LSPA Executive Board |
Jeanett Castellanos, Ph.D. |
Lecturer, Social Sciences & Email: castellj@uci.edu
Dr. Castellanos is an alumna of UCI, received her master's degree in counseling psychology and a Ph.D. in higher education from Washington State University. She is a lecturer at UCI and the faculty supervisor of the Social Science Academic Resource Center. In addition, she is the creator and advisor of LSPA. She has developed the Five Pillars of Education, which serve as the basis for her teaching and programming of the SSARC. The Five Pillars of Education are also part of LSPA and are used to develop the careers of the undergraduates who are part of LSPA. Dr. Castellanos has also been a mentor to many members of LSPA and of the UCI community. |
Melissa Muñoz President |
Melissa Muñoz is a fifth-year Cognitive Psychology major and sociology minor with aspirations of obtaining a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology. Her research interests include ethnic minority resiliency in higher education. Melissa has been a part of LSPA for four years and sees it as an opportunity for all students to come together, have fun, and create a true warm-hearted academic family. She looks forward to an exciting year with her academic family and helping her peers attain their own academic achievements. |
Jacky Fuentes Vice President |
Jacky Fuentes is a fourth year Sociology major with a minor in Educational Studies who aspires to attend graduate school and pursue a Masters of Social Work. She has a strong commitment to the community that surrounds her and is always willing to take on new challenges. Her commitment to LSPA has grown over the past four years and this year she hopes to attract more members who are looking for an academic familia and who also are looking for ways to get into higher education |
Anacany Torres Graduate School Research Chair |
Anacany Torres is a fifth year double-majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior and Chicano/Latino Studies with a minor in Civic and Community Engagement. Anacany has goals of attending graduate school and obtaining a doctoral degree in education. Her drive to become an influence in her community has lead her to continue to participate in community-based activities as well as community-based research. LSPA has been her academic family for five years and she believes that this |
Eliza Peña Secretary & Social Chair |
Eliza Peña is a fourth year, transfer student from Santa Monica College, majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior with a minor in Educational Studies. She aspires to attend graduate school and obtain a PhD in counseling psychology. Eliza is interested in treating young children and eventually with experience in the field of psychology have a private practice. She also wants to bring awareness to underprivileged young students in her community that education is important and accessible; and that minorities can too become successful and attain higher education. And with the support of LSPA, she has been able to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience that will facilitate her in her educational journey past UCI. Eliza is thrilled to be a part of LSPA and excited to give back to members everything she has gained from her academic familia. |
Irene R. Cortez Ttreasurer & Fundraising Chair |
Irene R. Cortez is a third year double-majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior and Criminology, Law, and Society with a minor in Education. Irene has goals of attending graduate school to become a Marriage and Family Therapist and help out her Latino community. To her, LSPA has created opportunities to persuade her dream of attending graduate school. LSPA is an organization that provides resources about graduate school, but at the same time gaining support from an academic family to fulfill ones dream of obtaining higher education. She looks forward to creating more memories and having fun with her LSPA sisters and brothers this year. |
Betty Renteria Public Relations Chair |
Elizabeth Renteria is a fourth year Psychology and Social Behavior major with a minor in Biological Sciences. She aspires to attend medical school and obtain her MD, start her own nonprofit organization and provide free health services to low-income families in her community. Elizabeth is a transfer student and feels very fortunate to have joined LSPA a year ago. She had the opportunity to meet a lot of amazing people and received the support she needed from her academic family, who helped her get through her first year at UCI. She wants to support and guide LSPA members and teach them the importance of higher education. She has found in LSPA a family away from home and is very excited to welcome new members and see her academic family continue to grow. |
Raul Alvarez Community Service Chair |
Raul Alvarez is a 4th year transfer student from Evergreen Valley College, is double majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior and Criminology Law & Society. His interests are juvenile delinquency and the overrepresentation of Latinos in the juvenile justice system. He is excited about spreading the word of what LSPA is about and giving information to his peers about higher education. |
Adriana Naranjo Community Outreach Chair |
Adriana Naranjo is a transfer student in her fourth year as a double major in Psychology and Social Behavior as well as Chicano/Latino Studies. She aspires to attend graduate school to earn her masters in counseling psychology. Furthermore, her long term goal is to obtain her doctoral degree in higher education and teach at a community college. To her, LSPA has inculcated the importance of attaining higher education and facilitated a better understanding of how to achieve it. Prior to becoming an active member within LSPA she did not aspire to pursue a higher education past her bachelor's degree; however, because of the educational impact LSPA has been for her she will continue her academic journey into higher education. Her goal is to provide students academic support to facilitate their transition into UCI and throughout their journey within and beyond UCI. |
Brian Hermosillo Executive Intern - Winter 2012 |
Brian Hermosillo is a third year Psychology and Social Behavior Major whose objective is to attend graduate school and acquire a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology; with this degree he hopes to become a family therapist. He is new to LSPA but sees it as an opportunity to not only meet new people but also as a way to assist him in getting into graduate school and being a more positive influence to the Latino community. |
