
where she earned her B.A while majoring in political science. She has spent the past six years tutoring children of all ages, which has helped her discover her passion for education. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she also engaged with her community, volunteering at a local early education center. After graduating, she worked as a high school instructor for UCLA’s Summer Discovery program. She independently managed large classrooms of international students, which taught her how to teach and bring together a diverse mix of students. These experiences highlighted the issues in the U.S. education system, which motivated her to work towards bettering that system. This fall, she will be starting her master’s program in education policy at USC, allowing her to combine her passion for education and her expertise in political science. Anahit was drawn to USC CAC after recalling the importance her education played in discovering her future career. As a first-generation student, she had little resources for college access. She hopes she will be able to guide students and provide the resources that she had to learn on her own. The College Advising Corps is the perfect opportunity for her to step in and fill this missing piece.
Ashley Galvez (B.A. San Diego State University) is a second-year College Adviser placed at Crescenta Valley High School. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Counseling and Social Change. She spent her last year in undergrad working as a Peer Advisor in the Psychology Department where
she provided individualized and comprehensive academic advising to students. This is where she discovered her love for educational advising and career counseling. Her prior experiences also include working as a Research Assistant for the SDSU Motivation and Social Identity Lab where she analyzed interventions designed to promote continuous learning. During her time as the Director of Academic Enrichment for her sorority, she connected students to relevant academic resources and hosted events intended to boost academic morale. She has a background working with individuals with special needs as a Behavior Support Leader and Behavioral Technician. She spent the last year working abroad as an Auxiliary English Teacher at a high school in València, Spain and is excited to be back in the LA area, determined to use her experience and skills to help guide students in reaching their maximum potential.
America Melchor Leon (B.A. University of California, Merced) is a first-year adviser at Glendale High School. Born and raised in East Los Angeles in an immigrant Latino household, America is the first in her family
to graduate college, earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in writing studies. Her journey from Los Angeles to the Central Valley allowed her to connect with a community of students who shared her background and identity. While at Merced, America honed her skills as a student writing tutor and catering student manager, developing expertise in team management, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. Prior to joining the Corps, she served as an In-Schools and College Access Intern at 826LA, where she provided one-on-one support to high school students in creative writing and college preparation. Her role there involved helping students craft compelling stories for college applications, scholarships, and book projects. Additionally, America worked with the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools as the Community Engagement Lead for the Parent College Outreach Team. In this capacity, she offered culturally responsive customer service to diverse communities in Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. America’s background and experiences have deepened her commitment to supporting students and families. She is excited to bring this dedication to USC CAC, aiming to provide her students at Glendale High School with valuable college and career opportunities.
USC College Advising Corps: Long Beach Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our advisers better who serve in Long Beach Unified School District in 12 high schools.
Kat Llamas (B.A. California State University) She graduated with a Bachelors in Sociology. She is a first-year adviser at Jordan High School. Prior to joining CERPP, she worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro site as lead case manager for three years. She had the opportunity to work with over 500 high school students yearly assisting them with high school Graduation with a plan. As lead case manager, her responsibilities consist of running workshops for underclassmen titled "Drive you Life Series." In these
workshops, she was responsible for exposing students to Majors, Academic Resumes, Financial Aid/CADAA, PSAT/SAT, Scholarships, College, and Career online tools. As Lead Case Manager my load of students increased but she ensured each was receiving full care. She was expected to attend San Pedro High School to bring awareness to students about our program and the benefits of becoming a member. In this program, she collaborated with hosting a Decision Day, a celebration for Seniors, Student of the Month Awards, and Scholarship workshops, and ended with hosting a Graduation to showcase to the community the success of all the students. It was through this program that she fell in love with Education. Kat learned the importance of serving students in low-income communities and how to empower each individual. Now working for CERPP she is able to continue her professional journey in a new organization and community close to home. Her passion is empowering students to their fullest potential and sharing with them resources never provided to me. Outside of Education, Kat had the opportunity to intern for “The Coalition of Humane Immigration Rights (CHIRLA)” where she learned about different ways to advocate for the undocumented community. Through this experience, she was equipped with the tools of advocacy, mentorship, and leadership skills. Kat has applied these skills when working with students who are undocumented and afraid. Working with these programs has helped her lead students into successful paths where they can now give back to their communities. These organizations have demonstrated there are people who still want students to succeed.
Arielle Mc Pherson (B.A. California State University, Fullerton) is a first-year USC CAC Adviser at
Long Beach Polytechnic High School with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Prior to transferring to CSUF, Arielle attended Sierra College, where she earned her associate’s degree in Psychology. While in her undergraduate studies, she explored her passion for working with youth by being an independent childcare provider and teacher’s aide. It was meaningful to her to see the difference that she would make in their lives. As a first-generation college student, Arielle experienced what it was like to be unsure about postsecondary education and financial aid. This has inspired her to give back to the community by helping students feel supported and more knowledgeable about higher education so that they can achieve their goals. By joining the USC CAC she hopes that she can provide students with the resources they need to be successful after high school and help them overcome any boundaries that stand between them and their dreams!
Jaden Muller (B.A. University of California, Davis), is a first year adviser proudly serving Browning High School. She graduated cum laude from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and minors in Human Development and English. During her senior year, Jaden worked as a K-12 Education Fellow within the Sacramento Valley College Corps (SVCC), whose mission is dedicated to providing service to communities within the greater Sacramento area. Within this position, she was placed at a Special Education school in Woodland, CA, where she assisted students one-on-one as a teacher’s aide in multiple K-12 classes. This work further demonstrated to her the power that education holds, and how essential of a resource it can be to students. With her experience at SVCC, Jaden knew she wanted to pursue this passion for education in some way. As an adviser for the USC College Advising Corps, she is able to do just that. She is excited to be a resource for students in navigating the endless possibilities available to them, and hopes to help them see the power of education and all it has to offer them in achieving their dreams!
Angela Stendahl (B.A. University of Redlands) is a first-year College Adviser at Lakewood High School, within the Long Beach Unified School District. Her passion for education and commitment to students emerged at an early age, a passion that deepened during her time at the University of Redlands. During her university years, Angela actively participated in the Big Buddies Program, where she provided one-on-one mentorship to
elementary school students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds in the local community. Angela engaged in both social and educational activities with the students, fostering not only academic growth but also critical life skills development. Angela further demonstrated her commitment to education by advising at-risk high school students in continuation schools. She facilitated biweekly workshops that focused on identifying students' strengths and interests, aiding them in their educational journeys. Additionally, Angela served as an intern at the Office of Community Standards and Well-Being at the University of Redlands. In this capacity, she contributed to the development of mental health and holistic wellness program initiatives tailored to assist undergraduate students, further solidifying her dedication to mental health awareness within the academic environment. Angela's global perspective and desire to make a positive impact led her to spend a month abroad in Antigua, Guatemala. During her time there, she worked in a rural elementary school, gaining a valuable cross-cultural perspective and enhancing her commitment to educational outreach. Angela's experiences have inspired her to aspire to a career in educational outreach, where she can collaborate with students to support them in realizing their educational aspirations.
