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: Understanding advocacy around the root causes of migration- Transnational Solidarity in Central America and beyond
FACULTY MENTOR: Amy Argenal, Sociology
![Roselyn Gloria](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Gloria_Roselyn-e1715014340722.jpeg)
Roselyn Gloria
SociologyPROJECT: Venom Lab: Critical Archival & Digital Storytelling Mentorship
FACULTY MENTOR: Lily Balloffet, Latin American and Latino Studies
![Marissa Guzman](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Marissa-Guzman-e1698344738424.jpeg)
Marissa
Guzman
Feminist Studies / Latin American and Latino Studies
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Miguel Narez Vazquez
DesignationLatin American and Latino Studies / Sociology
![Fernanda Ruiz-Riedel](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruiz-Riedel-Fernanda-e1698621271403.jpeg)
Fernanda Ruiz-Riedel
DesignationLatin American and Latino Studies / Politics
![Sofia Triguerous Ufford](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TriguerosUfford_Sofia-2-e1698618724499.jpg)
Sofia Trigueros Ufford
DesignationAgroecology / Latin American and Latino Studies
PROJECT: Language Comprehension and Cognitive Control
FACULTY MENTOR: Megan Boudewyn, Psychology
![Lea Toledo](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Toledo_Lea-e1698619071656-800x800.jpg)
Lea Toledo
Cognitive SciencePROJECT: Examining Policies and Practices for Multilingual Learners in Community Colleges: The Case of Adult ESL
FACULTY MENTOR: George Bunch, Education
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Xittlali Trejo
Education and PsychologyPROJECT: Laboratory Life and Social Death: The Problem of Diversity in Science and Society
FACULTY MENTOR: James Doucet-Battle, Sociology
![Dimitri Cardona](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dimitri-Cardona-e1698619701594-800x800.jpeg)
Dimitri
Cardona
Sociology![Kallam Bhavya](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Kallam_Bhavya-e1698619792520.jpg)
Bhavya
Kallam
Biotechnology &Communications
PROJECT: Building capacity for research on servingness: A student-centered research agenda
FACULTY MENTOR: Rebecca Covarrubias, Psychology
![Xitlaly Reyes](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Reyes_Xitlaly-1-scaled-e1697839023455-800x800.jpeg)
Xitlaly
Reyes
Psychology![Janai Dagdagan](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dagdagan_JanaiJPEG-scaled-e1698619218493-800x800.jpg)
Janai Dagdagan
Psychology![Brien Andrew](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/O_Brien_Andrew-e1698619626813-800x800.jpg)
Andrew O’Brien
PsychologyPROJECT: Socio-Ecological and Socio-Cognitive Underpinnings of Experiences with Math Stereotypes for Latine Elementary School Students
FACULTY MENTOR: Saskias Casanova, Psychology
![Nirjhar_Rodela](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nirjhar_Rodela-e1713295371914.jpeg)
Rodela Nirjhar
PsychologyPROJECT: Conexiones Culturales: An examination of belonging and youth participatory action research project with middle school Latine students
FACULTY MENTOR: Saskias Casanova, Psychology
![Mendez_Blandina](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mendez_Blandina-e1713296573919.jpg)
Blandina Mendez
Psychology and Global Community HealthPROJECT: Tracking Colonial Deportations in South America
FACULTY MENTOR: Jeff Erbig, Latin American and Latino Studies
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anai-Rosales.jpeg)
Anaí Rosales
Latin American and Latino Studies![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ornelas_Lourdes-800x800.jpg)
Lourdes Ornelas
Latin American and Latino Studies and PoliticsPROJECT: Mapping farmland investment in the Mississippi Delta
FACULTY MENTOR: Madeleine Fairbairn, Environmental Studies
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Junuh-Tejeda-Nussman-scaled-e1706663033214.jpeg)
Junuh Tejeda Nussman
![BB_Benjamin Pa](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pa_Benjamin-scaled-e1706663311943-800x800.jpg)
Benjamin Pa
PROJECT: Exploring the local politics of contested legitimacy and transformative climate urbanism: A comparative examination of Santa Cruz, San Jose, and San Francisco
FACULTY MENTOR: David Gordon, Politics
![Solis_Crystal](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Solis_Crystal.jpg)
Crystal Solis
PoliticsPROJECT: Mapping Community Life: Using StoryMaps to Explore Histories of Resilience in the Central Andes
FACULTY MENTOR: Carla Hernández Garavito, Anthropology
![Xilonzochilt Jennifer](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Xilonzochilt_Jennifer-e1698620097101-800x800.jpg)
Jennifer
Xilonzochilt
Anthropology & Sociology![Lily Barajas](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Liliana-Lily-Barajas-e1698620158376.jpg)
Lily
Barajas
Anthropology & LiteraturePROJECT: The impact of exchange rate changes on global banks
FACULTY MENTOR: Grace Weishi Gu, Economics
![Ravneet Kaur](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ravneet-Kaur--scaled-e1706662543448-800x800.jpeg)
Ravneet Kaur
Economics![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Madden_Sinclair-e1706662598457-800x800.jpeg)
Sinclair Madden
Economics![Rachel Cimino](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Cimino_Rachel-800x800.jpg)
Rachel Cimino
Business Management EconomicsPROJECT: Disaster rebuilding costs and climate adaptation and mitigation: are we building back better?
