Meet the coaches
2024-2025 SCAA Peer Academic Coaches
Marilou Anacleto
What's your major? Biological Science
Where do you call home? Anywhere my family and friends are!
What are you most excited for this academic year? Completing all my classes and graduating!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Branch out and make connections with people around you! Everything is easier and more fun when you have people to fall back on when things get hard :)
What is one resource that you have used & loved? Student Health and Counseling Center!
Humberto Baltazar
What's your major? Economics
Where do you call home? Hayward
What are you most excited for this academic year? I am excited for university community events, primarily for the Jamboree this spring. Also I am excited to finish my GE’s and start working on my Minor and Major Electives.
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Find what learning style (group, individual, self paced, guided) works for you and use your resources to enhance its effectiveness (CORE study rooms, SCAA, STEM LAB, etc.).
What is one resource that you have used & loved? The CORE and its Study Rooms/Study Cubicles. It helps me with my productivity for any tasks I have to work on by removing distractions.
Will Jerusalem Berdos
What's your major? Nursing
Where do you call home? Union City, CA
What are you most excited for this academic year? Properly starting my nursing journey and establishing meaningful relationship amongst my new colleagues; additionally excited to work with students from my Foundations of Success class as well as students who come into the SCAA for assistance with us coaches!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Take advantage of the resources offered everywhere across campus. Services like the RAW, Health Center, and tutoring within the SCAA are all pre-paid!
What is one resource that you have used & loved? The RAW! Being in there and glancing at others working on themselves motivates me to do the same and promotes self-development.
Angeles Buenrostro
What's your major? Biological Sciences
Where do you call home? Mexico, wherever I have my family, and also wherever my heart feels at peace!
What are you most excited for this academic year? I am most excited about meeting new people, creating connections and helping my peers enjoy the amazing things ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ has to offer!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Make time for yourself, being well and feelings good makes everything better :)
What is one resource that you have used & loved? One resource that I have used and loved is the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAW). There are so many things to do that can help you relax and connect with yourself.
Judge Cantrell
What's your major? Theater Arts (concentration in Acting Performance/Musical Theater)
Where do you call home? East Palo Alto, CA
What are you most excited for this academic year? Through PAC I get the opportunity to work in a uniquely new class session with a specific focus on Social Justice concepts. Similarly, this semester I have the opportunity to direct my first full length play, "Sentenced 4 Life" which also deals in part with Social Justice as the show centers around the prison system.
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Trust the process but make sure you do your due process. Basically, trust that you have all the tools, skills and creativity to get through the challenges you may face while in College, but know that in order to get to where you want to be, the work starts now and it starts by diagnosing what you need to be as successful as you can (tutor, study space, reliable network, etc).
What is one resource that you have used & loved? I always have a good time when I use the RAW; whether it's pick up basketball or a strong workout, the energy is always right in the RAW.
Niki Daniel
What's your major? Psychology
Where do you call home? Seattle, WA
What are you most excited for this academic year? I'm most excited to create more connections and develop new friendships!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Surround yourself with like-minded people early. You're going to need community and support during your academic journey!
What is one resource that you have used & loved? The Recreation and Wellness Center (RAW). It's a great resource and so accessible to students.
Alexandra Gutierrez
What's your major? Computer Science
Where do you call home? Hayward
What are you most excited for this academic year? I’m looking forward to building my leadership skills while keeping up with my schoolwork.
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Get good at managing your time! Make sure to write down important deadlines and class times in a planner or on a calendar. You might think you won’t need it, but trust me, school gets super busy, and you won’t remember everything.
What is one resource that you have used & loved? The CORE building; it’s a great spot to chill and get some studying done. Plus, if I ever need a charger, I can easily go to the first floor and borrow one.
Zuhair Hussain
What's your major? Pre-Nursing
Where do you call home? Hayward, CA
What are you most excited for this academic year? I'm most excited to meet new students and make new friends!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Take things one at a time and take a break if you feel stressed out.
What is one resource that you have used & loved? The STEM LAB
Kathleen Jaime (Coaching Lead)
What's your major? Biological Sciences
Where do you call home? Laguna Niguel, CA
What are you most excited for this academic year? I'm really excited for this academic year because it's a chance to connect with so many new and returning students by guiding them through their academic journeys to set goals and accomplish them!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Get the most out of your college experience and tuition by using all of the campus resources ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ offers since you already pay for it! We have many resources available for you, just ask what you are looking for and we will help you with the best of our ability!
What is one resource that you have used & loved? One of my favorite resources that I have used and loved is the Chemistry computer lab! When it is not in use by a class, I go in and work on assignments since it never tends to be full. The best part is that you can print for free with the printers in the room.
Angel Lara Jimenez (Coaching Lead)
What's your major? Kinesiology
Where do you call home? Being with friends
What are you most excited for this academic year? I am excited to learn more about the great opportunities I can start getting into regarding the field of kinesiology
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Be patient! Don't be upset if you can't graduate in 4 years, college is a marathon not a sprint!
What is one resource that you have used & loved? I love the RAW so much. I use it about 3-4 times a week and its a really nice place to workout
Angelica Recinos
What's your major? Psychology & Sociology Double Major
Where do you call home? The Central Valley
What are you most excited for this academic year? This year I am most excited about the new connections I might make with my peers as well as graduating with two bachelor's degrees!!
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Be yourself and be open to anything! As you come into this new experience look for those connections and take yourself out of your comfort zone because that's when true friendships are made.
What is one resource that you have used & loved? I love using the CORE study rooms whether it's for group study or just having a quiet space to unwind from the chaos of it all.
J'nyah Smith
What's your major? Political Science
Where do you call home? I am proud to call the Bay my home
What are you most excited for this academic year? In this academic year I’m most excited about the people that I will meet and the academic challenge that I will be faced with.
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Don’t be afraid to reach out to your classmates or faculty about any questions.
What is one resource that you have used & loved? I loved using OWL [asynchronous writing support]. It helped my success in many of my writing assignments.
Justin Tran
What's your major? Business Administration Finance
Where do you call home? Wherever my friends and family are.
What are you most excited for this academic year? Helping new students in my GS 101 classes, being a brother of the Delta Chi Fraternity, and exploring more internship opportunities.
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Meet new people, connect with campus clubs/organizations, get out of your comfort zone and don't be afraid to embrace the struggle!
What is one resource that you have used & loved? I love the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAW) as it's my go to place after a long day of classes, extracurriculars, and work. The RAW is my form of therapy and great way to get rid of stress. I love going at night time since it's usually more quiet and I get to more of the equipment to myself.
Elissa Valadez
What's your major? Hospitality
Where do you call home? Southern California :)
What piece of advice you would like to share with incoming ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students? Pay attention to resources when they are shared even if you may not need them in the moment because they can be incredibly helpful in the future.
What is one resource that you have used & loved? Pioneers for HOPE Food Pantry