Meet the Staff

Dr. Belinda Zamacona (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Colonia La Venta, Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero, México
High School: Fallbrook Union High School
College (BA & MA): San Diego State University
College (Ed.D.): Joint doctoral program in Education Studies with UC San Diego & CSU San Marcos
Favorite spot on Campus: Y Mas
On my bucket list: To spend an entire summer at the beach. 
Advice to new students: “No estudio por saber más, sino por ignorar menos”. ―Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Belinda is the founder of the Chancellor's Associates Scholars Program (CASP), conceptualizing the program when she was hired in 2014. Her responsibilities as the Director for CASP include the creation, development, and implementation of a comprehensive retention program to support students who receive the Chancellor’s Associate Scholarship, which recognizes and supports talented students with financial need who have great potential and motivation to succeed at UC San Diego. Belinda is a proud first-generation, English-language learner student, born in México. Belinda has been part of UC San Diego since 2009. She is passionate about issues of access and equity in education. Her professional background includes working with parents and families, community relations, and access, yield and retention programs. Belinda has served as a higher education leader nationally, being a past member of the leadership team for NASPA’s Socioeconomic and Class Issues in Higher Educational Knowledge Community, and an Advocate in the Advocacy Group for NASPA’s Center for First Generation Student Success. She is a member of NASPA, AHSIE, AAHHE, ASHE, and HACU. Her research agenda includes undocumented students and social class identity. 

Karen Van Ness, M.A. | ACADEMIC SUPPORT COORDINATOR

Maria "Ria" Rodriguez, M.A. | STUDENT SUCCESS COORDINATOR

Hometown: El Cajon, CA
High School: Granite Hills High School
College (BA): University of California, Merced
College (MA): San Diego State University
Favorite spot at UCSD: Price center because of all the food!
Bucket list: Cage Diving with Sharks
Advice to new students: “If you were born with the weakness to fall you were born with the strength to rise.” – rupi kaur

Ria Rodriguez is the inaugural Student Success Coordinator in the Chancellor's Associates Scholars Program. In her role she oversees the peer mentorship program for first-year students, as well as summer transition interventions, alumni tracking, amongst other responsibilities. Ria is alumna of UC Merced, where she majored in Political Science. She completed her Master of Arts in Education in the Postsecondary Educational Leadership Program with a specialization in Student Affairs. As a first-generation college student, Ria is passionate about creating community and supporting students throughout their journey at UC San Diego. She has been with UC San Diego since 2015 and is excited to continue her journey of growth to better serve the students she works with.

Mariana Valdivieso | INTERIM STUDENT SUCCESS COORDINATOR

Hometown: San Diego, CA (City Heights)
College (BA) University of California, San Diego
Favorite spot at UCSD: M.O.M.
Bucket list: Eat at Hell's Kitchen (any Gordon Ramsay restaurant)
Advice to new students: You can do it! You belong here! Look at what you've done to get here, and think about what you'll accomplish.

Mariana Valdivieso (she/her/ella) is the CASP 101 Program Coordinator. In her role, she plans and organizes CASP 101, the summer transitional program for incoming CASP students. She is a recent UCSD Grad and got her Bachelors in Linguistics with a focus in Language and Society with minors in Sociocultural Anthropology and Spanish Literature. She is a proud first-generation, low-income, Latina, born and raised in San Diego, specifically City Heights. She is a CASP student from the 2018 Cohort and has been working with CASP since 2020. Mariana is excited to continue working on CASP 101, the program that made her feel welcome at the beginning of her UCSD career and started her journey to find her community. In the future, Mariana hopes to continue building a community for students and paving the way for other first-generation students.

mvaldivieso@ucsd.edu  | (858) 534-8366
Schedule an Appointment, https://calendly.com/m5valdiv 

Maria Soto

Hometown: San Diego, CA
High School: Gompers Preparatory Academy
College (BA) University of California, San Diego
Favorite spot at UCSD: Muir & Price Center!
Bucket list: Create an organization that supports first-generation students applying to college!
Advice to new students: Please do not be afraid to ask for help! There are lots of people on campus willing to support and guide you, as long as you ask. When things get rough, remember that you deserve and earned your spot-on campus!! Lastly, enjoy your time, try new things, and discover yourself on this journey.

