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M.Ed. Student Affairs 2016-2018 COHORTThe Educational Leadership and Policy Department in the College of Education atthe University of Utah is pleased to announce the members of the 2016-2018Cohort for the M.Ed. Student Affairs Program.Welcome! Enjoy the photos and biographies that were provided by the students.Introducing . . .BlakeBratcherPhotoBioHello! My name is BlakeBratcher and I am traveling fromArkansas to start this new journeyat the University of Utah! Igraduated in December 2015 withmy Bachelors of Arts in Englishand Pre-Law from Arkansas TechUniversity in Russellville, AR. Icurrently work in ArkansasTech’s department of CampusLife as a student program advisor.When I’m not binging on Netflixor browsing social media/articles,I enjoy hiking, kayaking, andespecially traveling. Advocate forequality, acceptance, andinclusion! Lover of animals,sushi, and sweet tea.Brianda De LeónBS Sociology Minor: EthnicStudiesUniversity of UtahBriandaDe LeonResearch Interests: Critical RaceTheory in Education, K-16Pathways for Students of Color,Multicultural Education inregards to curriculum,Educational Access & Equity,Policy Leadership, Latina/o’s inEducation

ElizabethDel MuroEllaButlerMy name is Elizabeth Del Muro.I grew up in Covina, California. Iobtained my Bachelor’s degree inPsychology, with a minor inSpanish and Counseling andSocial Change, at San Diego StateUniversity. While I was anundergrad I was a student leader.I was very involved in variousstudent groups and on-campusleadership programs. I alsoworked for the Office ofEducational OpportunityPrograms (EOP). Theseexperiences helped guide metoward my interest in highereducation. I enjoy being a mentorand an advocate for studentsthroughout their development atthe university.Originally from Oregon, Igraduated with a degreespecializing in Crime, Law, andSociety later becoming a PeaceCorps Volunteer in Senegal, WestAfrica. Halfway through myservice, I realized that my workinterests were surrounded aroundgender and the education gaprather than Public Health. Idecided to leave the Peace Corpsand landed my first HigherEducation job in Housing at theU. Currently, I am a CareerCoach at the U living out mypassion of mentoring studentswhile working on my degree.Aside from Higher Education, mymain interests are traveling andbeing a foodie.

Erin SineGilberto (Gil)VaughtErin works with New StudentPrograms, including SwoopCamp, Campus Life Mentors, andPicture Your First Year. Sheconsiders it a privilege to assistthe new students of theUniversity. Erin also oversees theoffices marketing. Erin completeda master's of art from SavannahCollege of Art and Design, butmore importantly is an alumna ofthe University of Utah where shegraduated with a Bachelor ofScience in International Studiesand a Bachelor of Arts inPhotography. Erin was born inSalt Lake City where she wasraised a Utah fan all her life. Herpassions in life are working withstudents and create art.My name is Gilberto, but I preferGil. I am a born and raisedFloridian. I received my B.A. inPsychology from FloridaInternational University (FIU).While attending myundergraduate university, I washeavily in involved in Residentiallife as a Resident Assistant,working with Living Learningand first-year students. It wasduring that time, my interest instudent development and studentleadership began, eventuallyleading me to the ELP programhere at the University of Utah.My hobbies include writing,playing the guitar, exploringnature, and trying newfood/music.

JacobFergusonMy name is Jacob and I'm veryexcited to be a part of the ELPcohort! I completed myundergraduate studies in EnglishLanguage and Literature at theUniversity of Northern Iowawhere I was very involved withOrientation and ResidenceLife. In my free time I enjoyplaying the guitar, collectingvinyl records and playing videogames.Interests: Listening to and writingpoetry, writing stories, hiking,and dancing in my car.JayrodGarrettJonathanCardenasDegree: B.A. English withemphasis on Creative Writing;Minor, Child and Family Studiesfrom Weber State UniversityExperience: I worked as a PeerAdvisor at Weber StateUniversity's NontraditonalStudent Center for four yearsbefore joining the YouthBuildTeam at the Ogden WeberApplied Technology College as aSuccess Coach for the past twoyears.My name is Jonathan Cardenas. Igrew up in Minnesota in a familyof six including my Mother,Father, two older Sisters and myyounger Brother. In May of 2016my family attended mygraduation where I received abachelor of science degree in ArtEducation. However, this was notthe end of my time in highereducation. Today, I am workingfor Housing and ResidentialEducation here at the Universityof Utah. Over the next two years,as I earn my M.Ed. in StudentAffairs, I am hoping to exploremy interests in student affairs andbecome a better practitioner.

JorenPlunkettKimikoMiyashimaAloha, my name is JorenPlunkett. I recently graduatedfrom Oregon State University inthe spring of 2015 with aBachelor’s Degree in HumanDevelopment and FamilySciences. Since graduation I’veworked for the Center forFraternity and Sorority Life atOregon State University as wellas the Self Sufficiency Programfor the State of Oregon. I amexcited to be joining the 2016Cohort at the University of Utah.I hope that my previousundergraduate experience withstudent lead organizations andadvocacy work will help meenrich this new opportunity at theUniversity of Utah. In my sparetime I enjoy watchingdocumentaries, listening tospoken word, cooking, andspending time with family andfriends.Kimiko Miyashima was born inLos Angeles, but raised in Sandy,Utah. She attended college atLoyola Marymount University inLA, where she earned herBachelors degree in Theatre Arts,with a double-minor in Film andPeace Studies. While at LMU,Kimi played NCAA Division Isoccer, performed in theatreproductions, was a member of theBelles Service Organization,played the fiddle in a countryband, and served as anOrientation Leader. Afterreceiving a Presidential Citation,she realized her love for StudentAffairs. She cannot wait tobecome a Ute, and can’t imaginea better program for perusing acareer in Educational Leadershipand Policy!