FACULTY MENTOR: Galina Hale, Economics
![Gaheer Simran](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gaheer_Simran-e1698619878350-800x800.png)
Simran
Gaheer
Economics![Uvini Ratnayake](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Uvini_Ratnayake-e1698619966668-800x800.jpg)
Uvini
Ratnayake
Economics and Mathematics Combined Major, Minor in Technology and Information Management![Garcia_Gohan](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Garcia_Gohan-scaled-e1713292781533-800x800.jpeg)
Gohan
Garcia
EconomicsPROJECT: Ant Community Ecology in Tropical Rainforest Restoration
FACULTY MENTOR: Karen Holl, Environmental Studies
![BB_Ariam Asmelash](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ariam-Asmelash-e1706661406970.jpeg)
Ariam Asmelash
Marine Biology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hosmer_Alyssa-2-scaled-e1706833363149-800x800.jpg)
Alyssa Hosmer
MCD BiologyPROJECT: Development of Social Preferences Based on Political Partisanship
FACULTY MENTOR: Hyesung Grace Hwang, Psychology
![Genevieve Greco](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Genevieve-Greco-e1698353832412-800x800.png)
Genevieve
Greco
PsychologyPROJECT: Bilingual ERP Replication Project
FACULTY MENTOR: Liv Hoversten, Psychology
![Mercado_Guadalupe](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Screenshot-2023-05-08-at-2.47.15-PM-e1698620277668-800x800.png)
Lupita Mercado
Cognitive Science![Chris Flores](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Flores_Christopher-800x800.jpg)
Chris
Flores
Cognitive Science![Aeryn Armstrong-Azhar](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Aeryn Armstrong-Azhar
Cognitive Science & Applied LinguisticsPROJECT: The Limits of Reforming Punishment: Youth Voices on the Structural Absence of Care
FACULTY MENTOR: Rekia Jibrin, Education
![Lizeth Pena Sanchez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PenaSanchez_Lizeth-scaled-e1715014631670.jpg)
Lizeth Peña Sanchez
Education, Democracy and Justice; Latin American and Latino Studies/Sociology combined major![Elizabeth Pena Sanchez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pena-Sanchez_Elizabeth-800x675.jpeg)
Elizabeth Peña Sanchez
Latin American and Latino Studies/Sociology combined majorPROJECT: Public Perspectives on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies
FACULTY MENTOR: Sikina Jinnah, Environmental Studies
![BB_Valeria Cuevas](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Cuevas_Valeria-e1706660500821.jpg)
Valeria Cuevas
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Nutritional status and environmental enteric dysfunction in children
FACULTY MENTOR: Audrie Lin, Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology and Global and Community Health
![Evelin Vazquez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Evelin-Vazquez-e1698620423955-800x800.png)
Evelin
Vazquez
Global and Community HealthPROJECT: Building Belonging in Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation
FACULTY MENTOR: Michael Loik, Environmental Studies
![BB_Graciela Chavez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Chavez_Graciela-scaled-e1706659967572.jpg)
Graciela Chavez
Environmental Studies and Biology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Hannah Downing
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Attaining Affirmative Action Goals in Public Procurement
FACULTY MENTOR: Justin Marion, Economics
![Singh Elina](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Singh_Elina-scaled-e1698620494758-800x800.jpg)
Elina Singh
Economics and MathematicsPROJECT: Defining Culturally Competent Perinatal Care for Indigenous Farmworkers
FACULTY MENTOR: Christie McCullen, Sociology
![RojasHeraz Jennifer](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RojasHeraz_JenniferJPEG-scaled-e1698620655717-800x800.jpg)
Jennifer Rojas Heraz
Sociology![Xilonzochilt Jennifer](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Xilonzochilt_Jennifer-e1698620097101-800x800.jpg)
Jennifer Xilonzochilt
Sociology and AnthropologyPROJECT: Rape Counseling and Crisis Services for Latinas at HSIs and emerging HSIs
FACULTY MENTOR: Jaimie Morse, Sociology
![Airam Coronado](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Airam-Coronado-e1698620798774-800x800.jpeg)
Airam
Coronado
Sociology and Political Science![Alvarez Dana](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Alvarez_Dana-e1698620834479-800x800.jpeg)
Dana Alvarez Hernandez
Psychology and AnthropologyPROJECT: Watsonville is in the Heart: Mapping a Recuperative History of Filipino Farmworkers
FACULTY MENTOR: Steve McKay, Sociology