Sofia Perez (B.A. University of California, Irvine) is a first-year advisor at Wilson High School with a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science. During her college experience, she worked in education and spent her free time volunteering with college access and youth leadership non-profit organizations, such as the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) and Save Our Youth (SOY). Through these experiences, Sofia discovered her passion for providing educational resources to college and high school students to help them reach their academic goals. As a first-generation college student herself, Sofia understands the challenges that can arise from navigating the higher education system. She is deeply grateful to her own high school and college counselors and mentors who supported her goals and helped her see all the opportunities that higher education provides. Sofia wants her students to see the vast opportunities available to them so they can make informed decisions about their future. As a USC College Advisor, Sofia is excited to connect students with resources and help prepare them for success in their post-secondary plans!
Changwoo (Kai) Kim (B.A. Long Beach State University), with his residency at Woodrow Wilson High School, is a first-year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. While attending CSULB, Kai was a part of the Greek Life organization where he served as the Director of Recruitment for the Inter-fraternity Council (IFC) and as Treasurer for his own fraternity, Kappa Sigma. Although COVID cut Kai’s college experience short by 2 years, he managed to recruit 60 new members with the collaboration of his fellow board members, breaking the pre-existing record for most recruited students in CSULB history. During college, he advised his fraternity members on which classes to take in an attempt to help them graduate in a timely manner. This experience led him to find his passion for being of service to others. As a first-generation college student, Kai understands the importance of higher education and regrets taking on the task of applying to college alone, not seeking the help that was available. Attending CSULB gave Kai a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. During his six months abroad, Kai navigated through six countries and 23 cities, absorbing the culture and lifestyle of the locals. Through USC CAC, his goal is to guide students to find their own passions in life and be a resource they can trust.
Maddie Mantooth (B.A. Chapman University) a first-year College Adviser at Renaissance High School for the Arts in Long Beach, holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Chapman University. Her passion for education was ignited while teaching Public Speaking and English for Career classes in Thailand, where she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education in helping students unlock their potential. Maddie is deeply committed to supporting students in discovering their strengths, overcoming obstacles, and pursuing their dreams. With a focus on empowering young people to achieve academic and personal success, she is excited to make a lasting impact on the lives of her students as they navigate their journey toward higher education and beyond
Daniel Lee (B.S. Biola University) is first year adviser currently serving at Ernest S. McBride High School. Daniel has always had a long standing interest in the field of education, as his first job in high school was teaching at an after-school program. During his college years, Daniel followed up this interest by expanding into various sectors of the education industry, with experiences working at organizations like The Princeton Review and completing an internship at the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. However, Daniel truly found his passion for education after his experience as a substitute teacher aide at various placements across the LAUSD, where he witnessed first-hand the need for more leaders to empower secondary education. Upon graduation, Daniel had the opportunity to serve as a branch manager for an after-school program, where he first got a glimpse into college advising and the impact that it can have. As he now transitions into working for the USC College Advising Corp, Daniel hopes to rely upon his past experiences to truly help his students achieve their dreams and be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
Ana Melendez Navarrete (B.A University of California, Riverside), is a first-year college adviser at Lakewood High School. She graduated from UCR with a degree in Linguistics and Spanish. During her second year as an undergrad at UCR, she became a mentor for Chicano Student Programs, where she helped guide college students during their first year through one-on-one meetings, studying sessions, and academic workshops. Also a member of Hermanos Unidos de UCR and an academic tutor, she promoted student success through academic and personal support to underserved students of color. Her experience closely working with mentors and students of color showed her that student success heavily relies on a strong foundation. She has adopted a proverb taught by her mentors: It takes a village. Inspired by those who helped her navigate her undergrad journey as a first-generation student, she aspires to become a helping hand to high school students as they pursue high education. She loved guiding students in pursuit of a brighter future, and hopes to continue to do so as a college advisor.
Monique Bravo (B.S. California State University Dominguez Hills) is placed at Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo High School in Long Beach California. She is a first-year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in Child Therapy and Family
Counseling. She spent her senior year at CSUDH as a Lead Teacher at the Learning Experience in Torrance, CA. During her community college years at Rio Hondo, she discovered her passion for all students and she then began to realize her personal and professional goals moving forward. In and out of the classroom she believes in leading by example. As she furthers her academic journey, she realizes she would love to help students discover what opportunities lay ahead of them and that they have control of their future. This is what drew her to USC College Advising Corps. She is excited not only for her personal growth but to help make a difference for all students.
Sebastian Ramirez (B.A. California State University of Dominguez Hills) is a first-year advisor placed at
Cabrillo High School. He’s a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services who always had a good experience and relationship with his counselors and advisors. It was not until his last semester in his undergrad program that he found his love for advising when he completed a counseling internship at his very own high school. His responsibilities ranged from grade interventions with freshmen, translating for ESL students, & working with seniors on their college applications. He also ventured to work with K-5 students as an instructional aid at Zela Davis Elementary School in the Hawthorne School District and as a Recreational Leader for the city of Manhattan Beach. After having many experiences within his own diverse low-income community he is happy that he gets to go to a community such as Cabrillo High School because he knows it mirrors his own. Having worked with various age groups he is looking forward to furthering his education in a Masters's program in Higher education to help students transition into College
Michelle Vu (B.A. University of California, Irvine), placed at Millikan High School, is a first-year adviser with a bachelor's degree in Public Health Policy. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education at the California State University, Long Beach. She discovered her passion for advising and helping students when she became a teaching assistant during her second year at UCI where she
helped first-year undeclared students at UCI discover what major they wanted to pursue while exploring useful campus resources. Throughout her undergraduate career at UCI, she was involved in various student services and leadership positions, such as being a teaching assistant for an AIDS Fundamentals class, a summer orientation leader, an intern for the Undeclared Academic Advising Office, and more. In the past year, she was a graduate student assistant at CSULB’s College of Education’s Graduate Studies Office and Outreach & Recruitment Office. In this position, Michelle worked alongside staff and faculty to support undergraduate and prospective graduate students in furthering their professional development in teaching, counseling, education, psychology, and leadership. Through her experiences, Michelle is committed to promoting equity and access to education in addition to holistically supporting students.
Saodi Bullie (B.S. University of California, Santa Cruz) is a first-year advisor at Millikan High School. During his time in college, he worked as a Peer Mentor and Community Engagement Lead for the Black Men’s Initiative, where he supported incoming BIPOC freshmen and transfer students by helping them access
resources for their first year in college. After graduation, Saodi worked as an Early Childhood Instructor for Safe Passages, managing a class of up to 30 students from disenfranchised communities and providing them with after-school enrichment activities. He also initiated the Garden Club to teach K-5th grade students about nutritional education and sustainable practices.
