The Institute for Social Transformation’s Building Belonging program is designed to foster student success, increase engagement, and build a greater sense of belonging for under-represented undergraduate students through faculty mentored service-learning and research projects. Click here to learn more about the Building Belonging program.
Watch the 2023 student presentations and read these testimonials from Building Belonging Fellows.
Project: Venom Lab: Inter-American Archival Research Training
FACULTY MENTOR: Lily Balloffet
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Sofia Trigueros Ufford
Agroecology / Latin American and Latino Studies![Fernanda Ruiz-Riedel](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruiz-Riedel-Fernanda-e1687806748618.jpeg)
Fernanda Ruiz-Riedel
Politics and Latin American Studies with an Intensive Language Focus![Blank profile picture](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Marissa Guzman
Latin American and Latino Studies / Feminist Studiesย![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Miguel Narez Vazquez
Latin American and Latino Studies / SociologyProject: Saclo Village Archaeology
FACULTY MENTOR: J. Cameron Monroe
![Elyse Venerable](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Venerable_Elyse-e1687806786784-800x800.jpeg)
Elyse Venerable
Anthropology![Blank profile picture](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Eva Middleton
AnthropologyProject: Economic benefits of birdwatching tourism in Colombia
FACULTY MENTOR: Natalia Ocampo-Peรฑuela
![Olivia Fragiacomo](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Fragiacomo_Olivia-scaled-e1687806834842-800x800.jpg)
Olivia Fragiacomo
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Impacts of Wildfire on Crop Productivity
FACULTY MENTOR: Elliott Campbell
![Damiana Rojas](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rojas_Damiana-e1687806917490-800x800.jpg)
Damiana Rojas
Environmental StudiesProject: Farmland Investment in the Mississippi Delta
FACULTY MENTOR: Madeleine Fairbairn
![Kiaya Moser](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Moser_Kiaya-scaled-e1687806949907-800x800.jpeg)
Kiaya Moser
Environmental Studies /Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
![Blank profile picture](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Daniel Thurmond
AgroecologyPROJECT: Global Environmental Justice Observatory
FACULTY MENTOR: Ravi Rajan
![Jade Guzman](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IMG_4548-1-Jade-Guzman-800x800.jpg)
Jade Guzman
Environmental Studies![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Mendoza_Maya-e1683582128539-800x800.png)
Maya Lucia Mendoza
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Chimpanzee Video Coding Team
FACULTY MENTOR: Vicky Oelze
![Halena Soto](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Soto_Halena-scaled-e1680648605340-800x800.jpg)
Halena Soto
Anthropology / Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB)PROJECT: Harm Reduction for All / Reducciรณn de Daรฑos para Todxs
FACULTY MENTOR: Carlos Martinez
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RevolorioKeith_Rafael-e1683661765711-800x800.jpg)
Rafael Revolorio Keith
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies / Global & Community HealthPROJECT: School Youth, Restorative Justice, and the Dilemmas of Structural Violence
FACULTY MENTOR: Rekia Jibrin
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pena_Sanchez_Elizabeth-e1683661662495-800x800.jpeg)
Elizabeth Pena Sanchez
Latin American and Latino Studies/Sociology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PenaSanchez_Lizeth-e1683661705669-800x800.jpg)
Lizeth Pena Sanchez
Education, Democracy and Justice/Latin American and Latino Studies/SociologyPROJECT: Black Muslim Worldmaking: Race, Religion, and Gender in the Lives of Black Muslim College Students
FACULTY MENTOR: Saskias Casanova
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bostic_Theresa-800x800.jpg)
Theresa Bostic
History and Sociology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Goree_Jade-scaled-e1683661563501-800x800.jpeg)
Jade Goree
Psychology and Education![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Hamrouni_Zina-e1683661602890.jpg)
Zina Hamrouni
PsychologyPROJECT: Educational Equity in Agroecology Curriculum and Programing at UCSC
FACULTY MENTOR: Damian Parr
![Savannah Benefield](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Benefield_Savannah-e1680647500997-800x800.png)
Savannah Benefield
Agroecology![Mauricio Chavez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Chavez_Mauricio-e1680647640232-800x800.jpeg)
Mauricio Chavez
Agroecology![Paradyse Oakley](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/oakley_paradyse-e1667942471724-800x800.jpeg)
Paradyse Oakley
Critical Race and Ethnic StudiesPROJECT: Educational Enclosures and the Digital Divide
FACULTY MENTOR: Roberto de Roock
![Arianna Fabian](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fabian_Arianna-800x800.jpg)
Arianna Fabian
Education, Democracy, & Justice![Blank profile picture](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Sophia Partida
Psychology & SociologyPROJECT: Intersections of Race, Affect and Environmental Action
FACULTY MENTOR: Flora Lu
![Laura Galanos](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Galanos_Laura-scaled-e1667942696558-800x800.jpeg)
Laura Galanos
Critical Race & Ethnic Studies/Economics![Paradyse Oakley](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/oakley_paradyse-e1667942471724-800x800.jpeg)
Paradyse Oakley
Critical Race & Ethnic Studies/Community Studies/PoliticsPROJECT: Solar Geoengineering Governance: Justice for Who?
