About Us

Amanda (she/her/hers) received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Florida International University before joining UCLA in 2015. She has served in many capacities since her arrival; most notably, Amanda is responsible for helming the #CaliforniansForAll Initiative for UCLA and securing the funding for the College Corps Bruin community.

Fun fact: Amanda is a frequent traveler and has traveled to more than 15 countries!

Ms. Cee Jaye (she/her/hers) received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California - Riverside. She began her career as a nurse, which led to becoming a vocational instructor, and ultimately, transitioning to a social justice educator in Higher Ed. In addition to her dedicated years of service in the healthcare realm, her service to the community-at-large includes volunteering for numerous hospital and charity events, as well as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the LA Convention Center, and LACMA. Fun Fact: She collects and wears unique Crocs!

Zainab (she/her/hers) attended HBCU Morgan State University where she received a B.A. in History. She then graduated with a Master's in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from University of Southern California. She aims to provide an ideal vehicle for students to apply their academic skills toward community-based learning through engagement and collaboration with marginalized communities.

Fun fact: She has a part-time pup named Harley!

Jewel Bourne (she/her/they) received her AA degrees from Santa Monica College, bachelor's degrees in English and Gender Studies from UCLA (GO BRUINS!), and Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from California State University, Northridge. Jewel is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a concentration in higher education and community college leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

Jewel's work in higher education revolves around the promotion of access, persistence, and empowerment of traditionally underrepresented populations in higher education.

Fun Fact: Jewel has a very active Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever named Honey!

Astrid Colop (She/Her/Ella) is a passionate educator and advocate for educational equity, currently serving as a Program Coordinator for the UCLA College Corps program. With a Psychology degree from UCLA and several years of experience in K–16 education and community engagement, she has led initiatives that expand access and retention for first-generation students of diverse backgrounds. Drawing on her own experience as a first-generation Central American student from a mixed-status family, Astrid builds collaborative campus partnerships and creates inclusive, holistic support systems. In her role, she is dedicated to fostering student resilience and ensuring they gain the skills and resources needed to thrive during and beyond the program. During her free time, she is most likely exploring cafes, dancing, or at pilates.
Fun Fact: Astrid used to be a part of Grupo Folklorico!

Saul (he/him/his) Attended University of California Santa Barbara where he received his B.A. in Political Science and Technology Management certification. He initially served as a Financial Manager specializing in trust funds in the Seattle area, Then pivoted into education sector where his focus was driving STEM initiatives in the greater Los Angeles area.

Fun Fact: Saul enjoys hiking, camping, or anything outdoors and has a deep passion for sports!

Erika (she/her/s) is a double Bruin from UCLA, where she earned her B.A. in English and Education & Social Transformation and recently received her M.Ed. in Student Affairs. She enjoys working with students of all ages and in the far future, she hopes to become a high school English teacher. Until then, she aims to work with first-generation students of color, providing mentorship, community, guidance and support to help them successfully navigate campuses like UCLA.

Fun fact: She loves K-Dramas, with her most recent favorite one being "See You in My 19th Life," and she enjoys getting tattoos.

Alma Sanchez (she/her) earned her BA in Social Welfare and English from UC Berkeley and M.Ed. in Student Affairs from UCLA. She is a dedicated educator and advocate for educational equity with over 10 years of experience.

Fun Fact: Alma’s favorite coffee order is a cappuccino.

Jason (he/him/his) attended San José State University (Go Spartans!) where he earned his B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology. Working as a ‘I Can, I Will’ program mentor for EOP at SJSU developed his deep appreciation for the power of education to transform students' lives. With UCLA College Corps, Jason has furthered his commitment to service and student success.

Fun fact: Jason has three cats! Luna, Duke, and Roxy!

J. Isaiah Bailey (he/him/his) is a Political Science PhD student at the University of California – Los Angeles. His research focuses broadly on the psychological aspects of political ideology, as well as Black public opinion and political behavior. Having worked previously within various state-level government bodies and in the nonprofit sector, Isaiah has spearheaded numerous polling and survey research projects related to the study of race and political behavior.

Jackson (she/her/hers) is a PhD Student in Electrical & Computer Engineering at UCLA Samueli. She graduated with a BS in Physics from HBCU Hampton University and currently serves on the ASUCLA Board of Directors.

Fun Fact: Jackson is the creator of Action Jackson, an animated series that teaches physics in bite-sized animated shorts!

Juno (she/her) is a first-generation, Pilipina-American graduate student in the Masters of Student Affairs (MSA) program at UCLA. She is passionate about advising, college access, and making higher education more equitable and accessible. Before joining the MSA program, she went to UC Davis (Go Aggies!) for undergrad where she received her BS in Human Development. After undergrad, she served as a College Adviser Fellow for high school students with UC Berkeley Destination College Advising Corps (DCAC) & Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) in Hayward, CA.

Fun Fact: She loves to collect SkullPanda figurines!

Santa (she/her) is a Double Bruin. During undergrad, she double majored in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies. Santa was an active participant in the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and Ignite, an organization on campus focused on women's rights. She is currently in the Master's of Public Policy program at Luskin, and sits on the Public Policy Leadership Association Board. Santa will be pursuing a PhD in political science after her Master's. She is interested in research or becoming a professor of political science focused on American politics or international relations.

Fun Fact: Santa has a 5 year old pitbull that she got during COVID.

Xandra Martinez (She/her/ella) received her B.S in Kinesiology with a minor in public health from Cal State San Marcos. She spent her undergrad being involved in Active Minds, TRIO SSS, McNair, research, and interning at the health clinic as a peer health educator. She is an incoming first-year student in the dual degree program in MPH with a concentration in community health science and MSW with a concentration in social and economic justice. She’s excited to continue to be a part of programs that help students in their academic journey.

Fun Fact: Xandra likes to play cozy games such as Hello Kitty Island Adventure on her Nintendo Switch.

I am a second-year computer engineering student at UCLA. I am driven and detail-oriented with technical skills in troubleshooting, networking, and Adobe software tools. I enjoy staying creative through photography, editing, and design, while also challenging myself with problem-solving and projects. In my free time, I love exploring the outdoors, staying active, and giving back to my community through volunteer work. I bring enthusiasm, adaptability, and excellent interactive skills.

Dominic (he/him) is a first-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Computer Science at UCLA. Prior to starting his first year, he attended the New Bruin Leadership Academy, which allowed him to discover the College Corps program. He has experience with video editing and content creation, and he aims to focus on growing the media presence and outreach for the College Corps. After graduation, he has aspirations of becoming a tech startup founder.

Mercy Adetunji (they/she) is a current second-year undergraduate at UCLA studying Psychology with a minor in Digital Humanities.