Currently, Saodi teaches data governance, visualization, and analysis to underemployed and unemployed college graduates as a Data Analytics Captain for COOP. He provides online lectures and one-on-one support to help students improve their skills in Excel, SQL, and Tableau. In the future, Saodi hopes to combine his passion for higher education with his expertise in data analytics as a Data Analyst. Saodi is excited to join the team and share is passions with the community at Millikan.
Megan Imai (B.A. Santa Calrity University) is a first-year adviser placed at Sato Academy of Mathematics and
Science in Long Beach. Raised in Santa Cruz, California, she graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University in 2023 with a B.S. in Sociology and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Her honors thesis explored the impact of a multiculturally representative history curriculum on U.S. high school students’ academic interests, test scores, and educational goals. As a research assistant in the sociology department, she conducted and analyzed interviews and co-authored two papers outlining the value of extracurricular research for undergraduate sociology students and faculty. In the summer of 2022, she volunteered at a Boys and Girls Club in Santa Cruz, supervising and having fun with energetic kids. One of the best experiences of her time in college was studying abroad in Maastricht, the Netherlands, where she was able to grow by learning and traveling with people from different countries and cultures. She is now excited to explore Southern California! Learning about systemic inequality and the impact of higher education on socioeconomic mobility for students from traditionally underserved backgrounds inspired Megan to pursue college-access work. She is so excited to be a part of USC’s College Advising Corps and have the opportunity to give students the resources and confidence they need to pursue a higher education.
Ayanah Shabazz (B.A. UCLA), placed at California Academy of Mathematics and Science, is a first-year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in African-American Studies. When Ayanah was in
high school, she was advised by a former USC College Advisor. She served as a peer counselor & AVID Tutor, helping out in the College & Career Center as well as in the classroom with students. This experience was what encouraged Ayanah to apply to an internship at Undergraduate Admissions at UCLA, under their Black Bruin Recruitment team. She enjoyed the internship as she is very passionate and finds joy in helping others and giving back to her community. Ayanah participated in a lot of events for admissions, such as the Black College Expo, UCLA informational sessions, and student panels in which she got to interact with kids a lot, answering their questions about anything college-related. Ayanah also helped with events that supported former foster youth, a group that also doesn’t have as much access to resources in higher education. She learned that she loved being that support system and a guide for students who needed it and she related to this very much. This is what drew her to USC CAC. She knew she loved guiding students to their possible futures, and the Corps is the place to let her accomplish this. Ayanah is very proud to serve students and to be a part of the Corps. She hopes to have a positive impact on her students, the same way her own USC Advisor did for her.
Ricardo Lara-Berrueco (B.A. University of California, Riverside) is a first-year advisor at Jordan High School, committed to guiding students through their educational journeys. Graduating cum laude with degrees in History and Education, Society, & Human Development, Ricardo combines academic knowledge with personal experience. As the oldest of three first-generation college students from East Los Angeles, he understands the challenges of college applications and has supported his younger siblings throughout their K-12 education. While at UC Riverside, Ricardo was active in the Latinx community as the Community Service Chair for La Hermandad de UCR. He organized high school tours and panels for predominantly Latinx schools to encourage a college-going culture among students. He also led sessions for Spanish-speaking parents, sharing his experiences and offering advice on supporting their children’s goals. Additionally, Ricardo volunteered and worked at his local Boys and Girls Club for seven years, gaining valuable experience working with youth. At UC Riverside’s Basic Needs Department, he helped raise awareness of campus resources to combat food insecurity. Now, as part of the USC College Advising Corps, Ricardo is eager to empower students to reach their goals and serve as a valuable resource for their futures.
Kat Llamas (B.A. California State University) She graduated with a Bachelors in Sociology. She is a first-year adviser at Jordan High School. Prior to joining CERPP, she worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro site as lead case manager for three years. She had the opportunity to work with over 500 high school students yearly assisting them with high school Graduation with a plan. As lead case manager, her responsibilities consist of running workshops for underclassmen titled "Drive you Life Series." In these
workshops, she was responsible for exposing students to Majors, Academic Resumes, Financial Aid/CADAA, PSAT/SAT, Scholarships, College, and Career online tools. As Lead Case Manager my load of students increased but she ensured each was receiving full care. She was expected to attend San Pedro High School to bring awareness to students about our program and the benefits of becoming a member. In this program, she collaborated with hosting a Decision Day, a celebration for Seniors, Student of the Month Awards, and Scholarship workshops, and ended with hosting a Graduation to showcase to the community the success of all the students. It was through this program that she fell in love with Education. Kat learned the importance of serving students in low-income communities and how to empower each individual. Now working for CERPP she is able to continue her professional journey in a new organization and community close to home. Her passion is empowering students to their fullest potential and sharing with them resources never provided to me. Outside of Education, Kat had the opportunity to intern for “The Coalition of Humane Immigration Rights (CHIRLA)” where she learned about different ways to advocate for the undocumented community. Through this experience, she was equipped with the tools of advocacy, mentorship, and leadership skills. Kat has applied these skills when working with students who are undocumented and afraid. Working with these programs has helped her lead students into successful paths where they can now give back to their communities. These organizations have demonstrated there are people who still want students to succeed.
Maria Palafox (B.A. California State University Fullerton) is a first-year college advisor at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, bringing with her a solid educational background and a wealth of experience in student mentorship. Before earning a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from CSUF she previously attended Cypress Community College and earned an associate degree in Spanish and Anthropology. Maria’s passion for guiding students sparked during her time at Cypress Community College. As a mentor for incoming high school students, she gained insight into the academic and personal challenges these students often face. This experience fueled her commitment to supporting students in overcoming these barriers. Maria interned with KidWorks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing at-risk youth with access to educational resources to inspire higher educational aspirations. Her role as a College Success Initiative intern further honed her skills in fostering an encouraging and supportive learning environment. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Maria also worked as a tutor in diverse settings, including traditional classrooms and non-traditional institutions like juvenile detention centers. This experience reinforced her belief in the importance of inclusive, constructive, and consistent support systems for students, emphasizing that such systems are crucial for their success in post-secondary education. Maria is excited to join the USC college advising team, where she aims to empower students and equip them with the tools and skills necessary to navigate their educational journeys. She looks forward to growing both personally and professionally in her role, contributing to the success of the students she serves.
Arielle Mc Pherson (B.A. California State University, Fullerton) is a first-year USC CAC Adviser at
Long Beach Polytechnic High School with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Prior to transferring to CSUF, Arielle attended Sierra College, where she earned her associate’s degree in Psychology. While in her undergraduate studies, she explored her passion for working with youth by being an independent childcare provider and teacher’s aide. It was meaningful to her to see the difference that she would make in their lives. As a first-generation college student, Arielle experienced what it was like to be unsure about postsecondary education and financial aid. This has inspired her to give back to the community by helping students feel supported and more knowledgeable about higher education so that they can achieve their goals. By joining the USC CAC she hopes that she can provide students with the resources they need to be successful after high school and help them overcome any boundaries that stand between them and their dreams!