LibiaCastroMattRobinsLibia Marqueza Castro graduatedfrom The University of Texas atAustin in 2015 with a Bachelor ofArts in Sociology and acertification in Business. Libiawas a student leader within theDivision of Housing and FoodService where she served on andled several RHA boards. Sheworked with the Division ofRecreational Sports and was aNASPA Undergraduate Fellowwith Student EmergencyServices. Libia has presented oneffective team development andpersonal development at theSWACURH regional housingconference. When not obsessingover program budgets, Libiavolunteered at the Austin CityLimits Music Festival and beganmastering her grandmother’srecipe book. Her interestsinclude: student leadership anddevelopment, making mix CDs,retention rates in people of color,and advocating for students withdisabilities.My name is Matthew Robins Igraduated with a Bachelors inCommunication with an emphasisin Public Relations from UtahValley University. During myundergraduate education I spenttime as a student leader at UVUin the Volunteer and ServiceLearning Center, Office ofStudent Involvement and theUVU Student Association. I amcurrently the Coordinator for OffCampus Housing and ResidenceLife at Utah Valley Universitywhere I oversee a group of 17undergraduate ResidentialEngagement Coordinators.

NellyQuintanillaOliverAndersonOriginally from Los Angeles,California, Nelly Quintanilla is arecent first generation graduatefrom San DiegoState University, and earnedher Bachelor's Degree inCommunication along withher minor in Digital and SocialMedia Studies. Nelly enjoys theoutdoors, looks for opportunityand adventure, and has a passionfor success. As an aspiringStudent Affairs Professional,Nelly has worked as aResident Advisor and as anSDSU Ambassador for threeconsecutive years. She was alsoa NUFP Fellow, as partof NASPA's Undergraduate Fellowship Program. In the future,Nelly hopes to help, advise, andwork with future students inhigher education.Oliver Anderson grew up in WestValley City, Utah and graduatedwith Bachelor degrees inSociology and HumanDevelopment from the Universityof Utah in 2015. After working ayear at Westminster College,Oliver is thrilled to be returningto the University of Utah for the2016 M.Ed. Student AffairsCohort! In his undergraduatecareer, Oliver worked withorientation and helped jumpstartthe orientation program at thenew Utah Asia Campus. Olivercontinues his passion fororientation at WestminsterCollege, while working withstudent clubs, conduct, campusconcierge, leadership programs,and campus climate initiativeswith staff, faculty, and students.

RaymondTaylorRebeccaRossRay Taylor, native ofSpartanburg, SC, graduated fromCoastal Carolina University witha Bachelor of Arts inInterdisciplinary Studies andminors in Women's & GenderStudies and New Media & DigitalCulture. Also, he was Captain ofCCU Quidditch, an OrientationLeader, a Brother of Phi Sigma PiNational Honor Fraternity, VP ofFinance for RHA, a member ofNRHH, and a writer for TempoMagazine. He worked for StudentLife; Dean of Students; NewStudent & Family Programs;Training, Development,& Service Excellence; andUniversity Housing.Ray's interests are heterosexism,classism, racism, and the lack ofintersectionality within highereducation.My name is Rebecca Ross. Igraduated from the University ofUtah with bachelor’s degrees inUrban Planning andEnvironmental Studies. Myprofessional life started incampus planning, where Idelighted in implementing thecampus vision, improving thecampus experience, and buildinga campus community. Afterplanning for a county for manyyears, I returned to theUniversity to fulfill my passionand commitment to highereducation. Currently, I am theGraduate Studies Coordinator atthe Physician Assistant Program.My favorite leisure activitiesinclude reading (as I understand,a bonus in this program),gardening, running and exploringthe great outdoors.

RomeoJacksonSarandaLundRomeo Jackson (They/Them) is ablack, queer, non-binary, feministwho is dedicated to intersectionaljustice and cross movementbuilding. They attended NorthernIllinois University earning aspecialized degree inIntersectionality and SocialJustice. They have been a fellowwith: Campus Pride, the ArcusFoundation, and Young People 4;and has interned with: NIU’sCommunity Standards & StudentConduct, The National Center forTransgender Equality, the Officeof Congresswoman Gwen Moorein DC., and NIU’s CareerServices. They also haveexperience as the Director ofCulture Affairs for NIU’s StudentAssociation and a student staff forNIU’s Gender and SexualityResource Center. Romeo alsoserves on the National AdvisoryCouncil for the NationalConference on Race and Ethnicityin Higher Education. Recentlynamed one of the 100 Black andLGBT-SGL leaders to watch,Romeo is committed toempowering Trans and queerpeople of color through a criticalblack-queer-feminist framework.Hi, my name is Saranda!I did undergrad at WesternWashington University where Iwas a Sociology major and aWomen, Gender, SexualityStudies minor. In undergrad Iworked as a resident adviser,assistant conference housingcoordinator and an assistantresident director. I also had anACHUO-I internship atNorthwestern University inChicago, IL for a summer, so myhigher education experiences aremostly housing related. In myfree time, I love exploring to findthe best coffee, watching sportingevents and going on adventures ofall kinds.