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SVC Alumni

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Kim Le
Director

Kim is a fourth year environmental studies and economics student here at UCSC. She first got involved with the Student Volunteer Center in the fall of 2010. As the former Chapter Chair of UCSC CALPIRG, she has coordinated the hunger and homelessness as well as the healthcare campaigns, addressing both short-term and long-term community needs. She has also fundraised for various nonprofit organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Environment California, and Progressive Future. During the remainder of the 2010 school year, Kim will continue her efforts to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities and develop community leaders who can make a positive impact within the Santa Cruz community.

“In the words of Howard Zinn, I believe that ‘Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.’ My goal is to make SVC a well-known resource that students and community members can utilize to transform Santa Cruz County for the better."

Erin Flannery
Programs Director

Erin is a third year College 10 student majoring in History and minoring in Politics. She is an officer in UCSC’s Model United Nations team, and also dances ballet, tap, and jazz. She has a passion for volunteering in areas that involve teaching and political activism. In her home town of Fullerton CA, she instructs youth dance classes at her local community center, as well as volunteers at the children’s corner in her public library. As the former Operations Director, she enjoyed developing personal connections with both Santa Cruz community organizations and UCSC students wanting to get involved. In her new position as Program Director, Erin is looking forward to planning events with local organizations that UCSC students can make a difference with and have fun participating in!

“My main goal for the Student Volunteer Center is to make it an efficient resource for both UCSC students and community organizations. Santa Cruz has so many wonderful causes, and with so many students, we can really make a difference in our surroundings!"

Amanda Kimball
Operations Director

Amanda is a forth year English Language Literature and Film & Digital Media student at UCSC. In her southern California hometown, she has worked with various youth-based volunteer organizations, including the Orange County Youth Coordinating Council and the Child Abuse Prevention Center. Since moving to northern California, she has extended her focus towards health, youth, and education, working with organizations such as the Santa Cruz Aids Project. As Operations Director, she strives to make the Student Volunteer Center a more efficient and effective resource for UC Santa Cruz students.

"My greatest hope for my time as a part of SVC is that every student on campus will be aware of our student-run organization as a means of connecting with manageable ways to beneficially change our community, our nation, and our planet."

Mimi Stroud
Intern

Mimi is a second-year Cowell college student majoring in Psychology. In her hometown of Bakersfield, she volunteered for Sacred Heart Church, the KGET Food Drive, the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, and the Kern Adult Literacy Council. While at UCSC, she has been involved with City On a Hill Press for three quarters and currently works as a tour guide, representing the University to prospective students. In her spare time, Mimi enjoys learning to cook, reading, and listening to music. Her post-graduation plans include graduate school and pursuing a career in clinical psychology. Mimi is very excited to have the opportunity to serve as an SVC intern, and she is passionate about getting students involved in the variety of great volunteer opportunities available.

Isabel Diaz
Intern

Isabel is a second-year student at UCSC from Los Angeles. She is majoring in American Studies, with a minor in education. She loves to read and dance daily. She enjoys volunteering outdoors, in the company of young children. She spends her free time watching movies, cooking, baking, traveling, playing sports and swimming.

Brittany Lawrence
Intern

Brittany is a senior transfer student from southern California majoring in Modern Literature. She sorted gifts with SVC in the fall for the Giving Tree program, during which she found herself immediately drawn to the non-profit for their passion and vision for shaping a better society. In the past, she has worked with Surfrider Foundation and volunteer organizations that help feed the homeless. In her free time, she enjoys running and is currently training for the Santa Cruz half marathon in April. Her tentative, post-graduation plans involve working on an organic farm and creating a path towards becoming a Peace Corps representative.

Clarissa Zhang
Intern

Clarissa is a third year College Nine student majoring in Business Management Economics. She is an exchange student from China and has spent the past two years at Washington State. Clarissa volunteered with a commonwealth organization in high school to support kids in an orphanage and seniors in a welfare home. She was involved in several student organizations while she was at University of Washington and participated in many volunteer events, including Alternative Spring Break. She is very passionate about volunteering and wishes to contribute in helping others while personally enjoying the meaningful work of making positive changes to the community such as Santa Cruz. 

