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.
Vivianna AlvarezAssociate Director of Transfer PartnershipsLydia Iyeczohua ZendejasProject Director, HSI GrantsMaria Fernanda AlcantaraProject Consultant, HSI InitiativesValeria Alonso BlancoTransfer Coherence AnalystRoxy DavisEducation Grant and Evaluation SpecialistMaria 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 PartnershipsXiomara 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.eduSamara Foster
Managing Director, Teaching and Learning Center (TLC)
ssfoster@ucsc.eduEbonée Williams
Associate Vice Chancellor Student Success and Equity
epwillia@ucsc.eduCharis Herzon
Director, HSI Initiatives
charish@ucsc.eduLydia Iyeczohua Zendejas
Project Director, HSI Grants
zendejas@ucsc.edu