Yuri is a proud Latina born in Toluca, Mexico, she is an immigrant, first-generation student, and daughter of immigrants. Yuri earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work from University of Portland and earned her master’s degree from University of Michigan. Yuri has extensive experience in university-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion (D, E, & I) work. Her passion, work, and academic research is in increasing access and support for QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) populations, minoritized students, first generation, and undocumented students. Prior to her extensive career in academia Yuri worked in non-profit working as a community organizer and legal program coordinator. She is subject expert on DACA, undocumented, and immigrant populations. In her spare time, she serves on the Alumni Board of Governors for University of Michigan School of Social Work and is the Vice President for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Alumni Chapter at the University of Portland. Her hobbies include traveling, watching movies, and making beaded jewelry.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Mar (pronounced “Mair”) earned their bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Concordia University and their master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Mar is passionate about incorporating trauma-informed practices, strengths-based approaches, and peer support into their work in higher education and beyond. Mar started their career working in Residence Life and has coordinated and advised LGBTQIA+ groups for students and employees, worked on Diversity and Inclusion Committees, and completed internships working with Diversity and Inclusion Programs and First Generation College Student Programs. Outside of higher education, Mar has worked with folks experiencing houselessness as a case manager and live-in staff, specializing in providing peer support and advocacy for those navigating healthcare systems, supporting people who experience gender-based violence, and establishing new accessible structures for people with disabilities throughout various shelter locations. In their spare time, Mar enjoys painting, camping, ringing in a local handbell choir, and social swing & blues dancing.

Hello! My name is Tiff (pronouns she/they) and I am a second-year Master of Public Health (Health and Social Behavior) and Master of Social Welfare (Strengthening Organizations and Communities) candidate and DSP student. Born and raised in New Jersey, I am a Bay Area transplant excited to be at Cal. I am a first-generation, queer, Latine and love to spend time in nature, cooking, and building community. From the start of the pandemic until I moved to the Bay last fall, I served as a community organizer to address homelessness, immigration rights, labor rights, food insecurity, and health inequities in my comunidad. I am deeply passionate about mutual aid, abolition, harm reduction, and restorative justice and I am SO excited to support the DREAM office as a GRADS Coordinator.

Noel is an MPH student in the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health program. They grew up in the border cities of El Centro, CA and Mexicali, Mexico. Noel graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018 with degrees in Sociology and Social Welfare. Since graduation, Noel has worked as a research recruiter for the San Francisco Department of Public Health and a medical assistant and clinic manager for Lyon Martin Community Health. Most recently, Noel worked with Hesperian Health Guides as a reproductive health intern. Noel is passionate about improving queer and transgender health outcomes and adolescent mental health. In their free time, Noel likes to hike (especially with Valentino, their dog), cook, paint, play video games, and watch local drag shows.

Aliza is a second-year MPH student in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health. Her research interests are in finding novel ways to create equitable access to comprehensive abortion care throughout pregnancy. She is originally from San Diego and earned her undergraduate degree in Human Biology at Scripps College. In addition to being a writing tutor, Aliza manages research and evaluation projects for a team that creates video curricula on sexual and reproductive health topics for medical learners.

Laura is a master’s student at UC Berkeley pursuing an MPH in the Public Health Nutrition concentration, in the Nutrition Epidemiology track, and with a specialty area in Global Health. Originally from a small town in Italy, she came to the US for higher education and graduated in 2021 from UCLA with a B.S. in Physiological Sciences, where she conducted research in clinical nutrition. Her career goals are to apply her knowledge of nutrition epidemiology and physiology to influence public policies and promote initiatives to help achieve more accessible nutrition and more equitable health outcomes.

Enrique Ramirez is a recent graduate of the UC Berkeley Public Health program. He is originally from Bakersfield, CA and received his B.A. Psychology from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona in 2013. He previously worked with the CDPH Black Infant Health program for Kern County; his primary objectives were to enhance community support, empower Black women, and coordinate care for pregnant women. He later turned to communicable disease work, specifically working as an HIV counselor as well as connecting syphilitic patients into care. He is interested in translating and applying public health academic studies, teaching, and community relationship building into social justice efforts. His career interests include health equity concerning QTBIPOC communities within and outside of higher education. His personal interests are gaming, hiking, podcasting, and karaoke.