Ali O’Grady
Director

Ali is a third year psychology student here at UCSC. She first got involved with SVC as an intern during winter '09. Since then, she has worked as both the Office Manager and Program Manager prior to her current position as the SVC Director. In previous years, she has worked with the Step It Up organization and her high school in Pleasant Hill, California to raise awareness for global warming and influence local government to pass necessary legislation. She has also volunteered with Relay For Life (American Cancer Society), the National Marrow Donor Program, and the Jesus Mary & Joseph Home for the 2009 Human Race. More recently, Ali has volunteered her time with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Save our Shores, Stanford Blood Center, and Habitat for Humanity. During the remainder of the 2010 school year, Ali is excited to reinstate the Community Service Project (CSP) Grant program, which will offer seed money to various UCSC students. She will also continue her outreach efforts both on and off campus in pursuit of SVC’s mission to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities to the student population. 

“I am really excited to work with different organizations throughout this year to expose our staff and students to a variety of social issues that will both provide a beneficial service-learning experience and make an impact within the Santa Cruz community."

Jenn Kim
Intern

Jenn is a third year Business Management Economics student at UCSC. Her first interest in non-profit organizations was through her church community back home in San Jose, CA. She volunteered to teach arts and crafts to the children at the San Jose Homeless Shelter. She also was involved in railroad clean up and donated towel distribution to local homeless shelters. Her leadership roles in high school helped her be more serious about volunteerism. She was given an opportunity to organize the Baby Wipes Drive to prevent sanitary issues of soldiers in Iraq. This year is her first year interning for Student Volunteer Center. She is very excited to work with SVC and looks forward to the opportunities it will bring in the Santa Cruz community and beyond.

Joana Leonido
Intern

Joana is a second year from Oakes and is majoring in Environmental Studies and Community Studies at UCSC. She is from Los Angeles and has worked in environmental initiatives and social justice awareness regarding immigration with youth in the urban community. She has had the privileged in mentoring and working with local youth-leaders to organize projects and campaigns in the Westlake/MacArthur Park Community. She also worked with World Vision, Roots and Shoots, Central City Neighborhood Partners and other organizations interested in community development and Social Justice. She is interested in further educating and mentoring at risk-youth in creating a positive change in their local community. 

Jeri Hoover
Intern

Jeri is a first year Cowell student majoring in Neuroscience here at UCSC. She first got involved with SVC in Fall 09 by volunteering with SVC’s Giving Tree Program. Her previous experience with supporting numerous non-profit organizations in her hometown of Los Angeles includes working with the Hospitality Kitchen, the Interfaith Food Pantry, and Heal the Bay. In addition, she spent a summer working with children at a local non-profit summer camp as a volunteer Junior Counselor. She was the Events Coordinator at her high school’s local STAND chapter, planning various events such as rallies, fundraisers and demonstrations in order to educate, inform and raise money for various organizations to help stop genocide throughout the world. Jeri is enthusiastic to be back for her second quarter as an intern and is looking forward to completing her goals of coordinating a benefit concert and continuing to become more acquainted with the various non-profit organizations in Santa Cruz in order to be a more effective resource for students.

Alex Tupper
Intern

Alex is a first year student living at Cowell College, and a Politics major at UCSC. Her passion for volunteering was realized at a young age, and she has been involved with a variety of different organizations throughout her education. Alex has had the opportunity to work for causes dedicated to education, the environment, the elderly, children, the homeless, and her school communities among others. Some of her favorite volunteer experiences have been working with the San Mateo Outdoor Education program, the Cafe Saint Vincent de Paul in South San Francisco, and The Trail Center of San Mateo County. She is excited to be working with the Student Volunteer Center this quarter as an intern, and is looking forward to learning about and informing others of volunteer opportunities within the Santa Cruz community.

Daphne Poblete
Intern

Daphne is a second year Oakes student and Business Management Economics major with an emphasis on Accounting. While currently maintaining her post as event coordinator for UCSC's Japanese Student Association, she decided to partake on her first internship with SVC as a first step into giving back to the community. Her first prior volunteering experiences include the KIWIN's club in southern California at St. Lucy's Priory High School, with activities ranging from catering the Annual Special Olympics to raising funds for UNICEF. She hopes that her internship with SVC will open doors to bigger opportunities to help those in need.

Jenni Black
Intern

Jenni is a second year Legal Studies major at UCSC. She is from the Bay Area where she was involved in several volunteer organizations such as Relay for Life, Tour for Woodside, and Peninsula Covenant Church. Jenni plays volleyball, likes photography, and being outside in the beautiful Santa Cruz nature. She is extremely excited to be a part of SVC and to contribute to the many great opportunities SVC provides to UCSC and the Santa Cruz community.

