Meet the Team

Vanessa Lara earned her B.A. in Communication Studies and her M.S. in Higher Education from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). She previously worked at CSUF in several different positions serving study abroad, international and Latinx students. As a first-generation Latina and child of immigrant parents, Vanessa firsthand understands the complexities of navigating higher education and hopes to contribute to student success by sharing her navigational capital and uplifting student voices. As a UCI College Corps Program Coordinator, she looks forward to building connections and empowering UCI fellows to be community leaders. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys boba runs with friends, painting/crafting, and is an ATLA fan.

Sophia earned her B.A. in Biology from State University of New York (SUNY), Geneseo and her M.A in Leadership Development at Chapman University, where her capstone work focused on civic identity development.  Her year spent with AmeriCorps as a Field Team Leader for the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Southern Region inspired her to obtain her masters degree – she traveled and lived with a group of ten young adults, serving a variety of communities via volunteer opportunities with organizations spanning from Louisiana to Connecticut.  At Chapman, Sophia served as a graduate assistant in Student Engagement, assisting in a variety of work ranging from facilities management to off-campus recreation trips.  As a UCI College Corps Program Coordinator, she believes the success of College Corps and the dedication of UCI Fellows could inspire a new wave of civic engagement in the world of higher education.  In her free time, Sophia enjoys puzzles, camping and hiking, and exploring California.