![Fintamag Julie](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fintamag_Julie-scaled-e1698620741649-800x800.jpg)
Julie Fintamag
HistoryPROJECT: Into the Depths: Examining the Deep-History of Fishing
FACULTY MENTOR: Eréndira Quintana Morales, Anthropology
![Caine_L](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Caine_L.jpg)
L Caine
Anthropology![Jaye Saad](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Jaye-Saad.png)
Jaye Saad
AnthropologyPROJECT: Anthropology and the Co-Production of Medical Knowledge
FACULTY MENTOR: Megan Moodie, Anthropology
![Kylie Flanagan](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Flanagan_Kylie-scaled-e1718918338943.jpeg)
Kylie Flanagan
Sociology/Disability Studies![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Prunella Crombie Presberg
Feminist StudiesPROJECT: Immigrants and the Welfare State in South America
FACULTY MENTOR: Sara Niedzwiecki, Politics
![Chris Knight](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Knight_Christopher-e1718918478332.jpg)
Chris Knight
Politics![Alexandra Mendes](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Alexandra_Mendes.png)
Alexandra Mendes
PoliticsPROJECT: The origins of the Oyo Empire war horses (Ede-Ile, Nigeria) – an isotope approach
FACULTY MENTOR: Vicky Oelze, Anthropology
![Elyse Venerable](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Venerable_Elyse-e1687806786784-800x800.jpeg)
Elyse Venerable
AnthropologyPROJECT: Educational Equity in Agroecology Curriculum and Programing at UCSC
FACULTY MENTOR: Damian Parr, Agroecology
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Sheyna Burns
Sociology and Agroecology![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Eliana Nunez
Education, Democracy, & JusticePROJECT: Economic benefits of birdwatching tourism in Colombia
FACULTY MENTOR: Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, Environmental Studies
![Olivia Fragiacomo](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Fragiacomo_Olivia-scaled-e1687806834842-800x800.jpg)
Olivia Fragiacomo
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Trans Migrant Life Histories in Iquitos, Peru
FACULTY MENTOR: Justin Perez, Latin American and Latino Studies
![Daniel Bautista](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Daniel-Bautista-e1698620933157-800x800.jpeg)
Daniel Bautista
Global and Community HealthPROJECT: K-12 Ethnic Studies Pedagogy
FACULTY MENTOR: Josephine Pham, Education
![Carlie Floyd](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Carlie-Floyd-e1697839437880.jpeg)
Carlie Floyd
Education, Democracy, and Justice with a minor in Black Studies![Autumn Montez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Autumn-Montez-scaled-e1698621008229-800x800.jpeg)
Autumn Montez
Intensive Psychology major with a minor in Latin American and Latino StudiesPROJECT: Trade, Imperialism and Environmental Justice in Mexico
FACULTY MENTOR: Ravi Rajan, Environmental Studies
![Mendoza_Maya_](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mendoza_Maya_-e1713297905448.png)
Maya Mendoza
Environmental StudiesPROJECT: Leadership in the Equitable and Ethical Design of STEM
FACULTY MENTOR: Jenny Reardon, Sociology
![Micah Sargento](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sargento_Micah.jpg)
Micah Sargento Kim
Sociology/History of Art and Visual CulturePROJECT: Sociopolitical Involvement and Well-being in College Students
FACULTY MENTOR: Danny Rahal, Psychology
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Narissa Carthy-Dundas
Psychology (intensive), Legal Studies![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Kyle Ko
NeurosciencePROJECT: Right Livelihood: Connecting Activism and Academia
FACULTY MENTOR: Dave Shaw, Anthropology
![Fatima Hernandez](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fatima-Hernandez-scaled-e1713293804498.jpeg)
Fatima
Hernandez Alatorre
Community Studies![Yadav_Netra](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Yadav_Netra-e1713293712795-800x800.jpeg)
Netra
Yadav
PsychologyPROJECT: Identifying Pathways to Distributive Equity in Marine Protected Area Management in a Changing Climate
FACULTY MENTOR: Katherine Seto, Environmental Studies
![Prachiti Sabnis](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sabnis_Prachiti-scaled-e1718919275729.jpeg)
Prachiti Sabnis
![](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/download.png)
Skyln Jara
Marine BiologyPROJECT: Labor of Decentralization: Promises and Extraction in the Web3 Field
FACULTY MENTOR: Zoe Zhao, Sociology
![Alyssa Merced Lugtu](https://transform.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Lugtu_Alyssa_Merced-scaled-e1698350816686.jpg)