Meet The Awesome People In The Office
Sandi Pershing
Assistant vice president
Sandi is a lover of Zumba, old cars, fast cars, and every animal she's ever met. Except
for snakes. She doesn't love snakes. She is passionate about access to higher education
for all and is grateful for the opportunity to work in this space every day. As the
Assistant Vice President for Engagement, she spends her time working with all of our
programs, and loves the opportunity to raise money to build pipelines to and through
higher education. A first generation college student, Sandi earned a BA in Dance,
an MPA, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration. She teaches in the MPA program here
at the U, and will soon also be teaching Zumba on campus! Her daughters tell her that
she is like Dug from "Up" because...squirrel!
Nicole Batt
office of engagement
Extreme Alps Ice Climbing, X-Games Skateboarding Champion, and Fresh Water Shark Training
are just a few of the activities that Nicole will never do. Because YOLO, you only
live once, and nobody ever got hurt sitting on the couch watching Netflix. Instead
of seeking thrills that might break her fragile bird bones, Nicole currently spends
her free time obsessing over government politics, avoiding ginger damaging sunlight,
and working on her Ph.D. in Political Science. As a first generation college student,
Nicole completed both her B.S. in Communication and Masters in Public Administration
at the University of Utah. Nicole enjoys collaborating with her talented University
of Utah colleagues as Managing Director of the Office of Engagement and Director of
the Utah College Advising Corps.
Rachel Everitt
office of engagement
Rachel is an ardent admirer of Chihuahuas and Kombucha. When Rachel isn't hanging
out 25 feet in the air practicing aerials and performing with the Aerial Artists of
Utah, you might see her around campus promoting access to higher education as the
Assistant Director for the Utah College Advising Corps. Not only does she keep the
office in line with her amazing administrative duties, she also enjoys catching Pokemon.
So far she has a Vapereon with a CP of 930 and climbing. One day she will control
the gym located at the U.S. Army Fort Douglas Monument. Rachel is a first generation
college graduate. Her favorite rockstar politician is Wendy Davis and meeting Gloria
Steinman is a high bucket list priority; #feminism. She received a B.S. from Westminster
College and an MPA from the U. The Office of Engagement could not function without
her Pcard pizazz, parsimonious budget tracking, and her ability to multitask whilst
seeing a squirrel!
Marisol Perez-Gonzalez
first star academy
Cats and Netflix is pretty much the perfect paradise for Marisol. She often says she
has four pet cats, but in reality they are her family. Marisol was born and raised
in Mexico, and has lived half her life in Utah. When not at work, Marisol loves spending
time with her three sisters, parents, cats, and friends—actually, most of the time,
Marisol just loves spending time alone, hoping one of her cats will love her. Marisol
completed her B.S. in Ethnic Studies and Sociology from the University of Utah. After
graduation, Marisol was shook to be accepted for the First Star Coordinator position
to work with foster youth.
Jarred Martinez
Glendale/mtn. view clc pathways
Jarred Martinez is home-grown in Salt Lake City and Kearns, with family roots throughout
the southwest and northern Mexico. Soon after returning home from earning a Masters
in Youth Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2012, he began
working with the Office of Engagement. Jarred's role places him in a number of community
settings, particularly the Glendale\Mtn. View Community Learning Center, where he
works with youth, community members, and other organizations to support critical learning
and the creation educational pathways. When not in Glendale, Rose Park or on campus,
he is probably out exploring the world, playing in the mountains, or dancing cumbias!
Martha Macomber
uintah basin pathways
Martha travels to Fort Duchesne every week. In between trips she hikes, skies, bikes
and otherwise enjoys all the outdoor adventures in Utah. You can probably find her
floating down the Colorado River or buying chocolate at Trader Joe's. One time in
June her and her husband spotted a patch of snow in Eastern Utah at 11,000 ft and
hiked 45 minutes across a scree field with their skis and boots for a total of 8 thrilling
turns! She is a fantastic videographer creating stunning images of her work within
the office and the Ute Indian Tribe.
