Meet Our Team
Hello & Welcome!
The HSI team can help you with questions about programs and services funded by HSI grants at UC Santa Cruz. We’re a group of dedicated individuals who enjoy supporting UC Santa Cruz’s diverse community. Please feel free to contact us via email or to stop by our office if you have questions about our grant initiatives.
HSI Staff & Leadership Committee | Initiatives Team | Co-PIs, Partners & Collaborators
HSI staff oversee the management of current grants, including program efficacy and data evaluation. You can contact them about our many partnerships with campus academic departments and other student services units. We’re happy to answer your question or connect you to the right team member.
Sara Sanchez
GANAS Graduate Program Director
ssanch34@ucsc.eduLydia Iyeczohua ZendejasProject Director, HSI GrantsMaria Fernanda AlcantaraProject Consultant, HSI InitiativesRoxy DavisEducation Grant and Evaluation Specialist, Teaching & Learning CenterMaria Garcia Contract & Grant Financial AnalystElena Valencia
Grant Administrative Specialist
eledvale@ucsc.eduGiselle PerezAdministrative InternDaisy RicoCommunications & Marketing InternEstefania SanchezAdministrative InternThe UCSC HSI Leadership Committee has led the UC system in its transformation towards becoming a racially just Hispanic-Serving Research Institution. Their wealth of HSI policy knowledge and opportunities allows them to provide exceptional leadership and recommendations for decision-making and resource allocation for success and sustainability.
Vivianna AlvarezAssociate Director of Transfer PartnershipsNandini Bhattacharya
Associate Director, CITL & Lecturer, Mathematics
nandini@ucsc.eduSaskias Casanova
Assistant Professor, Psychology
scasanov@ucsc.eduCamila Castañeda CalzadaStudent Representative, SUA Committees on CommitteesDiana Castro
Student Representative, SUA Committees on Committees
diycastr@ucsc.eduCatherine Cooper
Emerita Professor, Psychology
ccooper@ucsc.eduRebecca Covarrubias
Associate Professor, Psychology
rgcovarr@ucsc.eduSamara Foster
Managing Director, Teaching and Learning Center (TLC)
ssfoster@ucsc.eduCharis Herzon
Director, HSI Initiatives
charish@ucsc.eduRodrigo LazoProfessor, Literature and Director of HSRU InitiativesXiomara López
Director, El Centro: Chicanx Latinx Resource Center
xielopez@ucsc.eduJesus Morales
Director, Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)
jmora103@ucsc.eduJuan Poblete
Professor, Literature
jpoblete@ucsc.eduSara Sanchez
Program Director, GANAS Graduate
ssanch34@ucsc.eduJohn Tamkun
Professor, MCD Biology
tamkun@ucsc.eduEbonée Williams
Associate Vice Chancellor Student Success and Equity
epwillia@ucsc.eduLydia Iyeczohua Zendejas
Project Director, HSI Grants
zendejas@ucsc.edu