CLA Underrepresented Students Network (USN)
Mission: To assist underrepresented students in having an equitable educational experience as a part of the Cal Poly campus.
The College of Liberal Arts USN is a peer mentoring program for underrepresented students in our college. Mentors can meet informally with mentees to provide support and resources on Cal Poly’s campus. USN is not a counseling service, but a place to talk with peers who can identify with the experiences of other underrepresented students. Please see the list of mentors below, and click the button to sign up to be matched.
USN is open and available to all who are interested to apply and/or participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
MEET THE CLA USN Mentors
Mia Aguirre
Major:
Anthropology and Geography with a concentration in Psychology
Hobbies:
Camping, traveling, fitness, and photography
Fun Facts:
I have my own RV rental business that I started freshman year of college
Giovanni Albarez
Major:
Political Science
Hobbies:
Playing guitar and working out
Fun Facts:
I am a resident advisor for PCV
Arabela Damarillo
Major:
English
Hobbies:
I love to sing––especially jazz and musical theatre songs! I also enjoy cooking, baking and finding new and easy recipes to use throughout my week as a full-time student
Fun Facts
I am the godmother (or “ninang,” in Tagalog) to two wonderful boys!
Gabriel Garcia
Major:
Child Development major, with interests in psychology and community engagement
Hobbies:
Drawing, reading comics, exploring new parks with my daughter
Fun Facts:
I am a student with a dependent, and a transfer student from the Central Coast!
Isela Lagunas
Major:
Sociology
Hobbies:
I enjoy going on walks with my dog, listening to music, and visiting Disneyland.
Fun Facts:
I’m a first-generation Mexican American and a proud transfer student
Leyna Mai
Major:
Psychology with an Entrepreneurship minor
Hobbies:
Playing guitar, surfing, finding new music, and cooking with my friends
Fun Facts:
I have an orange cat named Hotdog!
Tri-Ân Pham
Major:
Psychology, minoring in Child Development
Hobbies:
Some hobbies I have are rock climbing, arts and crafts, and exploring everything there is to do in SLO!
Fun Facts:
I have a low spice tolerance!
Samara Lucia Perez
Kaysie Ruvalcaba
Major:
Journalism and Graphic Communications with a Spanish minor
Hobbies:
I love going to the beach, watching the sunset, painting, crocheting, going to the gym, and eating or cooking good food with friends.
Fun Facts:
I am first gen, I share a birthday with Stan Lee, and I was a mentee last year, which inspired me to become a mentor this year!
Juliana Catalan
Major:
History
Hobbies:
Running and reading!
Fun Facts:
I met the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney) in fourth grade!
Mason Ambrosio
Major:
Journalism with a concentration in public relations and minors in political science, media arts, society, and technology (MAST), and global politics
Hobbies:
Photography, rock climbing, surfing, soccer, DnD, board games, and amateur astronomy
Fun Facts:
I visited 10 countries last summer and have 16 aunts and uncles.!
Julianna Valencia
Major:
Theatre arts with a minor in philosophy
Hobbies:
I love reading and listening to music! My roommate and I love crafting together and doing puzzles. I also love to spend time outside and go on walks or spend time with my family exploring!
Fun Facts:
I'm Mexican and Puerto Rican, and a first-generation college student. I've met Hozier! I've also been to five countries!
Debora Vitaliano
Major: Psychology with a double minor in ethnic studies and child development
Hobbies: I love camping, hiking, swimming, biking and reading. I also love to spend time with my family and friends
Fun Facts: I am Brazilian, and ever since I was 5 years old, my life goal has been to have a house with a big garden from which I can get almost, if not all, the food me and my family consume, along with a big library
Lauren Nguyen
Major:
Political Science (pre-law concentration) with minors in Equity in Education and Child Development
Hobbies:
Surfing, reading, spending time with my cat
Fun Facts:
I was a waitress to the Foo Fighters and got to attend the pop-up concert in SLO for free!