Staff Directory

From: Compton
CAMESA participant from Dominguez Highschool at UC Irvine
I’m a Biological Sciences major because I am interested in studying optometry to be a potential optometrist. Ever since I got my first pair of glasses it opened my eyes from seeing the world at 480p to now 1080p HD. MESA has given me the opportunity to continue to serve as a mentor for K-12 students interested in pursuing STEM. I was involved in Hosting First Lego League competitions in my hometown in Compton which has always fascinated me on how these young students in elementary school are able to understand basic coding at such a young age, since it was a resource I never initially had growing up. My favorite hobbies are watching anime and reading manga, on top of that, I like to live a healthy lifestyle by working out and eating healthy everyday.

From: Compton
CAMESA participant from King/Drew Magnet High School at UCI Mesa Center
Hi everyone! My pronouns are she/they and I love playing guitar, drawing, and reading. I am a Criminology, Law, and Society major and became really passionate about juvenile justice reform especially when working with middle and high school students as a MESA Undergrad Staff. I aim to become a defense lawyer advocating for those that are in dire need of legal assistance. I am a part of the UCI End Racism initiative and work with other faculty and staff in order to forge implementations of anti- racist protocols, education, and policies! I loved participating in MESA as a student at King/ Drew Magnet High School. I participated in the MESA Machine Competition and actually was able to land second place at the MESA which was an extreme achievement for me.

From: Compton
CAMESA participant from Davis Middle School and King/ Drew Magnet HS at UCI Mesa Center
I have been a part of MESA for nine years, starting in middle school, continuing in high school, and then becoming a part of their team at UCI. MESA introduced me to exploring the science aspect of STEM which influenced my decision to pursue psychology. Although it is sometimes considered a softer science, I am interested in learning about the neurochemistry of the brain which is why I am pursuing a B.S instead of a B.A in psychology. MESA has also taught me the importance of offering different opportunities to engage in STEM in schools that do not often receive the same resources. The education major allows me to look deeper into the issues in K-12 and the research behind finding solutions for the future. I have been a learning assistant twice for the same biology course focused on the brain and how it behaves. Being a learning assistant has given me the opportunity to engage both the teaching methods I have learned from education courses along with studying the science behind the brain in psychology related classes. My time at UCI has been filled with eye opening experiences and has offered me an opportunity to explore different interests. In my free time, I like to go hiking in areas near campus or just along some walking trails. I also occasionally bake and try to craft my own recipes. MESA introduced me to UCI and it has been one of the best decisions yet. GO MESA!

From: Costa Mesa
CAMESA participant from Costa Mesa High School at UC Irvine
I am a transfer student seeking an Electrical Engineering degree after being exposed to the engineering field through MESA’s Prosthetic Arm Competition. Throughout my experience building and testing the Prosthetic Arm, I learned the importance of collaboration and communication with my team and using these soft skills to work together in learning how to code with Arduino and circuit building. This inspired my decision to study Electrical Engineering. I continue to develop these skills I learned from MESA, through working on projects such as the UCI CubeSat, a low-orbit Earth Satellite where I focus on the communications system. In my free time I enjoy to work on engineering projects with friends, spending time with my family, and staying active through swimming and playing tennis.

From: Costa Mesa
CAMESA participant from Costa Mesa High School at UCI MESA Center
I am a transfer student from Orange Coast College pursing a degree in Biological Sciences, with an interest for Biomedical Engineering. I had first hand experience in STEM related projects after competing in MESA’S Prosthetic Arm Competition. I learned how to research, design, collaborate, and present my project with my team, as well as gained perspective on how engineering and science can help create prosthetic devices that can help improve the quality of life of those in need. This is what drove my passion for continuing in the STEM field. I have been involved in numerous biomedical research projects at the UCI campus and have now started working as a Bioengineer and Health Analyst at a biotech company in Irvine. In my free time I like to stay active through sports such as swimming and tennis, and spending time with family and friends!

From: Hesperia
CAMESA participant from Whaley Middle School and Dominguez High School at UCI MESA Center
I was part of MESA in middle school and high school where I took part in projects like the mousetrap car and civil structures bridge. Given that I was already familiar with the UCI Mesa Center, it’s been awesome to stay connected as an undergraduate staff member! My hobbies include playing video games as well as going on hikes and visiting lakes or beaches. I decided to major in Mechanical Engineering because it would allow me to gain a broad set of skills that are applicable in many areas; automotive, aerospace, or even renewable energy. I am currently a fabrication lab assistant at UCI FabWorks, where I train students and faculty on 3D printers, laser cutters, woodshop tools, and other manufacturing technology.

From: Los Angeles, CA
Computer Science just clicked with me. The problem solving aspect and the chance to get a deeper understanding of computers is what drew me in. I met some incredible professors at UCI that only helped to increase my love of Computer Science.