FACULTY MENTOR: Sikina Jinnah
![Arien Hernandez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-08-at-1.16.02-PM-e1667943009308.png)
Arien Hernandez
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Language Comprehension and Cognitive Control
FACULTY MENTOR: Megan Boudewyn
![Lea Toledo](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Toledo_Lea-scaled-e1667943359265-800x800.jpeg)
Lea Toledo
Cognitive SciencePROJECT: Gen Z, Social Media, and Visibility: Navigating the Intersections of Gender and Sexuality
FACULTY MENTOR: Adriana Manago
![Gabriella Garcia](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Garcia_Gabriella-e1667943517122-800x800.jpeg)
Gabriella Garcia
PsychologyPROJECT: Education’s Surveillance Quandary: Exploring the Cost vs. Convenience of Post-COVID Technology Application
FACULTY MENTOR: Nolan Higdon
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Luyue Zhang
Education and Sociology![Maria Soto](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Soto_Maria-2-scaled-e1667944256349.jpeg)
Maria Cecilia Soto
Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism/TESOL & Linguistics![Joshua Garcia](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Garcia_Joshua-800x800.jpeg)
Joshua Garcia
Education, Democracy, and Justice![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Alexandra Marie Santos
EducationPROJECT: Developing an SES Framework for Restoration Decision-Making Under Climate Change
FACULTY MENTOR: Carrie Pomeroy
![Carly McCaw](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-08-at-1.54.13-PM-e1667944565892.png)
Carly McCaw
PsychologyPROJECT: The “Hot Cheeto Girl”: Gender Performance and Latina Mobility
FACULTY MENTOR: Julie Bettie
![Leslie Abigail Marquez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Marquez_Leslie-e1667944993905-800x800.jpeg)
Leslie Abigail Marquez
Community Studies![Daniela Obeso](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Obeso_Daniela-e1667945158167.png)
Daniela Obeso
Psychology![Lizeth Guadalupe Calderon Cervantes](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/calderon_lizeth-e1667945236624.png)
Lizeth Guadalupe Calderon Cervantes
Legal Studies![Saul Ordaz](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-08-at-2.08.36-PM-e1667945374898.png)
Saul Ordaz
SociologyPROJECT: Collective Temporal Thought
FACULTY MENTOR: Jeremy Yamashiro
![Gavin Provencio](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Provencio_Gavin-e1674068937465-800x800.png)
Gavin Provencio
Cognitive Science![Lucinda Veloz](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Veloz_Lucinda-scaled-e1667945826444-800x800.jpeg)
Lucinda Veloz
Psychology![Itzia Duque Cordova](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cordova_duque_itzia-e1667945694906-800x800.png)
Itzia Duque Cordova
PsychologyPROJECT: Social Impact of COVID-19 Study: Understanding Pandemic Loss and Grief
FACULTY MENTOR: Alicia Riley
![Eileen Amador](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Eileen-Amador-e1652312756636-800x800.jpeg)
Eileen Amador
Legal Studies and GISESPROJECT: EEG Replication Project
FACULTY MENTOR: Liv Hoversten
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Laskan_Mia-e1680648871133-800x800.jpeg)
Mia Laskan
Cognitive Science![Mercado_Guadalupe](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Screenshot-2023-05-08-at-2.47.15-PM-e1683582490931-800x800.png)
Guadalupe (Lupita) Mercado
Cognitive SciencePROJECT: Day-to-Day Teacher Activism for Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
FACULTY MENTOR: Josephine Pham
![Autumn Montez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Montez_Autumn-e1667947084539-800x800.jpeg)
Autumn Montez
Intensive Psychology![Juli Sofijski](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Sofijski_Juli-749x800.jpeg)
Juli Sofijski
SociologyPROJECT: We Belong: Collaboration for Community-Engaged Research and Immigrant Justice
FACULTY MENTOR: Steve McKay
![Crystal Alvarez Castillo](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AlvarezCastillo_Crystal-e1667947455193-800x800.jpeg)
Crystal Alvarez Castillo
Sociology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/blank-profile-picture-973460_1280-800x800.png)
Alysia Leon
SociologyPROJECT: Building Diversity in Sociology and Science, Technology, and Society Studies
FACULTY MENTOR: James Doucet-Battle
![Andrea Asher](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Asher_Andrea-e1667948760818-800x800.jpeg)
Andrea Asher
Sociology/Biology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cardona_Dimitri-scaled-e1680648916476-800x800.jpeg)
Dimitri Cardona
SociologyPROJECT: Assessing Habitat Use by Mammals and Birds in Restored Tropical Forest
FACULTY MENTOR: Karen Holl
![Selma Ruiz](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Ruiz_Selma-e1667948870604.jpeg)
Selma Ruiz
Environmental Studies![Karla Vaca](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Vaca_Karla-scaled-e1683645385884-1024x1024.jpg)
Karla Vaca
Environmental Studies/BiologyPROJECT: Building Capacity for Mitigating the Climate Crisis
FACULTY MENTOR: Michael Loik
![Daisy Ramirez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Ramirez_Daisy-e1667948952889.png)
Daisy Ramirez
Undeclared![Azarely Bedolla](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Bedolla_Azarely-1.jpeg)
Azarely Bedolla
Environmental Studies/Environmental SciencesPROJECT: Intersectionality, Close Relationships, and Sense of Belonging in First-Generation College Students
FACULTY MENTOR: Margarita Azmitia
![Isabelle Vo](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Vo_Isabelle-800x800.jpeg)
Isabelle Vo
Psychology![Kayla Mendoza](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mendoza_Kayla-scaled-e1674068830963-800x800.jpeg)
Kayla Mendoza
Sociology/Legal StudiesPROJECT: Impacts of Wildfire on Crop Productivity
FACULTY MENTOR: Elliot Campbell
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sheikhvand_Yara-e1683661945440-800x800.jpeg)
Yara Sheikhvand
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Family Planning Incentives and Child Health: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
FACULTY MENTOR: Ariel Zucker
![Kai Kohlwes](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Kohlwes_Kai-800x800.png)
Kai Kohlwes
Economics![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Screenshot-2023-05-09-at-12.41.57-PM-800x800.png)
Sanjana Dukkipati
Business Management Economics![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DasGupta_Bhaswati-800x800.jpeg)