Maria Soto is a first-generation, Latina, alumna from the University of California, San Diego. She is part of the 2015 CASP Cohort and majored in Ethnic Studies with a minor in Education. Maria was born and raised in South East San Diego and it has always been her dream to come back and help students towards their educational goals. She is passionate about social justice issues, access, and equity in education.

m8soto@ucsd.edu | (858) 822-6740

Schedule an appointment, https://calendly.com/m8soto

Kimberly Rodriguez Jimenez (they/them/elle)

Hometown Chula Vista, CA and Tijuana, B.C., México
High School: Chula Vista High School
College (BA) University of California, San Diego
Favorite spot at UCSD: OASIS and UCSD Women's Center
Bucket list: To visit every state in Mexico
Advice to new students: "What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe." - bell hooks

Kimberly has worked for the Chancellor's Associates Scholars Programs as of July 2016. As a first-generation, low-income student, Kimberly is passionate about social justice issues and has worked as a student counselor in various capacities throughout their time at UC San Diego. They are an alum of UCSD and where they majored in Language Studies and minored in International Studies and Business. Currently, they are enrolled in an M.A. in Couple and Family Therapy with the California School of Professional Psychology.

Abdul-Rehman Mohammed Issa (He/Him/His)

Hometown: Long Beach, CA
High School: Long Beach Wilson
College: CSULB & CSUDH
Favorite spot on Campus: The canyon behind Geisel, or the Gliderport.
On my bucket list: I really want to see the Northern Lights. 
Advice to new students: “Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. ...live in the question.” -Rilke

Email: aissa@ucsd.edu 

Erick Ramirez Manriquez (He/Him/His)

Hometown: Mexicali, Baja California
High School: Calexico High School
College: UC San Diego
Favorite spot on Campus: Caroline's Seaside Cafe
On my bucket list: Visit the northern lights in Alaska 
Advice to new students: Be afraid enough to feel the challenge, but not enough to dissuade you from trying it.

Email: err018@ucsd.edu 

Ivan Valdovinos (He/Him/His)

Hometown: Soap Lake, WA
High School: Soap Lake High School
College: Washington State University, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Favorite spot on Campus: Showa Ramen
On my bucket list: To paraglide at Torrey Pines Gliderport.
Advice to new students: Don't spend too much time trying to achieve the perfect GPA. Enjoy your time as an undergraduate student. Discover new passions through extracurricular involvement and seek support early on when facing adversity.

Email: ivaldovi@ucsd.edu 

Jenee Love (She/Her/Hers)

Hometown: Memphis, TN
High School: Overton High School
College: University of Memphis
Favorite spot on Campus: Blue Pepper
On my bucket list: Perform spoken word to a large audience(50+)
Advice to new students: Learn with curiosity!

Email: jlove@ucsd.edu

Jesse Enriquez (He/Him/His)

Hometown: Oxnard, CA
High School: Hueneme High School
College: CSU Chico, SDSU, UC San Diego
Favorite spot on Campus: North side of campus that oversees the ocean (Rady School of Management Area)
On my bucket list: Write a book (turn my dissertation research = book)
Advice to new students: Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it (e.g., academic, physical & mental health)

Email: jenrique@ucsd.edu 

Mihir Pratap Singh

Hometown: Delhi, India
High School: Mother Khazani Convent School, Delhi, India
College: UCSD (MS ECE), BITS Pilani-India (BE EEE, MS Economics)
Favorite spot on Campus: Art of Espresso
On my bucket list: Ice swimming in the nordic seas, Drive an F1 car, Watch a UCL match in Anfield-Liverpool, Watch Nadal play at Roland Garros, and learn how to swim.
Advice to new students: College days are going to be some of the most important days of your life. They are also going to be some of the best days. Make friends, explore various subjects, get ample sleep and stay hydrated. Don’t shy away from asking for help and give help whenever you can. Be kind.

Email: m8singh@ucsd.edu 

Pratik Ratadiya (He/Him/His)

Hometown: Pune, India
High School: Amrita Vidyalayam, Pune, India
College: Pune Institute of Computer Technology, UC San Diego
Favorite spot on Campus: IGPP Munk Lab
On my bucket list: Skydiving, Visiting 50 countries, Winning a tennis tournament
Advice to new students: Do not ever be ashamed of your identity or things that you like. Own it, and set an example for everyone else in your community to follow. Be yourself, be honest, judge less, and accept more. Most importantly - help, be kind, enjoy, and have the time of your life!

