Chris Silva
Director

Chris is a third year Stevenson college student majoring in Human Biology. In his hometown of El Cerrito, he worked with the city's Recreation Department and Democratic Club, along with his high school’s Rotary Club participating in events such as toy drives, can food drives, Halloween carnivals, and Christmas breakfasts. In the summer, he has worked as a day camp counselor, an after school program counselor, an art instructor for young kid, McGruff the crime dog for National Night Out, and a crew member that starting constructing a brand new park in the most poverty stricken part of Richmond, the Iron Triangle. At UCSC, he has worked with a non-profit organization in downtown Santa Cruz that provides free medical and legal services to families of low income around the area, as well as Global Medical Brigades that provides free medical and dental services abroad to underprivileged Latin American countries. As a member of Sigma Pi fraternity, he has volunteered with Surf City Aids Walk/Bike Ride, Relay for Life, the Jacob’s Heart Foundation, and the Marine Long Lab. In his spare time, he enjoys playing baseball, playing guitar, snowboarding, and riding motorcycles. His goal as SVC director is to raise awareness across campus of all the amazing volunteer opportunities that are available to students so that they may become involved and share the gratifying experience of helping others out.

Will Brotherson
Programs Director

Will is a College Eight junior from Los Angeles majoring in Sociology. In his hometown, Will volunteered at Quest Martial Arts teaching self-defense to young kids. He co-founded his high school's Environmental Awareness Club and helped establish the first campus wide recycling program at his school. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, making music and relaxing at the beach. After graduation, he plans to attend law school and work at a non-profit offering legal services to prisoners. He plans on continuing his love of community service and his passion for teaching youth by volunteering as a coach at local youth centers. Will is excited to continue his work at SVC and hopes to share the joys of volunteering with the UCSC student body.

Brenda Beltran
Operations Director

Brenda is a third year Cowell College student double majoring in History and Environmental Studies. Prior to her current position, Brenda was an intern with SVC. She was drawn to the Student Volunteer Center during her freshman year when she first learned about their 2010 ASB with Habitat for Humanity. In her hometown of Los Angeles, Brenda was a Peer College Counselor and was also involved with Relay for Life, Aids Walk, Every 15 Minutes, Communities for a Better Environment, and several toy and food drives during the holidays. Brenda is enthusiastic to continue her work with SVC and is looking forward to working with other students and organizations to benefit the Santa Cruz community.

Emily Baize
Intern

Emily is a sophomore at Cowell College majoring in psychology. Coming from a small rural Northern California community she learned early in order to have good experiences in school and in the community she would have to become involved to make it happen. Tons of fundraisers brought soccer, a dance studio, and town beautification for all to enjoy. In high school she was a peer counselor helping to organize health awareness days among other workshops. She was also a mentor to middle school students, and would meet with a student weekly. As well, she participated in many fundraisers and groups that bettered her community and school. Being raised with nature right outside her door, she has always been mindful of caring for the environment. When she discovered the Student Volunteer Center this year she was thrilled to become an intern of an organization that focuses on the many volunteer opportunities available on campus and in Santa Cruz.

Lisa Le
Intern

Lisa is a second year College Ten student majoring in Environmental Studies. Growing up in the Los Angeles County area, she was exposed to a great deal of homelessness, hunger, and poverty resulting in her passion for helping people. During high school she volunteered for events such as AIDS Walk, LA marathon, Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner in the Park, Pancake breakfast, the rose float parade decorating, beach clean-up, and LA Regional Food Bank collections. Besides volunteering in her spare time, she enjoys trying new activities like bouldering and snowboarding. She also loves going to the beach, trying new exotic food, interacting with animals (especially with dogs) and watching shows like Law & Order: SVU, ABC's What Would You Do?, and Secret Millionaire. She is very excited to be interning for SVC this quarter and is looking forward to working with students that want to get involved in the awesome volunteer opportunities available throughout UCSC and the Santa Cruz Community.

Lindsay Mintz
Intern

Lindsay is a second year at Stevenson college, working on her major in psychology. In the past, she has participated in a range of community service opportunities in her hometown of Huntington Beach. In high school, she would participate in volunteer projects such as beach clean ups or assisting the elderly. She also enjoys volunteering at her local soup kitchen back home and going to the elementary school where her father works to help out with the kids. Lindsay also enjoys hiking, reading, knitting, scuba diving, and has a passion for traveling. Upon graduating, Lindsay hopes to join the Peace Corps as well as work on traveling the world. She is looking forward to working as an intern at SVC in order to get more involved with the Santa Cruz community and work on creating volunteer opportunities for students.