Mia Lobaco
Intern

Mia is a fourth year Sociology major at the UCSC. Over the past three years Mia has worked as a writing assistant for Stevenson College, where she met weekly with assigned groups of students, led discussions, and advised students on strategies for their papers. The summer of 2009 she was hired as an intern at the Family Network Inc., where she helped prepare and wrote Home Studies, court documents, and post-adoption reports for adoptive families. She has additionally been involved in a number of volunteer opportunities and worked during the school year from 2005 to 2006 at the Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento, as well as the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services in the Summer of 2008. Mia is excited to expand her volunteering experience and help more students get involved this quarter with her intern at the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center.

Justine Newman
Intern

Justine is a third year Sociology student from College 9 UCSC. Much of her volunteering has involved working with the environment or relief efforts, however in high school she was an active leader in her Service Club which primarily worked with the elderly and children from low-income households. She regularly volunteers for Save Our Shores and the Homeless Garden Project. She first became involved with SVC as a participant on the 2009 Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans. This eye-opening experience inspired her to intern for SVC and encourage fellow students to get immersed in the endless volunteer opportunities in the community.  This is Justine's third quarter interning for SVC and as the director intern she looks forward to organizing upcoming events, as well as evaluating local organizations and volunteering for a wider variety of non-profits. Moreover, she hopes to inform UCSC students of the large amount of need in the county and emphasize the importance of giving back to the greater Santa Cruz community.

Erin Carpenter
Intern

Erin Leigh is a third year Sociology major and Education minor at UCSC.  She is a member of Alpha Psi Sorority on campus and loves participating in philanthropy and fundraiser events with her sorority.  Back in Erin's hometown of Davis, she was a dance instructor at multiple dance studios and has always enjoyed working and volunteering with kids.  Erin has also been a hotline volunteer for a few years and enjoys outreach in her community.  Erin is excited to be working with different organizations in the Santa Cruz community as she assists the program manager in planning valuable volunteer opportunities for UCSC students.

Michelle Garza
Intern

Michelle is a third year Business Management Economics major at UCSC. She began her volunteer work at an early age where she  served at the Glide soup kitchen in San Francisco and worked with Rebuildling Together, an organization whose focus is helping low-income families maintain their homes, and she has since made volunteering a habitual part of her everyday life. Michelle became involved with the Student Volunteer Center in Fall 2009 and quickly dedicated her time to improving the organization's connection to UCSC students. For Winter 2010, Michelle's primary goals will be reaching out to UCSC students and ensuring that every student knows about the valuable opportunities SVC offers.

Ian Andersen
Webmaster

Ian is a recent graduate of the Information Systems Management (ISM) program at UCSC. He plans to begin working in the IT industry, most likely in the Silicon Valley area. In his free time, Ian volunteers for Little League baseball, currently umpiring for the Santa Cruz Association. He has been involved with Little League as a volunteer for eight years.

Elise Carroll
Community Intern- Santa Cruz Aids Project

 

Evelyn Castle
Intern

Evelyn is a first year (UCSC class of 2011) biology major. She has been volunteering since her freshmen year in high school. In the past, Evelyn has volunteered at Planned Parenthood, The Boys and Girls Club and she recently participated in SVC's Alternative Spring Break to New Orleans. Evelyn plans to pursue a career in medicine and strives to build a career at the World Health Organization. Evelyn is excited to work with SVC and help local organizations throughout Santa Cruz.

Organizations that Evelyn has volunteered with: Student Advocates for Equitable Recovery (SAFER), Planned Parenthood, Boys and Girls Club

Eta Chan-Tung
Intern

Eta is a junior majoring in Business Management Economics with an emphasis on Accounting. She transferred here to UCSC in Fall of 2008 from Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California. She enjoys working with students, particularly those with special needs and students who are struggling financially. Every other summer, she volunteers at the EOP Program at my former Community College to wrap Christmas gifts and presents for low- income students and their families. And during the holiday seasons, she helps out by giving out presents and serving meals to these students and their families.

“Doing these tasks gives me great satisfaction, knowing that I’m giving a lending hand to the people of my community who need help!”

Kristin Cutler
Community Intern- Santa Cruz Aids Project

Kristin is a first year (UCSC class of 2011) MCD Biology major. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz she hopes to pursue a PhD in Biomedical sciences. Kristin has been actively volunteering in the Santa Cruz Community since high school with organizations such as the Aptos High School Interact Club and Shorelife Community Church. These programs support the community by beautifying local schools, visiting homes for the elderly, and responding to various local crises. Kristin’s most recent involvement in the Santa Cruz Community has been with the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. Along with volunteering locally, she has also participated in building houses for low-income families along the border towns of Mexico. Recently, Kristin returned from a service-learning trip to New Orleans with the SVC. She is excited to be more involved with the Student Volunteer Center through her internship this quarter.