Logan Meyers
defining your path field trips
A self-proclaimed iced coffee snob hailing from Idaho Falls, Logan joined our team
as the new Defining your Path Field trip coordinator. With a B.A. from Utah Valley
University of Utah in secondary art education, he loves to create art. His most recent
paintings portray Labradors of all different colors and sizes. He minored in digital
media thus making him a Photoshop Master of no Mercy! Logan's first job was at the
community swimming pool coaching kids to find their inner Michael Phelps. Think whistles,
planks, and bubble contests. A reluctant hipster who collects vinyl records, cross
stitching needle point art, with a love of film photography and local rock in roll
shows. He strives to change the perception of college for the K-12 community. Through
his field trips, he shows that college is accessible, engaging and immersive. He plans
on doubling the number of student participants from last year. So, when you see a
giant group of K-12 students scuffling the campus you know he is well on his way to
amassing over 4,000 students this next year!
Alonso R. Reyna Rivarola
dream program coordinator
Caffeine-dependent Alonso (coffee sip) searches for inspiration and enlightenment
in cat imagery ranging from magnets to calendars. When Alonso is not in the office
working with students, you can find him, well, working some more in the community,
editing papers at local coffee shops, or playing with his cats, Gabo and Kiwi, and
re-watching Parks and Recreation for probably the fifteenth time. NO KIDDING. Alonso
is passionate about working with undocumented students and families and seeks to share
all his knowledge and experiences with the undocumented community as well as the community
at large. In 2013, Alonso graduated from the University of Utah with an Honors B.S.
in Sociology and in 2016 with a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Policy with an emphasis
in higher education administration. (coffee sip)
Trever J Bruhn
Beacon scholar program
Jack of all trades, master of, well, Social Work; at least as far as education goes.
Gluttonous consumer of information on an eclectic array of topics: currently bingeing
on alternative dwellings, solar energy, and bicycles. Unrelentingly verbose in both
spoken and written forms. Reads nearly exclusively adolescent fiction. Obsessed with
food—particularly cultural and familial traditional cuisines. Pop-culture Luddite.
Urban-phobic, free-range, solar-powered human. Passionate about college access and
the transformative opportunity college can be for first generation students. Community-based
social worker with a flair for individualization, broad application of harm reduction
principles, and mentor/reciprocal relationship empowerment. One goal in life: to help
each person discover and passionately pursue their dreams, on their own terms, towards
their own definition of success. Believes that, "There isn't anyone you couldn't love
once you've heard their story." –Mary Lou Kownacki
Emilio Manuel Camu
beacon scholars program
A descendant of farmers, cooks, doctors, and teachers, Emilio decided to add folk-dancer
to his families' ever growing list of careers. Beacon Scholar Advisor by day, and
Southern Chinese Lion Dancer by night, Emilio also loves preserving, teaching, and
performing traditional Filipino rural dances at different Asian and Pacific Islander
festivals throughout the state! Smell something good? He's probably serving and sharing
a mean lunch with his students as Emilio not only loves to eat, but lives to cook
indigenous foods from his roots and the surrounding Southeast Asian cuisines. When
he's not dancing, cooking, or eating, he's probably inside watching reruns on Netflix,
outside hiking, or out with friends making and capturing memories! Emilio was the
first in his family to graduate, with none other than a degree from the University
of Utah (BA in Communication, minor in Asian Pacific Islander Studies). He wouldn't
have been able to do it without the friends and chose family he made from AASA, BSU,
ITSA, MEChA, and PISA at the U! Community organizer, aspiring activist, son of the
Pacific—get familiar, talk about social justice issues, and call him 'Kuya'!
Emily Seang
Beacon scholars program
Traveling from West Valley City, a land far, far away, Emily journeys to the University
of Utah to fulfill her duties as a Beacon Leader. Emily is a first-generation college
student. She is jumping into her second year here at the U studying Urban Ecology.
When she is not in the office her time is mostly spent singing badly to old Christina
Aguilera karaoke DVD's and cooking up fancy meals, i.e. omelettes, in her kitchen.
If you ever need a concert buddy, she'll be there! You'll also see her around campus
planning activities for the Asian American Student Association (AASA). Being part
of the Khemera Dance Troupe is one of the ways she tries to stay in touch with her
Cambodian culture. You can catch a glimpse of her and the team in their shimmering
outfits shining at various performances throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
Eliopa Mafua
beacon scholars program
Dj Khaled, ANOTHER ONE! Opa is a first-generation college student. She is studying
Psychology with a minor in International Studies. She loves to do something new and
daring because, "I swear that girl has been to every haunted house in Utah" said no
one ever. Instead she would rather be hanging out in her mom's room watching Halloween and
believing that little noise was Michael Myers in her house. She plans to travel the
world once she's done with college and begin working with children. Opa graduates
with her B.S. in Psychology soon #classof2018! She is a current Beacon leader in the
Office of Engagement (2017-2018), after being a mentor the previous year. When not
out to meet her thriller killer, working, or dreaming you can find her at the library,
gym, or gawking at classic car shows. She also loves her family so much that she might
be considered the second "mom" of the family!