Jaden Muller (B.A. University of California, Davis), is a first year adviser proudly serving Browning High School. She graduated cum laude from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and minors in Human Development and English. During her senior year, Jaden worked as a K-12 Education Fellow within the Sacramento Valley College Corps (SVCC), whose mission is dedicated to providing service to communities within the greater Sacramento area. Within this position, she was placed at a Special Education school in Woodland, CA, where she assisted students one-on-one as a teacher’s aide in multiple K-12 classes. This work further demonstrated to her the power that education holds, and how essential of a resource it can be to students. With her experience at SVCC, Jaden knew she wanted to pursue this passion for education in some way. As an adviser for the USC College Advising Corps, she is able to do just that. She is excited to be a resource for students in navigating the endless possibilities available to them, and hopes to help them see the power of education and all it has to offer them in achieving their dreams!
Angela Stendahl (B.A. University of Redlands) is a first-year College Adviser at Lakewood High School, within the Long Beach Unified School District. Her passion for education and commitment to students emerged at an early age, a passion that deepened during her time at the University of Redlands. During her university years, Angela actively participated in the Big Buddies Program, where she provided one-on-one mentorship to
elementary school students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds in the local community. Angela engaged in both social and educational activities with the students, fostering not only academic growth but also critical life skills development. Angela further demonstrated her commitment to education by advising at-risk high school students in continuation schools. She facilitated biweekly workshops that focused on identifying students' strengths and interests, aiding them in their educational journeys. Additionally, Angela served as an intern at the Office of Community Standards and Well-Being at the University of Redlands. In this capacity, she contributed to the development of mental health and holistic wellness program initiatives tailored to assist undergraduate students, further solidifying her dedication to mental health awareness within the academic environment. Angela's global perspective and desire to make a positive impact led her to spend a month abroad in Antigua, Guatemala. During her time there, she worked in a rural elementary school, gaining a valuable cross-cultural perspective and enhancing her commitment to educational outreach. Angela's experiences have inspired her to aspire to a career in educational outreach, where she can collaborate with students to support them in realizing their educational aspirations.
Sofia Perez (B.A. University of California, Irvine) is a first-year advisor at Wilson High School with a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science. During her college experience, she worked in education and spent her free time volunteering with college access and youth leadership non-profit organizations, such as the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) and Save Our Youth (SOY). Through these experiences, Sofia discovered her passion for providing educational resources to college and high school students to help them reach their academic goals. As a first-generation college student herself, Sofia understands the challenges that can arise from navigating the higher education system. She is deeply grateful to her own high school and college counselors and mentors who supported her goals and helped her see all the opportunities that higher education provides. Sofia wants her students to see the vast opportunities available to them so they can make informed decisions about their future. As a USC College Advisor, Sofia is excited to connect students with resources and help prepare them for success in their post-secondary plans!
Changwoo (Kai) Kim (B.A. Long Beach State University), with his residency at Woodrow Wilson High School, is a first-year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. While attending CSULB, Kai was a part of the Greek Life organization where he served as the Director of Recruitment for the Inter-fraternity Council (IFC) and as Treasurer for his own fraternity, Kappa Sigma. Although COVID cut Kai’s college experience short by 2 years, he managed to recruit 60 new members with the collaboration of his fellow board members, breaking the pre-existing record for most recruited students in CSULB history. During college, he advised his fraternity members on which classes to take in an attempt to help them graduate in a timely manner. This experience led him to find his passion for being of service to others. As a first-generation college student, Kai understands the importance of higher education and regrets taking on the task of applying to college alone, not seeking the help that was available. Attending CSULB gave Kai a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. During his six months abroad, Kai navigated through six countries and 23 cities, absorbing the culture and lifestyle of the locals. Through USC CAC, his goal is to guide students to find their own passions in life and be a resource they can trust.
Maddie Mantooth (B.A. Chapman University) a first-year College Adviser at Renaissance High School for the Arts in Long Beach, holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Chapman University. Her passion for education was ignited while teaching Public Speaking and English for Career classes in Thailand, where she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education in helping students unlock their potential. Maddie is deeply committed to supporting students in discovering their strengths, overcoming obstacles, and pursuing their dreams. With a focus on empowering young people to achieve academic and personal success, she is excited to make a lasting impact on the lives of her students as they navigate their journey toward higher education and beyond
Daniel Lee (B.S. Biola University) is first year adviser currently serving at Ernest S. McBride High School. Daniel has always had a long standing interest in the field of education, as his first job in high school was teaching at an after-school program. During his college years, Daniel followed up this interest by expanding into various sectors of the education industry, with experiences working at organizations like The Princeton Review and completing an internship at the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. However, Daniel truly found his passion for education after his experience as a substitute teacher aide at various placements across the LAUSD, where he witnessed first-hand the need for more leaders to empower secondary education. Upon graduation, Daniel had the opportunity to serve as a branch manager for an after-school program, where he first got a glimpse into college advising and the impact that it can have. As he now transitions into working for the USC College Advising Corp, Daniel hopes to rely upon his past experiences to truly help his students achieve their dreams and be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
Ana Melendez Navarrete (B.A University of California, Riverside), is a first-year college adviser at Lakewood High School. She graduated from UCR with a degree in Linguistics and Spanish. During her second year as an undergrad at UCR, she became a mentor for Chicano Student Programs, where she helped guide college students during their first year through one-on-one meetings, studying sessions, and academic workshops. Also a member of Hermanos Unidos de UCR and an academic tutor, she promoted student success through academic and personal support to underserved students of color. Her experience closely working with mentors and students of color showed her that student success heavily relies on a strong foundation. She has adopted a proverb taught by her mentors: It takes a village. Inspired by those who helped her navigate her undergrad journey as a first-generation student, she aspires to become a helping hand to high school students as they pursue high education. She loved guiding students in pursuit of a brighter future, and hopes to continue to do so as a college advisor.
Monique Bravo (B.S. California State University Dominguez Hills) is placed at Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo High School in Long Beach California. She is a first-year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in Child Therapy and Family
Counseling. She spent her senior year at CSUDH as a Lead Teacher at the Learning Experience in Torrance, CA. During her community college years at Rio Hondo, she discovered her passion for all students and she then began to realize her personal and professional goals moving forward. In and out of the classroom she believes in leading by example. As she furthers her academic journey, she realizes she would love to help students discover what opportunities lay ahead of them and that they have control of their future. This is what drew her to USC College Advising Corps. She is excited not only for her personal growth but to help make a difference for all students.
