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Meet the Team!

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Estrella Arteaga Organiz
Graduate Pathways Coordinator
 Estrella Del Mar Arteaga Organiz is a first-generation Afro-Latina scientist committed to advocating for access to affordable education, women in STEM, and minorities receiving recognition for their research contributions. Estrella received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from CSU Channel Islands, and she is currently a Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics master’s student at UC Santa Cruz. She has accumulated years of experience working in the biotechnology field, where she has practiced genetically engineering plants to increase crop yields in the changing environment and developed biosensors that detect toxins in flowing water. Her upbringing in a low-income community has inspired her to serve and spread knowledge on how to maximize resources in academia and industry. Estrella will dedicate the academic year to ensuring the success of students through the Cultivamos Excelecia Research Scholars program.

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Daniel Arias
Research Scholars Mentor
 Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Daniel Arias is the son of Mexican immigrants. He is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the department of literature. His research focuses on contemporary Latinx poetry and the publishing dynamics that influence the production of this literature. He is constantly searching for great hiking and food spots in the Bay Area.

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Ulises Jaime-Yepez
Research Scholars Mentor
Hello all I am Ulises Jaime-Yepez a first gen Mexican-American PhD student in the Applied Mathematics department. I love futbol, gym, cooking, riding my motorcycle, and of course math. Feel free to stop by and chat!

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Brian Rivera
Research Scholars Mentor
 Originally from a small town in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico, I am now a third-year PhD student in the Literature department where I study contemporary Mexican literature. I am a product of the community college system and am also a first generation college student, so I strive to help create, and be a part of, a collaborative community of support in academia.
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Carina Villegas
Research Scholars Mentor
 Carina Villegas, a proud daughter of Mexican and Salvadoran immigrants, was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. She began her academic journey in the community college system, earning an Associate’s degree in Biology. She then transferred to San José State University, where she completed a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, followed by a Master’s degree in Biology from California State University, Fresno. Now in her third year as a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Program at UCSC, she is part of the CB3 (Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics) Program. Her research explores the biochemical mechanisms regulating the cell cycle, with a focus on identifying and rescuing destabilizing structural mutations in the tumor-suppressor protein p16, contributing to advancements in cancer research. In my work, I strive to combine scientific innovation with inclusivity, focusing on solving critical challenges while fostering opportunities for underrepresented communities in STEM.