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Victoria Ordaz GarciaProgram Managervordazgarcia@ucmerced.eduBorn in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, Victoria Ordaz Garcia (She/her/Ella) is the proud daughter of Zapoteco farmworkers, she migrated to the Central Valley at the age of 6. Victoria graduated as a first-generation, undocumented student from California State University Monterey Bay with a B.S. in Molecular Biology. Victoria takes pride in being Oaxaqueña and serves her community by being part of Oaxaqueño Youth Empowerment, which campaigns to obtain support and success for Oaxaqueño youth in higher education. She is also a member of United We Dream (UWD). She can proudly say that her participation in these diverse organizations has ignited her passion for social justice. In her role, she works with undergraduate and graduate undocumented students to increase awareness, access, and equity to address the needs of students impacted by immigration and higher education policies. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou Schedule an appointment:
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Paloma Andrea PuertaImmigration Attorney, UC Immigration Centerpaloma.ucimm@law.ucdavis.eduPaloma is the immigration attorney serving the UC Merced community. Paloma was raised in Arvin, California, a small agricultural town near Bakersfield. Paloma and her older sister were raised by their single mom and they saw her struggle to financially provide for them. Paloma’s background and experiences motivated her from a young age to pursue higher education so she could one day retire her mom and help others in her community prosper and excel. This dream took Paloma to UC San Diego where she majored in Human Development, and later to the Nebraska College of Law where she obtained her J.D. In her free time, Paloma loves going to live music and theater events, all things Taylor Swift, cooking, traveling, and trying the latest Starbucks drink. Schedule an appointment:
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Sandra HernandezLead Student Coordinatorshernandezmartinez@ucmerced.eduSandra Hernandez is a fourth-year History major with a Natural Science Education minor. She was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and was raised in Los Angeles. She hopes to become a high school history teacher and encourage low-income and undocumented to pursue higher education. Her goal is to provide a support system for her students. Sandra holds the position of President for the cultural sorority, Kappa Delta Chi where she helps raise funds for the American Cancer Society. She also holds the position of Vice President in the Historical Society, a club on campus for students interested in history. She is also conducted research for one summer through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC). Sandra is excited to help students feel comfortable in the Monarch Center and to be a helpful hand. Schedule an appointment:
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Mariel GarciaStudent Coordinatormgarcia492@ucmerced.eduMariel García is a fourth-year Management Business Economics major with a Political Science minor. She was born in East Los Angeles, California, in a mixed-status household and is an only child. She grew up in a predominantly Hispanic and Latinx neighborhood and first-handedly saw the struggles and worries her family members and neighbors would go through by being undocumented. At an early age their worries became her own. She withholds a strong passion to help others around her in any way possible and in the near future give back to her community. She holds the position of Chancellor in Delta Sigma Pi, a professional co-ed fraternity. She also holds the position of President in the Professional Fraternity Council. As a student Coordinator, Mariel is excited to serve and build a relationship with the undocumented community on campus Schedule an appointment:
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Holmi CalderonStudent Coordinatorhcalderon7@ucmerced.eduHolmi Calderon is a fourth-year student double majoring in Public Health and Spanish. Born in Guatemala and raised in the Bay Area, she has a deep passion for addressing health disparities and advocating for underserved communities. As a first-generation, undocumented Latina, Holmi is committed to empowering low-income and undocumented students to pursue higher education and break barriers. Holmi's academic and career goals reflect her dedication to improving global health. She aspires to obtain a PhD in Global Health with an emphasis on Environmental Health. In summer 2024, Holmi participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC), gaining valuable research experience that she continues to build upon during her undergraduate studies. Her ultimate goal is to be a source of inspiration to her family, friends, and the broader community, showing that with determination and support, it is possible to overcome adversity and achieve success. Schedule an appointment:
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Ingrid GarayStudent Coordinatorigaray2@ucmerced.eduIngrid Garay is a third-year student majoring in Management, Business, and Economics with a minor in Political Science. Born in San Salvador, El Salvador, and raised in Los Angeles, she aspires to become a judge within the criminal justice system. Passionate about advocating for low-income and undocumented students, Ingrid encourages them to pursue higher education. She is eager to support students at the Monarch Center, ensuring they feel welcomed and assisting with any questions they may have. Schedule an appointment:
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Ariel GuzmanStudent Coordinatoraguzman112@ucmerced.eduAriel Valenzuela Guzman is a first-year Civil Engineering major. He was born in Anaheim California, and he grew up in Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico. He completed all his basic education in Mexico and went to high school in Los Angeles. His most important goal is to graduate as an Engineer from UC Merced and get experience in his respective major to develop his skills and start a construction company. As part of an immigrant family, he went through a process of adaptation when he came back to the U.S. where his most difficult challenge was learning English. he enjoys playing sports like soccer, tennis, and basketball and also likes to play video games in his free time. he is the place of being part of the Monarch Center team where he can assist students with any questions they may have. Schedule an appointment:
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Adriana MartinezLegal internamartinezdiaz2@ucmerced.eduAdriana Martinez Diaz is a third-year Human Biology and Spanish major. She was born in Baja California, Mexico, but was raised in Fresno, California. She aspires to become a dentist and attend dental school soon. She hopes to give back to her community by providing dental care to low-income, Hispanic, and undocumented communities. She holds the Outreach position in the Public Health Society, a club on campus that is dedicated to Prevent, Promote, and Protect while exploring all aspects of Public Health. As the Legal Student Intern, she is eager to be a familiar face at the Monarch Center and to work with students and family members seeking immigration services from the Immigration Attorney. |
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