Sebastian Ramirez (B.A. California State University of Dominguez Hills) is a first-year advisor placed at
Cabrillo High School. He’s a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services who always had a good experience and relationship with his counselors and advisors. It was not until his last semester in his undergrad program that he found his love for advising when he completed a counseling internship at his very own high school. His responsibilities ranged from grade interventions with freshmen, translating for ESL students, & working with seniors on their college applications. He also ventured to work with K-5 students as an instructional aid at Zela Davis Elementary School in the Hawthorne School District and as a Recreational Leader for the city of Manhattan Beach. After having many experiences within his own diverse low-income community he is happy that he gets to go to a community such as Cabrillo High School because he knows it mirrors his own. Having worked with various age groups he is looking forward to furthering his education in a Masters's program in Higher education to help students transition into College
Michelle Vu (B.A. University of California, Irvine), placed at Millikan High School, is a first-year adviser with a bachelor's degree in Public Health Policy. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Counseling, Student Development in Higher Education at the California State University, Long Beach. She discovered her passion for advising and helping students when she became a teaching assistant during her second year at UCI where she
helped first-year undeclared students at UCI discover what major they wanted to pursue while exploring useful campus resources. Throughout her undergraduate career at UCI, she was involved in various student services and leadership positions, such as being a teaching assistant for an AIDS Fundamentals class, a summer orientation leader, an intern for the Undeclared Academic Advising Office, and more. In the past year, she was a graduate student assistant at CSULB’s College of Education’s Graduate Studies Office and Outreach & Recruitment Office. In this position, Michelle worked alongside staff and faculty to support undergraduate and prospective graduate students in furthering their professional development in teaching, counseling, education, psychology, and leadership. Through her experiences, Michelle is committed to promoting equity and access to education in addition to holistically supporting students.
Saodi Bullie (B.S. University of California, Santa Cruz) is a first-year advisor at Millikan High School. During his time in college, he worked as a Peer Mentor and Community Engagement Lead for the Black Men’s Initiative, where he supported incoming BIPOC freshmen and transfer students by helping them access
resources for their first year in college. After graduation, Saodi worked as an Early Childhood Instructor for Safe Passages, managing a class of up to 30 students from disenfranchised communities and providing them with after-school enrichment activities. He also initiated the Garden Club to teach K-5th grade students about nutritional education and sustainable practices.
Currently, Saodi teaches data governance, visualization, and analysis to underemployed and unemployed college graduates as a Data Analytics Captain for COOP. He provides online lectures and one-on-one support to help students improve their skills in Excel, SQL, and Tableau. In the future, Saodi hopes to combine his passion for higher education with his expertise in data analytics as a Data Analyst. Saodi is excited to join the team and share is passions with the community at Millikan.
Megan Imai (B.A. Santa Calrity University) is a first-year adviser placed at Sato Academy of Mathematics and
Science in Long Beach. Raised in Santa Cruz, California, she graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University in 2023 with a B.S. in Sociology and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Her honors thesis explored the impact of a multiculturally representative history curriculum on U.S. high school students’ academic interests, test scores, and educational goals. As a research assistant in the sociology department, she conducted and analyzed interviews and co-authored two papers outlining the value of extracurricular research for undergraduate sociology students and faculty. In the summer of 2022, she volunteered at a Boys and Girls Club in Santa Cruz, supervising and having fun with energetic kids. One of the best experiences of her time in college was studying abroad in Maastricht, the Netherlands, where she was able to grow by learning and traveling with people from different countries and cultures. She is now excited to explore Southern California! Learning about systemic inequality and the impact of higher education on socioeconomic mobility for students from traditionally underserved backgrounds inspired Megan to pursue college-access work. She is so excited to be a part of USC’s College Advising Corps and have the opportunity to give students the resources and confidence they need to pursue a higher education.
Ayanah Shabazz (B.A. UCLA), placed at California Academy of Mathematics and Science, is a first-year adviser with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in African-American Studies. When Ayanah was in
high school, she was advised by a former USC College Advisor. She served as a peer counselor & AVID Tutor, helping out in the College & Career Center as well as in the classroom with students. This experience was what encouraged Ayanah to apply to an internship at Undergraduate Admissions at UCLA, under their Black Bruin Recruitment team. She enjoyed the internship as she is very passionate and finds joy in helping others and giving back to her community. Ayanah participated in a lot of events for admissions, such as the Black College Expo, UCLA informational sessions, and student panels in which she got to interact with kids a lot, answering their questions about anything college-related. Ayanah also helped with events that supported former foster youth, a group that also doesn’t have as much access to resources in higher education. She learned that she loved being that support system and a guide for students who needed it and she related to this very much. This is what drew her to USC CAC. She knew she loved guiding students to their possible futures, and the Corps is the place to let her accomplish this. Ayanah is very proud to serve students and to be a part of the Corps. She hopes to have a positive impact on her students, the same way her own USC Advisor did for her.
Ricardo Lara-Berrueco (B.A. University of California, Riverside) is a first-year advisor at Jordan High School, committed to guiding students through their educational journeys. Graduating cum laude with degrees in History and Education, Society, & Human Development, Ricardo combines academic knowledge with personal experience. As the oldest of three first-generation college students from East Los Angeles, he understands the challenges of college applications and has supported his younger siblings throughout their K-12 education. While at UC Riverside, Ricardo was active in the Latinx community as the Community Service Chair for La Hermandad de UCR. He organized high school tours and panels for predominantly Latinx schools to encourage a college-going culture among students. He also led sessions for Spanish-speaking parents, sharing his experiences and offering advice on supporting their children’s goals. Additionally, Ricardo volunteered and worked at his local Boys and Girls Club for seven years, gaining valuable experience working with youth. At UC Riverside’s Basic Needs Department, he helped raise awareness of campus resources to combat food insecurity. Now, as part of the USC College Advising Corps, Ricardo is eager to empower students to reach their goals and serve as a valuable resource for their futures.
USC College Advising Corps: Los Angeles Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion for helping youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our advisers better who serve in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 9 high schools.
Maite Sanchez (B.A. University of California, Los Angeles) is a second-year College Adviser serving Santee Education Complex. Maite first attended Pasadena City College where she earned her AA in Social Sciences and her AA-T in Psychology. She then transferred to UCLA where she received her degree in Psychology with a minor in Chicanx Studies. Her interest in college access first emerged when she joined an Upward Bound program her sophomore year of high school. Since then, she has committed herself to doing her part in promoting college access, especially for first-generation, low-income students. During her undergraduate years at PCC and UCLA, she spent her time working with several college access organizations such as Upward Bound and UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). During her junior and senior year, she served as the Skill Building Coordinator and Assistant Project Coordinator for UCLA Xinachtli, a sister project of UCLA’s Student Initiated Outreach Committee. During her senior year, she served as a Bruin Advisor where she helped underrepresented high school students prepare for and apply to college. As a college advisor, she hopes to pay forward the same support that she received from her Upward Bound advisors. Her goal is to make college a reality for underrepresented students who may not have ever thought that college could be an option for them.