Amanda Goldsmith
Office Manager

Amanda is a second year student here at UCSC. She loves working with children, animals, and art. Most of her volunteer experience before coming to SVC was done through local elementary schools and the Silicon Valley Humane Society. Her favorite volunteering experience since joining the SVC team was The Giving Tree 2008! Ask her about it, and you won’t be able to get her to stop talking. She is looking forward to another amazing year of volunteering, and of course, cannot wait for Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans 2009!

“SVC has become an integral factor in how I live my life here at UCSC. It’s my outlet.”

Grant Hartwell
Intern

Grant Hartwell is relatively new to community service, but since attending the 2007 and 2008 Alternative Spring Breaks to New Orleans, he gained a new appreciation for service learning. The majority of reconstruction in New Orleans has been done by volunteers, and because of this he realized that if we can, we should dedicate a portion of our time to volunteering. While Grant has had this incredible revelation, he is not yet a volunteer junkie. In the other hours of his day, you can find him thinking.

Organizations that Grant has worked with: SAFER, PRAXIS, Catholic Charities, Alternative Spring Break, Practical Activism Conference (Colleges 9 and 10)

Andrea Hatfield
Office Manager
Intern

Andrea Hatfield is a fourth year student at UCSC majoring in linguistics. Andrea has been volunteering since her freshman year of high school. In the past she's been involved in teaching Sunday school, Habitat for Humanity, and tutoring children of differing ages. These experiences, of working with kids through volunteering, have made Andrea want to pursue a career as a teacher. Andrea is excited to take this next step by working with SVC, and she's looking forward to a great year!

Organizations that Andrea has worked with: Shared Adventures, faith based orgs, Habitat for Humanity, tutoring

Julianna Iran
Community Intern- Jesus Mary Joseph Home
CSP Grant Recipient

Julianna Iran is a character, making her internship fun for her, and her organization. Julianna was recently successful in implementing a vegetable/garden/greenhouse project by getting grant money, drawing up plans, and collaborating with Tracy Young. Here’s Julianna’s bio: “I am a 4th year at college eight (UCSC class of 2008). I am studying environmental studies and economics. I am originally from Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, CA. And don’t think I will ever be living there again. I currently lead a Bible study on campus and am super involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I go to the gym almost daily but I can't seem to lose any more weight after hitting my plateau. I used to be on weight watchers but realized I don't have the self control. I love my dog with all my heart. Although it might sound weird I prefer animals to human beings and think puppies are way cuter than babies. I have been volunteering at the Jesus Mary and Joseph home for over 8 months and love love love the people there, especially the kids…even though if they had a puppy I might love the puppy more. j/k.”

Shawn Riley
Director

Shawn is a second year with the intentions of majoring in politics with a minor in education. Last year, he was a member of the Alternative Spring Break NOLA program and the SVC staff as an intern during the Spring Quarter. This is Shawn's first year as the Director of the Student Volunteer Center. As Director, Shawn strives to increase student involvement within our local community and emphasize the importance of service-learning to one's education.

Organizations that Shawn has worked with: SAFER, Alternative Spring Break, L.A. County Federaton of Labor, AFL-CIO, Bonner Americorp Program

David Russell
Intern

Hi my name is David Russell and I’m a second year (UCSC class of 2010) Environmental Studies major from Merrill College. I’ve previously volunteered with a local theater group in my home town of North Fork California and have routinely performed at Ronald McDonald Houses in Fresno. I love spending time in nature, playing my guitar, and just hanging out with my friends. The last two years I’ve participated in alternative spring break New Orleans and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Organizations that David has volunteered with: Catholic Charities, SAFER, Alternative Spring Break, Ronald McDonald Houses (theatre)

Hilary Sisson
Program Manager
Community Intern - Seventh Avenue Center
SVC Intern

Hilary is a fourth year (UCSC class of 2008) psychology intensive major. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Hilary plans on attending graduate school in hopes of earning my Ph.D. She enjoys working with children and adults with developmental disabilities and plans to focus her career around counseling and helping persons with mental disabilities. Two years ago she participated in Girls Go Tech with Provost Campbell Leaper in which she taught junior high school girls science projects. She really enjoyed to program since she was able to get girls motivated and interested in the mathematic and science fields. More recently Hilary participated in the UC Center Sacramento where she had the privilege of studying with professor Dr. Gary Dmyski and interning with the State Department of Developmental Services.

