Equity & Inclusion

Advocating for transfer students is no mystery to Ashley Tigue. Having served as a delegate for transfer students at a local and statewide level, Tigue is acutely aware of the transfer representation needed on the UC Berkeley campus. Her experience ranges from communicating with the UC Student Administration to uplift transfer needs to planning a lobby day surrounding Transfer Admission Guarantee, or TAG. By her campaign sentiments, Tigue believes that this advocacy is only the beginning. Transferring from Solano Community College, Tigue acknowledges advocating for transfer students as individuals with a plethora of intersectional needs, rather than a monolith. This is represented by her promotion of nontraditional equity and opportunity within the transfer representative role, surrounding students who are parents, formerly incarcerated and veterans.

Allexys Cornejo Lopez  is a senior majoring in Sociology and transfer student from De Anza College. During her time at Berkeley, she served as the Transfer Director and Executive Director of bridges Multicultural Resource Center serving first-generation students of color. Through bridges, she led a committee of transfer students who organized and planned Transfer Weekend, which welcomed 220 first-generation, recently admitted transfer students from across California community colleges. She currently serves as a student assistant in the L&S 198 transition courses offered through Transfer Student Center and hopes to continue serving the transfer student population at UC Berkeley.  

Sarah Orozco is a senior majoring in Sociology. During her time at UC Berkeley, Sarah emerged as a dedicated advocate for underrepresented communities. She served in leadership positions in both the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Basic Needs Center (BNC), where she worked tirelessly to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds. She has also served as a research assistant with SSRP (Social Science Research Program), She actively engaged with the Oaxaqueño community through her involvement in OaxaCal, supporting community events and promoting indigenous belonging among her fellow community members. In the summer, Sarah had the honor of serving as a Bicentennial Ambassador for the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México in Oaxaca, Mexico. Sarah currently serves as a Starting Point Mentorship Co-coordinator, connecting Berkeley students with prospective California community college students.

Yassen Abdelfatah, a Business Administration major expected to graduate in 2024, has achieved significant milestones during his time at the university. He completed an externship at Boston Consulting Group, an organization of global renown. Notably, Yassen was chosen to represent Haas in a prestigious international case competition held in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he competed against top institutions.

Furthermore, Yassen embraced a rich campus life by joining Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a historically significant black fraternity, and interning at a startup based in Berkeley Sky Deck. Looking forward, he has set ambitious goals, aiming to apply for deferred enrollment MBA programs while also seeking full-time opportunities in either Consulting or Product Management.

Yassen's time at the university was characterized by a relentless pursuit of growth and learning, as he deliberately ventured outside his comfort zone, resulting in a transformative experience that made his year and a half feel far more extensive than its duration.

Mark Malley, a Business Administration major expected to graduate in Fall 2023, has embarked on a diverse academic and professional journey. Mark's experience spans various industries, including financial advisory, corporate strategy, venture capital, and operations. Transitioning from a Computer Science major to Business, Mark discovered a profound passion for case competitions, now participating in their eighth and final case competition this Fall. They are thrilled to represent Berkeley in the upcoming Lazardis International Case Conference.

Mark's foremost passion lies in healthcare, with a keen interest in the Health Tech and Bio Tech sectors upon graduation. They aspire to accumulate valuable experience and eventually establish their own healthcare firm, dedicated to addressing the systemic issues in the healthcare system. Mark expresses immense gratitude for the privilege of attending UC Berkeley, recognizing it as the premier public university globally and their top choice for higher education.

Bahlam Vigil, expected to graduate in 2024 as an Honors Sociology student, conducted a project titled "Urban Planning Sovereignty" in collaboration with five Latine and Indigenous organizations. This research, which combined quantitative and qualitative data, examined the organizing efforts of Latine and Indigenous communities in response to the potential removal of the San Francisco Central Freeway. The study identified two major themes: locality vs. non-locality based on the proximity of urban planning projects and the theme of "healing through housing," which establishes frameworks for urban planning processes that prevent displacement, improve housing stability for minority communities, and address past harms.