Abigail Hernandez (B.S. University of California, Los Angeles), is a second-year adviser serving at Bell Senior High School. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended school in the Los Angeles Unified School District and
graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology and a minor in Chicanx and Central American Studies. Her experience navigating through the higher education system has prepared her to guide students through the path that’s best for them. As a college adviser, Abigail hopes to be the mentor that many high schoolers need in order to guide and show them that their college and career goals/dreams are achievable no matter where they come from. She has always believed that no matter a person’s cultural background or economic status; everyone deserves an equitable opportunity to receive a higher education. Abigail is looking forward to getting her M.A in School Counseling in hopes of working in a high school setting to help students pursue their college and career goals.
Avery Boyer (B.A. California State University, Long Beach) is a first year College Advisor for USC's College Advising Corps at the Center for Enrollment, Research, Policy, and Practice. Avery holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach, where she developed a deep commitment to advocating for educational equity. While working in the Outreach office at CSULB, Avery cultivated a passion for empowering students to pursue higher education and fostering equal opportunities for all. Additionally, as a member of the National Charity League, Avery honed her leadership and community service skills, further igniting her desire to impact the lives of students. In her current role, Avery is dedicated to guiding students on their educational journeys and is enthusiastic about collaborating with fellow advisers to enhance professional development initiatives. With a strong belief in the transformative power of education, Avery is determined to inspire and support every student in reaching their full potential.
Tommy Hernandez (B.A. California State University Dominguez Hills), placed at Diego Rivera Learning Complex, is a second-year advisor with a bachelor's in political science. Born and raised in
Huntington Park, CA, Tommy saw a need to help his community in a plethora of ways. During his freshman year of college, he volunteered with organizations in his area to help those in the citizenship process. Seeing the need for help in the rest of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, Tommy joined Justice Corps Los Angeles where he was placed at Torrance CourtHouse helping self-represented litigants in the area of dissolution, restraining orders, and family law. After graduating, Tommy turned from law to education and joined City Year Los Angeles. Here he did a year of service at Bethune Middle School as a mentor, role model, and tutor and even was awarded a hero award by local District 9 for his work in the community. Here he found his passion for education and where it can lead others. As a first-year advisor, Tommy wants to bring that same love for where education takes you to his students. He is excited to get started and wants to motivate his students just like those around him did to him growing up.
Maite Sanchez (B.A. University of California, Los Angeles) is a second-year College Adviser serving Santee Education Complex. Maite first attended Pasadena City College where she earned her AA in Social Sciences and her AA-T in Psychology. She then transferred to UCLA where she received her degree in Psychology with a minor in Chicanx Studies. Her interest in college access first emerged when she joined an Upward Bound program her sophomore year of high school. Since then, she has committed herself to doing her part in promoting college access, especially for first-generation, low-income students. During her undergraduate years at PCC and UCLA, she spent her time working with several college access organizations such as Upward Bound and UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). During her junior and senior year, she served as the Skill Building Coordinator and Assistant Project Coordinator for UCLA Xinachtli, a sister project of UCLA’s Student Initiated Outreach Committee. During her senior year, she served as a Bruin Advisor where she helped underrepresented high school students prepare for and apply to college. As a college advisor, she hopes to pay forward the same support that she received from her Upward Bound advisors. Her goal is to make college a reality for underrepresented students who may not have ever thought that college could be an option for them.
Seidy Bucio (B.A. UCLA) is a first year advisor placed at Jefferson High School As a first-generation college 
student, Seidy experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the complexities of the higher education system and the initial struggle of figuring out how to access it. Seidy has always believed in the transformative power of education, not only for personal growth but also for shaping the future of society.
During her time with UCLA's Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), Seidy witnessed the profound impact that student support services have on high school campuses, particularly for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Seeing students achieve their college aspirations ignited a professional passion that she hadn’t previously realized. This passion ultimately led her to work with USC's College Advising Corps.
Seidy’s ultimate goal is to create lasting, meaningful change on high school campuses—enhancing students’ academic journeys and inspiring them to pursue higher education and reach their full potential.
Abigail Hernandez (B.S. University of California, Los Angeles), is a second-year adviser serving at Bell Senior High School. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended school in the Los Angeles Unified School District and
graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology and a minor in Chicanx and Central American Studies. Her experience navigating through the higher education system has prepared her to guide students through the path that’s best for them. As a college adviser, Abigail hopes to be the mentor that many high schoolers need in order to guide and show them that their college and career goals/dreams are achievable no matter where they come from. She has always believed that no matter a person’s cultural background or economic status; everyone deserves an equitable opportunity to receive a higher education. Abigail is looking forward to getting her M.A in School Counseling in hopes of working in a high school setting to help students pursue their college and career goals.
Avery Boyer (B.A. California State University, Long Beach) is a first year College Advisor for USC's College Advising Corps at the Center for Enrollment, Research, Policy, and Practice. Avery holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach, where she developed a deep commitment to advocating for educational equity. While working in the Outreach office at CSULB, Avery cultivated a passion for empowering students to pursue higher education and fostering equal opportunities for all. Additionally, as a member of the National Charity League, Avery honed her leadership and community service skills, further igniting her desire to impact the lives of students. In her current role, Avery is dedicated to guiding students on their educational journeys and is enthusiastic about collaborating with fellow advisers to enhance professional development initiatives. With a strong belief in the transformative power of education, Avery is determined to inspire and support every student in reaching their full potential.
Tommy Hernandez (B.A. California State University Dominguez Hills), placed at Diego Rivera Learning Complex, is a second-year advisor with a bachelor's in political science. Born and raised in
Huntington Park, CA, Tommy saw a need to help his community in a plethora of ways. During his freshman year of college, he volunteered with organizations in his area to help those in the citizenship process. Seeing the need for help in the rest of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, Tommy joined Justice Corps Los Angeles where he was placed at Torrance CourtHouse helping self-represented litigants in the area of dissolution, restraining orders, and family law. After graduating, Tommy turned from law to education and joined City Year Los Angeles. Here he did a year of service at Bethune Middle School as a mentor, role model, and tutor and even was awarded a hero award by local District 9 for his work in the community. Here he found his passion for education and where it can lead others. As a first-year advisor, Tommy wants to bring that same love for where education takes you to his students. He is excited to get started and wants to motivate his students just like those around him did to him growing up.
USC College Advising Corps: Lynwood Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our advisers better who serve in Lynwood Unified School District in two high schools.
Maria de la Cruz Flores (B.A. California State University, Dominguez Hills) is a second-year adviser placed at Lynwood High School. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in the small town of Lynwood, CA, Maria came to the United States with her parents at the age of two in pursuit of the American dream. Growing up in a low-income, diverse biling
ual community, she faced the hardship of learning a second language (English) to excel in the U.S. educational system. As the oldest of four children, Maria found herself navigating the U.S. education system on her own due to her parents' lack of knowledge. Throughout high school, she found college support and a second family in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. She began her post-secondary education at Cerritos College, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Communication in just a year and a half. During her time at Cerritos College, Maria worked as an AVID Tutor for the middle school she once attended. Through this experience, she realized the lack of support and resources for college readiness in her community. Because of her personal experiences, she knew she wanted to help close the opportunity gap and assist other students in achieving their highest potential in post-secondary education. With the love and support of her family, friends, and mentors, she was able to transfer to California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Television, and Media. She now inspires her students to continue closing the educational gap and
aspires to be a mentor and motivator, ensuring that they receive the full support needed to become the next first-generation college graduates.