Organizations that Hilary has worked with: Girls Go Tech, Shared Adventures, 7th Avenue Center, State Department of Developmental Services, Alternative Spring Break, SAFER

Nicole Marie Teutschel
Director

Nicole is a marine biology major who wants to become a professor, marine biologist, and advocate promoting increased conversation of marine research in international politics. Nicole is interested in how academia, policy and science can collide creating the potential for advocacy and social change in academic conservation biology. She has been SVC Director since winter quarter of 2004. As a Santa Cruz local, Nicole has worked with many local community organizations and has ties with even more. Nicole believes that through experiential service learning students can get more out of their education at UCSC, and works with SVC staff to bring those service learning opportunities to students. Nicole is currently volunteering with The Marine Mammal Center, Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Association, and with research projects in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.

Organizations Nicole has worked with: Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Association, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, The Marine Mammal Center, Surfrider (LINK), American Cancer Society, Student Advocates for Equitable Recovery (SAFER) (LINK), TOPP.org, Catholic Charities of New Orleans, American Cancer Society, Bonner Leaders Program, The Human Race, New Horizons School, National Marrow Registry Program, Alternative Spring Break

Kimberly Weber
Director

Kimberly Weber is a recent graduate originally from San Diego. She majored in Legal Studies with a minor in Politics. She worked with SVC for over a year and a half. She enjoys working with students one on one and organizing events to get students involved in the community. She has an interest in elderly, aging and health care. She has volunteered with the Senior Citizens Legal Aid Clinic in Santa Cruz and hopes to continue to work in this field and perhaps even go to law school to eventually become an elderly lawyer. She hopes SVC will continue to foster a wide range of activities and events and to involve more students at every opportunity.

Darryl Wong
Intern

Darryl is a sophomore in the Business Management Economics major. In the fall, he plays UCSC Intramural Flag Football with the 69ers, and in the spring he plays intramural A-League Basketball with the NorCal Stars. An extreme sports enthusiast, skateboarder, and cyclist, this is Darryl’s first quarter interning at SVC. He is SVC’s in-house artist, working on posters, flyers, and bulletins to keep you updated with upcoming events. Darryl has volunteered with Key Club San Francisco, CSF tutoring program, and EdVenture More! summer camp. In the future, he hopes to connect his economics major with his graphic design hobby and inspire the masses.

“I love seeing my work on display, and I am juiced to be here with SVC in a unique position to connect UCSC students to volunteer opportunities."

Tracy Young
Intern
Program Manager

Tracy is a fourth year Legal Studies and Politics double major. She has volunteered with a Government Park Agency for six years, primarily helping inner-city families in Los Angeles by taking children camping or helping provide families with a Thanksgiving dinner. Tracy hopes to go to Law School and become a lawyer and/or become a children's author. Last year Tracy participated in the UC DC program and looks forward to implementing her new skills and knowledge to SVC as she returns.Tracy is a fourth year (UCSC class of 2008) Legal Studies and Politics double major. She has volunteered with a Government Park Agency for six years, primarily helping inner-city families in Los Angeles by taking children camping or helping provide families with a Thanksgiving dinner. Tracy hopes to go to Law School and become a lawyer and/or become a children's author. Last year Tracy participated in the UC DC program and looks forward to implementing her new skills and knowledge to SVC as she returns.

Organizations Tracy has worked with: Shared Adventures, Jesus Mary Joseph Home, Kaboom, Habitat for Humanity, Sunshine Villa Assisted Living/Memory Care, Surfrider, New Horizons

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Advising Staff Alumni

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Alina Tejera
Assistant to the Executive Director of Student Academic Support Services
Staff Advisor, UCSC Student Volunteer Center

Alina graduated from UCSC in 1999 with a BA in Psychology. She began her career on campus in 2002 in the Student Affairs Divisional office and has worked with SVC since 2003.

Larry Trujillo
Executive Director, Student Academic Support Services and Lecturer, Community Studies and Latin American and Latino Studies
Faculty Advisor, UCSC Student Volunteer Center

Thirty plus years committed to the conceptualization and implementation of community service learning programs; designed successful linkages among community base organizations, faculty and academic departments; advised a wide-range of student run community services projects, including: mentoring/tutoring "at risk" students, legal aid services, immigrant rights, gang prevention, mental and public health alternatives; served on Cal Corp, Human Corp and Ameri-Corp; currently faculty advisor for Step to College Mentor Program and trustee on the La Honda Pescadero School Board.