Currently employed as an admin program assistant at La Raza Community Resource Center, Bahlam adeptly handles data and conducts data analysis to enhance systems and program effectiveness. Additionally, they hold the position of Vice President at the San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club and serve as Co-Chair of the Behavioral Health Commission of San Francisco.

Bahlam's future plans include GRE preparation through the Varsity Tutors program during a year's hiatus from academia. They aspire to pursue a PhD program in sociological studies at Ivy League institutions or UC Berkeley, focusing on diverse sociological topics such as political sociology, general sociology, and strategies for enhancing sociological methodologies.

Damanpreet Bhattal, an undergraduate set to graduate in 2024 with dual majors in Bioengineering and Psychology, is a first-generation college student who exemplifies dedication and passion in her academic and research pursuits. Presently, she is a proud member of the Miller Scholars program, an initiative dedicated to nurturing the academic and career paths of its distinguished scholars.

Damanpreet's research is dedicated to understanding the psychological implications of the BRCA1/2 gene mutation among breast cancer patients. Recognizing breast cancer as one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women worldwide, Damanpreet aims to explore the psychological impacts of this gene mutation, which elevates the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. This study complements existing research primarily focused on the physical aspects of the mutation.

Currently, Damanpreet contributes to the academic community as a Transfer Lead Mentor for the Berkeley Mentorship Cohort within Engineering Student Services. This position underscores her commitment not only to her own education but also to the success of her peers.

One principle Damanpreet lives by is the belief in staying motivated, thinking positively, and never giving up. This ethos serves as her compass through every challenge, prompting her to seek guidance and resources to triumph over obstacles. Above all, she possesses a profound love for helping others, a sentiment that resonates in every endeavor she undertakes.

With ambitious career goals, Damanpreet is in the process of applying to Master's programs in Bioengineering across various universities. They have a particular inclination towards UC Berkeley's MEng program. Following the completion of their Master's degree, Damanpreet intends to pursue medical school, thereby combining bioengineering, psychology, and medicine to provide holistic care and innovative solutions for cancer patients and their families.

At the heart of Damanpreet's mission is a deeply personal connection to oncology. Her mother's battle with cancer stands as a poignant reminder of the multifaceted challenges faced by patients and their loved ones. Experiencing her mother's journey firsthand, Damanpreet recognizes the invaluable role of healthcare professionals, researchers, and support networks. This personal insight amplifies her ambition to drive transformative changes in oncology, ensuring that care is holistic, addressing both the physical and psychological needs of patients.

Ngan Pham, an aspiring Education Sciences major expected to graduate in 2025, embarks on her academic journey with a unique perspective. As a recent immigrant and first-generation college student, her challenges in learning English have ignited her passion for research. She's currently engaged in the Miller Scholar program, working on the project "Motivation in Learning English as a Second Language," under the mentorship of Faculty Margi Wald from the College of Writing. This research investigates the various types of motivation influencing English language learning experiences and outcomes. Furthermore, it explores how ESL teachers can create a supportive and effective learning environment to bolster motivation and address related issues.

Ngan actively contributes to her campus community. In her role as a content coordinator at Bears that Cares (BTC), an active bystander initiative, she facilitates workshops addressing critical topics like violence prevention, mental health, social identity, and microaggressions. Her work involves refining workshop content based on research, audience feedback, and expert insights. Additionally, Ngan is a valuable member of the Online@BSE team, where she serves as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. Her responsibilities encompass organizing and enhancing educational modules on the bCourses platform, assisting in launching new educational certificates, and contributing to various research activities.

Ngan's overarching objective is to enhance educational access for marginalized students and optimize their learning experiences and outcomes. She is also committed to advocating for the increased representation of the South East Asian community in higher education, particularly within the fields of social sciences and humanities.