Maria de la Cruz Flores (B.A. California State University, Dominguez Hills) is a second-year adviser placed at Lynwood High School. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in the small town of Lynwood, CA, Maria came to the United States with her parents at the age of two in pursuit of the American dream. Growing up in a low-income, diverse biling
ual community, she faced the hardship of learning a second language (English) to excel in the U.S. educational system. As the oldest of four children, Maria found herself navigating the U.S. education system on her own due to her parents' lack of knowledge. Throughout high school, she found college support and a second family in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. She began her post-secondary education at Cerritos College, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Communication in just a year and a half. During her time at Cerritos College, Maria worked as an AVID Tutor for the middle school she once attended. Through this experience, she realized the lack of support and resources for college readiness in her community. Because of her personal experiences, she knew she wanted to help close the opportunity gap and assist other students in achieving their highest potential in post-secondary education. With the love and support of her family, friends, and mentors, she was able to transfer to California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Television, and Media. She now inspires her students to continue closing the educational gap and
aspires to be a mentor and motivator, ensuring that they receive the full support needed to become the next first-generation college graduates.
Jessica Ramirez (B.A. Pomona College), is a first year adviser placed at Firebaugh High School. She is a proud first-generation college graduate from Pomona College, where she earned her B.A. in Chicanx/Latinx Studies. Born and raised in Southeast LA to Mexican immigrant parents, Jessica benefited greatly from college access resources that made higher education possible for her. Jessica developed a passion for expanding access to post-secondary education during her undergraduate experience. She served as a Student Ambassador at Chicano
Latino Student Affairs (CLSA) an academic and cultural center at the Claremont Colleges, where she worked closely with students and their families to support their transition to higher education. She further nurtured this passion as a College Success Program Coordinator for Thrive Scholars, a nationwide college access organization, where she oversaw a peer mentorship program across various universities. Most recently, Jessica also carried out a senior thesis project in partnership with a Pomona-based organization, Uncommon Good. She implemented a series of college prep workshops for Spanish-speaking parents to address their concerns about transitioning to college life. This sparked a love for providing culturally competent, and holistic support to underrepresented students and their families. She is excited to continue this culture of care, support, and collaboration to bridge resources for all of her students as they transition to life after high school!
USC College Advising Corps: Paramount Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our adviser better who serves in Paramount Unified School District in one high school.
Elise Espinosa (BS California State University Channel Islands) is a first-year adviser at Paramount High School, eager to return to her alma mater and assist students in navigating their post-secondary endeavors (GO PIRATES!). Elise is a first-generation Latina who understands many of the struggles and challenges students may face when applying to college because she was once in their shoes. After graduating from PHS, Elise pursued her post- secondary education at CSU Channel Islands, where she obtained her Bachelor's in Health Science with a minor in Psychology. Coming from a low-income household, she is a proud first-gen student who advocates for those who are underrepresented. Being the oldest in her family, setting the example has always been in the back of her mind.With that mindset, she then worked for the HRE (Housing & Residential Education) Department at Channel Islands as a Resident Advisor for 2.5 years. As an RA, Elise helped freshman and sophomore students navigate the different waves of college. Through this job, she found her passion for giving back to her community and guiding students on the best path possible. Post-graduation, Elise continued her engagement with students as a College Tutor for the AVID program at Paramount Unified. Through this opportunity, she worked with many first-generation students from diverse backgrounds and helped them obtain both personal and professional skills that would help them excel in their educational endeavors. In addition, she advocated to her students how she is a product of her placement site emphasizing "Si Se Puede" and that they can overcome anything!Since then, Elise has helped students reduce their educational and professional opportunity gap by reminding them of their potential and what can come from that. The USC College Advising Corps will allow Elise to not only give back to her community but also be a role model as well. As an advisor, her goal is to minimize the college and career opportunity gap by helping students fulfill their post-secondary goals in the best way possible, while reminding them that they have their own gift and that endless opportunities can come from that uniqueness.
Javier Carlos (B.A. California State University, Long Beach), is currently advising at Odyssey STEM Academy. During Javier’s undergraduate years, he worked at his campus dining hall. Here he developed a passion for
leading other students. This drove him to seek opportunities in education. He started as an education intern at the Museum of Latin American Art during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked to create programs and lesson plans to bring art and education during lockdown. He then served as a tutor for ELD and AVID programs where he learned the importance of higher educational access. Leading him to intern for the Early College Initiatives at Long Beach City College. Where he assisted students in the process of enrolling and taking college-level courses. At this time he met the USC CAC advisor at Browning High School. Javier was drawn to becoming an advisor himself to further help and support students with their educational journeys. Currently, Javier is also earning his Masters in Applied Statistics. He plans to combine his love of mathematics and science into educational research that focuses on student retention and success.
Elise Espinosa (BS California State University Channel Islands) is a first-year adviser at Paramount High School, eager to return to her alma mater and assist students in navigating their post-secondary endeavors (GO PIRATES!). Elise is a first-generation Latina who understands many of the struggles and challenges students may face when applying to college because she was once in their shoes. After graduating from PHS, Elise pursued her post- secondary education at CSU Channel Islands, where she obtained her Bachelor's in Health Science with a minor in Psychology. Coming from a low-income household, she is a proud first-gen student who advocates for those who are underrepresented. Being the oldest in her family, setting the example has always been in the back of her mind.With that mindset, she then worked for the HRE (Housing & Residential Education) Department at Channel Islands as a Resident Advisor for 2.5 years. As an RA, Elise helped freshman and sophomore students navigate the different waves of college. Through this job, she found her passion for giving back to her community and guiding students on the best path possible. Post-graduation, Elise continued her engagement with students as a College Tutor for the AVID program at Paramount Unified. Through this opportunity, she worked with many first-generation students from diverse backgrounds and helped them obtain both personal and professional skills that would help them excel in their educational endeavors. In addition, she advocated to her students how she is a product of her placement site emphasizing "Si Se Puede" and that they can overcome anything!Since then, Elise has helped students reduce their educational and professional opportunity gap by reminding them of their potential and what can come from that. The USC College Advising Corps will allow Elise to not only give back to her community but also be a role model as well. As an advisor, her goal is to minimize the college and career opportunity gap by helping students fulfill their post-secondary goals in the best way possible, while reminding them that they have their own gift and that endless opportunities can come from that uniqueness.
