bridges Staff

Hi everyone! My name is Kristal (she/her/ella), and I’m a 4th year from the Central Coast of CA majoring in Political Science and Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Education. For the 24-25 school year, I will be serving as the External Executive Director for bridges.

My journey with the coalition began in Spring 2021, when I attended the virtual Senior Weekend program with Raíces. As a first gen, low income, Latinx student, I felt that this experience allowed me to better understand the commitment that I was undertaking in choosing to pursue higher education and made me feel welcomed on Cal’s campus. After committing to Cal, I chose to remain in the coalition for two years with Raíces (as a Retention intern and Retention Coordinator), before transitioning to bridges MRC (as Retention Director) in my third year. I am excited to continue to serve in the coalition as I close out my time at Cal and support incoming and current BIPOC students in accessing necessary resources and fostering a sense of community. 

In my freetime, I like to watch reality tv shows, try new food spots, read, get girly drinks (up to interpretation), be outside (im a wanderer 🚶🏽‍♀️), and instigate ( keeps me busy🤭).

Hi everyone! My name is Kim (she/her) and I am a fourth year studying Society and Environment 🌱 I’m an aquarius sun, aqua rising, and aries moon🌚♒. This year I am so excited and grateful to be serving as the bridges Internal Executive Director 

I was introduced to bridges through the 2021 virtual Senior Weekend (shoutout Daisy, Pedro, Mikey, and Joneil). I am grateful to have found community with PASS as I transitioned into higher education. I was an intern with PASS then bridges, served as the Operations Coordinator for PASS 38, Finance Director for bridges and now IED! 

In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, doing my makeup, hot girl walks, and finding fun and free events/museums in the area! ✨

Hi bridges community I’m Kat (she/they)! I am a fifth year studying Political Science with minors in Ethnic Studies and Hispanic Languages, Linguistics, and Bilingualism. I’m an LA native shoutout South Central and am a proud Salvadoran American. I’m grateful to be the bridges Senior Advisor this year. I am excited to support all the coalition’s amazing programs and support the search and hiring process for a new program director to advise us as student leaders 😼.

Hey y’all! My name is Ivonne and I am a 4th year from Inglewood, CA majoring in Ethnic Studies and double minoring in Human Rights and Food Systems. 💃🏽💃🏽

I discovered bridges as an attendee of Study Jams and joined as a fellow shortly after. I was a fellow under Finance then Retention and now– I am sooo excited to be serving as the bridges Wellness Director. 🧘‍♀️Aside from helping plan programs like Study Jams and Boost Week, I am looking forward to establishing a bridges community bank where folks can get access to free wellness supplies such as menstrual, academic, and skincare products. ✨

Outside of bridges and academics, you can find me hiking, traveling, or reading romance books!

 wellnessatbridges@gmail.com

Hi community! My name is Jadalyn (she/her) and this year, I am so excited to serve as the bridges K-12 Recruitment Director! 🌟 I am a 3rd year student from Lemon Grove, CA, studying Political Science with a minor in Ethnic Studies. I am also Mexican and Pacific Islander (Chamoru from the island of Guam). 

I have been part of bridges since my first year at Cal and have continued to be part of it since. I was given the amazing opportunity to be Senior Weekend attendee for Mixed@Berkeley during my senior year of high school and immediately knew I wanted to give back, inspire, uplift, and empower, and make an impact on other students of color in the same way I was. During my first year, I was the K-12 Recruitment Director for Mixed@Berkeley and last year I was the External Executive Director! I have found community, support, and so many resources through my involvement in bridges. This year, I am super excited to help support our Recruitment/Outreach directors from each RRC in implementing programs and events that empower, uplift and support other students as they navigate their pursuit of higher education, especially Senior Weekend! 💫

In my free time, I love listening to music, reading, being in nature, catching a sunset, and exploring new areas! 🌱😇

Hi everyone! My name is Estefani (she/her/ella) and I am a 4th year studying Political Science and Spanish with a minor in Education. I am from Los Angeles, CA and more specifically, from K-Town! 💐🌟

I was first introduced to bridges through Senior Weekend in 2021. I then joined Raíces my sophomore year (a year later but better than never 💘 ) and interned under the K-12 committee before serving as Operations Director. I am so grateful for the community I found within Raíces and now I am so excited to continue building community within bridges as this year's Finance Director! 

In my freetime, I LOVE going to concerts, exploring the Bay Area, exploring new food places, cooking and reading romance/mythology books! 🎀

financesbridges@gmail.com 

From the Mid-City neighborhood of Tovangaar in the Los Angeles Basin, Jose Fernandez (they/he) is excited about returning to UC Berkeley as the new Director of the bridges Multicultural Resource Center.

This community played a significant role in influencing Jose's decision to pursue higher education professionally and academically. His approach as a student affairs scholar-practitioner is shaped by his experiences as a first-generation, low-income student of color at UC Berkeley and UCLA (B.A. Ethnic Studies; M.Ed.

Student Affairs).

While at Cal as an undergraduate, Jose held leadership roles at the Raíces Recruitment & Retention Center and later served as the Operations Director for bridges. During this period, Jose led the development and successful passage of the Student Transformation through Academic Recruitment and Retention (STARR) referendum, supporting the long-term sustainability of the bridges coalition. Since graduating from Cal, they have worked in higher education and college access, leading postsecondary outreach and retention initiatives with organizations such as UC Berkeley Destination College Advising Corps, UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives, and Alliance College-Ready Public Schools. In their graduate studies at UCLA’s Master in Student Affairs program, Jose focused on understanding the possibilities of partnerships between student-initiated recruitment and retention programs and student affairs practitioners. Jose looks forward to supporting bridges students, campus staff, and faculty in creating a more equitable and just experience for all members of the UC Berkeley community.