Gracia Membreno
BEACON SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Gracia was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras (she has also had the privilege of living in Costa Rica and Guatemala). As a first-generation immigrant and college student, she's passionate about helping people from her community through either direct activism or representation in underrepresented industries, and/or meeting her true lord and savior, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter. A walking human disaster, Gracia avoids anything that can be considered dangerous, like outdoor recreation such as rock-climbing or standing in the sun too long. She loves music, art, her baby nephew Lucas, and literature. You can find her lurking through the bowels of bookstores, drawing/painting, playing video games of all sorts, or writing fiction in her room like some pretentious hipster in an indie Seattle coffee shop. She'll be graduating in spring 2018 with a Bachelor's of Art in English with a minor in Philosophy.
Pedro Padilla-Martinez
BEACON SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Spending most of his free time skateboarding the streets of the west side, going on long walks in Rose Park, or fishing the beautiful lakes and rivers of Utah, Pedro is a first-generation college student majoring in Political Science. He is passionate about social justice and working with his community and other first generation college students. When Pedro is not working with Beacon Scholars, he is working with the Mestizo Arts and Activism Collective (MAA), a group of young students from the west side of Salt Lake who discuss issues that affect their communities and address to solve them in creative ways. Pedro's dream is to get involved in the upcoming legal cannabis industry and advocate for an even playing field and racial equity in this industry as it grows throughout the country.
Brianda de León
GRADUATE ASSISTANT - Dream Center
You can find Brianda almost 99% of the time cracking a joke or laughing at herself. She was blessed with a great sense of humor. *laughs in Spanish* so you will always have a good laugh when you are around her. Being a proud Mexicana who was born in Long Beach, California with parents who are from Zacatecas and Guerrero, México she is very connected to her culture and heritage. A ella le gusta hablar en los dos idiomas, but more Spanglish. #arribaloslatinxs. Brianda is a very passionate individual who likes to keep it real and who is very outgoing. Her favorite food is enchiladas verdes so if you want to be her amiga bring her some enchiladas and you’re set. She is a second-year M.Ed. student in Education, Leadership and Policy with an emphasis in Student Affairs. Brianda will be pursuing a PhD (hopefully) next fall and hopes to become a professor/director one day in México to reunite with family. She carries her family’s stories, dreams and struggles along with hers everywhere she goes.
Mayra Cardozo
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & RETENTION PROGRAMS (DREAM AMBASSADOR)
Born with Argentinian spice coursing through her veins, Mayra Cardozo is exactly what you need to add some kick to an otherwise monotonous Utah. Thanks to the help of her crazy mother, she was able to treasure and love her Argentinean roots. She has re-watched season two of the Office serval times, Pam and Jim are relationship goals. Watching the Office without a cuddle buddy should be a crime in at least four states, which is why Vanilla, Mayra’s 56-year-old daughter, (in dog-years people!) always accompanies her in intense cuddling sessions. When in a roller-skating rink, Mayra has been confused numerous times for pink lightning due to the ferocious speed of her bone-crushing skates. With a small family of four, her mother’s dreams have been passed down to her. Family has always been the center of her life, inspiring her to stand up for undocumented student and immigrant rights. She hopes to pursue a career in nursing and maintain helping families as her main focus in life.
Francisco "Paco" Juarez
RESEARCH STRATEGIST (DREAM AMBASSADOR)
Paco is constantly reminding the masses that J. Cole went platinum with no features and that Martin Luther King would have been on Dreamville. In other words, he admires J. Cole’s work, along with Drake’s, Kendrick Lamar’s, Calle 13’s, and Foster The People’s, among others. When he is not listening to great music, you can find him playing soccer with his friends, or beating them in FIFA. He also enjoys watching the best team in the world, Real Madrid, win the Champions League or La Liga. Paco was born in Veracruz, Mexico, but grew up in West Valley City, Utah. As a DACA recipient, and first-generation college student, he is majoring in information systems (with honors). He plans on using technology as a means to work towards comprehensive immigration reform, and works with the community fighting for immigrant rights. Down the road, Paco aspires to earn a Master’s in Public Policy.