Javier Carlos (B.A. California State University, Long Beach), is currently advising at Odyssey STEM Academy. During Javier’s undergraduate years, he worked at his campus dining hall. Here he developed a passion for
leading other students. This drove him to seek opportunities in education. He started as an education intern at the Museum of Latin American Art during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked to create programs and lesson plans to bring art and education during lockdown. He then served as a tutor for ELD and AVID programs where he learned the importance of higher educational access. Leading him to intern for the Early College Initiatives at Long Beach City College. Where he assisted students in the process of enrolling and taking college-level courses. At this time he met the USC CAC advisor at Browning High School. Javier was drawn to becoming an advisor himself to further help and support students with their educational journeys. Currently, Javier is also earning his Masters in Applied Statistics. He plans to combine his love of mathematics and science into educational research that focuses on student retention and success.
USC College Advising Corps: West Covina Unified School District
Our USC CAC college advisers are recent college graduates who work full-time at our partner high schools, helping students achieve their college dreams. We are very proud that our advisers hail from diverse backgrounds but are united in their passion to help youth realize their educational potential.
Get to know our advisers better who serve in West Covina Unified School District in two high schools.
Tom Nguyen (B.S. University of California, Los Angeles), placed at West Covina High School, is a second-year
adviser with a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology. He spent his four years at UCLA as a peer counselor, mentor, and coordinator for the Vietnamese Student Union and Southeast Asian Campus Learning Education and Retention Project. Whether it be planning and hosting large events, or having multiple one-on-one sessions, he was always trying his best to keep people motivated and seeing their best selves. He also volunteered at the Moving Forward Psychological Institute serving the unhoused community located in Fountain Valley. This showed him that even through tough times, the perseverance to stride forward can lead to a successful and ambitious future. Once he graduated, he joined the USC Advising Corps with the pursuit to further his career in counseling. Working with the college students was his favorite part of the advising office. That is what drove Tom to become a College Adviser for high school students. He wanted to return the favor that was given to him. Tom was a product of the USC Advising Corps and has always wanted to be a part of the program after graduation. Lucky enough to have people in his life who were able to help him receive a higher education, and he wanted to be able to do the same for others who may not have the same resources. This is what drew him towards USC CAC. He knew he loved guiding students to their possible futures, and the Corps is the place to let him accomplish this.
Guadalupe Carranza (B.A., University of California, Riverside), currently serving as a first-year adviser at Edgewood High School, holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Education. During her
senior year at UCR, Guadalupe was involved in College Corps, where she tutored low-income and underserved elementary students and helped instill a college-going mindset from an early age. Additionally, her roles as a board member of Mujeres Unidas and as a peer mentor for first-year and transfer students showcased her dedication to motivating and supporting others. After graduating, Guadalupe served as a college adviser with the Destination College Advising Corps at the University of California, Berkeley, where she guided students from freshmen to seniors on their post-secondary options. Upon returning to Southern California due to personal circumstances, Guadalupe remained committed to her passion for college advising, which ultimately led her to join the USC College Advising Corps. She is dedicated to helping students, particularly first-generation and low-income individuals, as she relates to their experiences. Guadalupe views the Corps as an ideal platform for achieving her goal of supporting students in exploring their future possibilities.
Kessie Aguilar (B.A. University of California, Riverside) is a first-year advisor at West Covina High School. As a first-generation college student, she earned her bachelor's degree in Education, Society, and Human
Development, with a minor in Public Policy. Her journey through college was made possible by the support of nonprofit programs like Bright Prospect, Upward Bound, and Student Rising Above, which guided her along the way. During her senior year of college, Kessie gained valuable experiences through internships, starting with teaching English to children in Merida, Yucatán, and later assisting freshmen with course registration for their fall classes at UCR. These experiences helped her discover how much she enjoyed working with students and how meaningful she found the work. After college, she was determined to work for a nonprofit program focused on helping students in her community and empowering them to pursue higher education. She is incredibly grateful for her education and believes that all students should be able to have this opportunity. She is extremely excited to be a part of the USC CAC program as a college advisor and hopes to positively impact students' lives just as these programs have impacted hers in the past.
Tom Nguyen (B.S. University of California, Los Angeles), placed at West Covina High School, is a second-year
adviser with a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology. He spent his four years at UCLA as a peer counselor, mentor, and coordinator for the Vietnamese Student Union and Southeast Asian Campus Learning Education and Retention Project. Whether it be planning and hosting large events, or having multiple one-on-one sessions, he was always trying his best to keep people motivated and seeing their best selves. He also volunteered at the Moving Forward Psychological Institute serving the unhoused community located in Fountain Valley. This showed him that even through tough times, the perseverance to stride forward can lead to a successful and ambitious future. Once he graduated, he joined the USC Advising Corps with the pursuit to further his career in counseling. Working with the college students was his favorite part of the advising office. That is what drove Tom to become a College Adviser for high school students. He wanted to return the favor that was given to him. Tom was a product of the USC Advising Corps and has always wanted to be a part of the program after graduation. Lucky enough to have people in his life who were able to help him receive a higher education, and he wanted to be able to do the same for others who may not have the same resources. This is what drew him towards USC CAC. He knew he loved guiding students to their possible futures, and the Corps is the place to let him accomplish this.
Guadalupe Carranza (B.A., University of California, Riverside), currently serving as a first-year adviser at Edgewood High School, holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Education. During her
senior year at UCR, Guadalupe was involved in College Corps, where she tutored low-income and underserved elementary students and helped instill a college-going mindset from an early age. Additionally, her roles as a board member of Mujeres Unidas and as a peer mentor for first-year and transfer students showcased her dedication to motivating and supporting others. After graduating, Guadalupe served as a college adviser with the Destination College Advising Corps at the University of California, Berkeley, where she guided students from freshmen to seniors on their post-secondary options. Upon returning to Southern California due to personal circumstances, Guadalupe remained committed to her passion for college advising, which ultimately led her to join the USC College Advising Corps. She is dedicated to helping students, particularly first-generation and low-income individuals, as she relates to their experiences. Guadalupe views the Corps as an ideal platform for achieving her goal of supporting students in exploring their future possibilities.
Kessie Aguilar (B.A. University of California, Riverside) is a first-year advisor at West Covina High School. As a first-generation college student, she earned her bachelor's degree in Education, Society, and Human
Development, with a minor in Public Policy. Her journey through college was made possible by the support of nonprofit programs like Bright Prospect, Upward Bound, and Student Rising Above, which guided her along the way. During her senior year of college, Kessie gained valuable experiences through internships, starting with teaching English to children in Merida, Yucatán, and later assisting freshmen with course registration for their fall classes at UCR. These experiences helped her discover how much she enjoyed working with students and how meaningful she found the work. After college, she was determined to work for a nonprofit program focused on helping students in her community and empowering them to pursue higher education. She is incredibly grateful for her education and believes that all students should be able to have this opportunity. She is extremely excited to be a part of the USC CAC program as a college advisor and hopes to positively impact students' lives just as these programs have impacted hers in the past.