Amanda Bent is an educator committed to the personal and professional development of adult learners. As an English/ESL instructor and Student Affairs professional, she has fostered student growth through holistic learning activities that promote inclusion and belonging. In serving students across the Bay Area, she has engaged in more nuanced approaches to addressing the complex needs of adult learners. Currently, she facilitates student employment and leadership development for Berkeley’s IT community as a Student Life & Development Specialist. Outside of work, Amanda...
Diego A. Holguin is a UC Berkeley Alumni who currently serves as an Intake Counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Diego's journey from student employee to professional staff embodies the transformative power of education and community engagement.
Originally from Compton, Diego has embraced the Bay Area for over 7 years. Outside of work Diego enjoys reading, spending time with his cats, and going on hikes.
Diego’s service is guided by Laverne Cox’s words, “By doing the work to love ourselves more...
Presenting at the conference is a seasoned Residence Director with 4 years of expertise in fostering inclusive residential communities. A dedicated professional, I specialize in conflict resolution, student engagement, and community building. My career includes roles at the University of South Carolina, where I served as a Residence Life Coordinator, managing a diverse team and implementing a successful residential curriculum. Additionally, my experience at Chattahoochee Technical College involved co-curricular program development and student leadership initiatives. With a Bachelor of...
Jill Finlayson is the Managing Director of the CITRIS Innovation Hub which features the Workforce Innovation Program, Visiting Innovators Program, and emerging tech programs. Jill formerly led the EDGE in Technology Initiative at the University of California which focuses on expanding diversity and gender equity in tech. Student-related activities at CITRIS include the annual EDGE in Tech Symposium, Startup Challenge Labs, and Data Discovery projects. She also co-leads a UC Systemwide Inclusive Innovation and Equitable Entrepreneurship (I2E2) initiative. Jill hosts a Future of Work podcast...
Gabriela Urias is dedicated to empowering students and fostering connections between students and employment opportunities. With a focus on part-time employment opportunities, she supports students and employers campus-wide through the Work-Study Program. Her commitment extends beyond the Work-Study Program, as she helped launch the new state-funded work-study program called the Learning Aligned Employment Program (LAEP). This innovative program enables undergraduate students to engage in paid research opportunities,...
Kelly Chang is a co-lead of RTL’s Student Employee Workforce Development program, working alongside her colleague Natalie Montanez. Together, they are dedicated to extending learning beyond the traditional classroom setting by creating meaningful, impactful employment experiences for students, equipping their team for a successful and values-aligned professional future. With her passion for training and development, Kelly nurtures the department's student workforce who play a pivotal role in supporting the AV technology in UC Berkeley's 210 general assignment classrooms. Co-...
As Discovery Opportunities Database Manager, Amy Louise Casey Azuma brings her core strengths: developing programs, centering student experiences, and cultivating partnerships to solve complex problems. Her work is grounded in compassion for students navigating this huge institution.
Amy has spent her 20-year career in education advising, teaching, or directing programs. She's a Cal alum (BA, English) and holds a master’s in International Education, with a concentration in Youth Leadership. She has certifications in Equity-Oriented Advising and...
Dr. Lorneka Joseph, a native of The Bahamas, is an award-winning pharmacist, speaker, and wellness coach who helps high achievers redefine their work and wellness.
This Forbes and Essence Magazine feature is also an inductee in Miami Dade College’s Hall of Fame for her impact. Her academic journey started at University of The Bahamas, where she...
Andrea Parthasarathy works on the People & Organization Development team within Berkeley People & Culture. In this role, she creates and manages professional development programs for UC Berkeley staff (including the Berkeley Staff Fellowship Program) that focus on career growth and skill building at any stage of your career. She is also a one-on-one career coach for UC Berkeley Staff. Prior to working at UC Berkeley, she was an Academic Advisor at UC San Diego.
Noam Pines is an Associate Director in UC Berkeley’s Sponsored Projects Office (SPO), overseeing incoming and outgoing contracts and grants. With over fifteen years of experience in Research Administration, he has handled a wide spectrum of proposals and awards from a variety of funding agencies, with a focus on governmental entities (federal, non-federal, international) and non-profit organizations. He holds a Master's degree in International Affairs and has served on professional committees for the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). In...