Email: pratadiy@ucsd.edu 

Wendy Cheung (She/Her/Hers)

Hometown: Temple City, CA
High School: Arcadia High School
College: UC Berkeley
Favorite spot on Campus: 4 Floor Patio at Social Sciences Public Engagement Building in Sixth College
Advice to new students: Above all, be kind to yourself. Center your joy, your happiness, and find a way to share that with others.

Email: wwcheung@ucsd.edu 

Arnel Tan, M.A. | REVELLE COLLEGE

Karla Kastner | JOHN MUIR COLLEGE

Michael "Mike" Markulin| THURGOOD MARSHALL COLEGE

Amado Berrios | EARL WARREN COLLEGE

Lydia Ramirez | ELEANOR ROOSEVELT COLLEGE

Erin Nicole Vedar, M.A. | SIXTH COLLEGE

Hometown: San Diego, CA
College (BA, MA & MA): San Diego State University
Favorite Spot at UCSD: Anywhere I can see the ocean or a good sunset
Bucket list: Travelling safely with the people I love, and eating all the delicious food I can find
Advice to new students:  Ask for what you need. There are so many people on this campus that want to see you succeed, but we won't know what you need until you speak up. Make yourself HEARD and KNOWN. We got you!

About me:
Erin Nicole (she/they) Vedar is the proud daughter of Filipino immigrants, and a recent graduate from the San Diego State University MA in Postsecondary Educational Leadership, specialization in Student Affairs program. A brand new Academic Advisor to Sixth College, she utilizes both a student affairs and mental health lens in her work with underrepresented students, and first-generation students of color. Erin Nicole is passionate about supporting students through their educational journeys in a holistic way - whether it's physically, mentally, academically, personally, or professionally. In her spare time, she loves traveling with her loved ones, chasing sunsets and good food, and dancing the night away.

Email: envedar@ucsd.edu

Kelly Guerriero, M.S | SIXTH COLLEGE

Hometown: Anchorage, AK
College (BA): CSU - Chico
College (MS): Colorado State University
Favorite Spot at UCSD: Fallen Star
Bucket list: Swim with dolphins
Advice to new students: Enjoy your time in college. Work hard and plan, but do not put too much pressure on yourself to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Take this time to explore different topics/subjects and find out what your passions are!

Email: kguerriero@ucsd.edu

Vanesa de Boer | SEVENTH COLLEGE

Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
College (BA): UC Riverside
College (MA): University of Redlands
Favorite spot at UCSD: Walking along Ridgewalk
Bucket List: Traveling with my family to Spain & Indonesia
Advice to new students: Take this time to explore your interests! Seek opportunities to connect with the various communities at UC San Diego and reach out when you need support.

I am currently a Senior Academic Advisor at Seventh College. Before my current position, I was an Academic Advisor for the School of Biological Sciences for many years. I enjoy helping students navigate their path while at UCSD and providing the resources that will assist them to be successful in their journey.

Email: vdeboer@ucsd.edu 

Kimberly Knight Ortiz

Hometown: San Jose, CA
College (BA): UC San Diego
College (MSW): San Diego State University
Favorite spot at UCSD: Forest behind RIMAC
Bucket List: Going to Thailand
Advice to new students: Find your people and community, they will make your UCSD experience so special!

Kimberly Knight Ortiz (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working at Counseling and Psychological Services since June 2021. Kimberly attended UCSD, studied psychology and identifies as a first generation Latina. She strives to provide a safe space for individuals of all sexualities and genders. She is also bilingual in Spanish and English. In her role as the liaison to CASP she provides consultation with professional staff, presentations/workshops to students and has set aside 3 intake slots a week for CASP students. If you want to schedule an appointment with Kimberly please contact CAPS directly at 858 534 3755 or request an appointment online through the caps.ucsd.edu website. You can find more information on Kimberly's therapeutic style through this link: https://caps.ucsd.edu/about/staff.html#Counseling-Staff 

Melany Guzman, Class of 2023

Claire Inhae Lee, Class of 2025

Jasmine Landeros, Class of 2023

Jennifer Becerra Rodriguez, Class of 2024

Joseph Park, Class of 2023

Cassandra Lotero, Class of 2024

Fahira Anwar, Class of 2025

Kristen Eng, Class of 2025

Marau Garcia, Class of 2023

Ngoc Trinh Phung, Class of 2023

Noemi Vera, Class of 2023

Tamara Buitrago, Class of 2023