Name: Alice Chavez
Title: Budget, Personnel and Program Assistant
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
UCR Email: alice.chavez@ucr.edu
Office location: Chicano Student Programs 145 Costo Hall 

I was raised in Bell Gardens, CA, a small predominantly Latinx city. After graduating high school in 2010, I began my first year at UCR as a Pre-Business major.

While at UCR I worked as a Student Assistant with the CNAS Undergraduate Academic Advising Center and founded a dance club named R’Beat. In 2014, I graduated with a B.S in Business Administration. Upon graduating, I wanted to continue at UCR and give back to a campus that gave me so much. I have since worked at the CNAS Undergraduate Academic Advising Center, Harvest Shared Services, and Chicano Student Programs.

I am proud to be part of a UCR Familia at CSP. I find joy in working with amazing students and a great family with genuine hearts who provide support and encouragement every day.

Name: Arlene Cano Matute   
Title: Assistant Director  
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella 
UCR Email:  Arlene.cano@ucr.edu    
Office location: 145 Costo Hall 

Arlene Cano Matute (she, her, hers, ella) serves as the Assistant Director of Chicano Student Programs at the University of California, Riverside. She is an alumni of UC Riverside where she received her B.A. in both Ethnic Studies and Political Science: Law and Society and an M.Ed. in Higher Education, Administration. She is currently a doctoral student in Higher Education in the Graduate School of Education at UC Riverside. She is the founder of a youth reading program, Un Libro, Mil Mundos (One Book, A Thousand Worlds) through the Riverside County Library System which aims to develop self-empowerment and a love of reading built upon the introduction of Chicano/Latino literature. She serves on various committees, is a member of community organizations, is a certified facilitator on civic reflection and volunteers as an advisor to several student organizations at UC Riverside.

As a first-generation student, a parent, and the daughter of a system-impacted parent she is passionate about working alongside students and the community focusing on identity development, empowerment, social justice, community service, leadership and equity in higher education. Her research examines the experiences of Chicano/Latino students at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) with particular interest in Hispanic Serving Research Institutions (HSRIs) in the University of California. As a scholar and a practitioner, she is interested in the ways Chicano/Latino students, and minoritized students overall, thrive in HSIs and HSRIs with an emphasis on access, retention, empowerment and persistence.

Name: 
Title: Director, Women’s Resource Center
Pronouns: She/her
UCR Email: 
Office location: Costo Hall 260

Name: Estella Acuña
Title: Director 
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
UCR Email: estella.acuna@ucr.edu
Office location: 145 Costo Hall

Estella joined the Chicano Student Programs staff in 1996 and went from being the student assistant to the program director within a span of ten years. 

For over 25 years, Estella Acuña has been an activist and educator, serving as a powerful advocate for the Chicano/Latino community. Her work at UCR’s Chicano Student Programs has opened opportunities for thousands and created support structures that have helped countless students earn their college degrees and move on to serve their communities.

I am proud to be a part of the CSP familia and a proud highlander. It is an honor to serve as the Director of Chicano Student programs; after all, this is my way of doing what I love, paying it forward by influencing the next generation of leaders. ¡Adelante!

Tune in to KUCR 88.3 FM on Friday nights, and you might hear a familiar voice. 

Name: Esther Kim 
Title: Program Coordinator
Pronouns: She/her
UCR Email: Esther.kim@ucr.edu
Office location: 244 Costo Hall

Esther started at Asian Pacific Student Programs in December 2005. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from University of Redlands. She coordinates Campus-wide cultural awareness programs, Peer mentor program and the Speaker series events.

Name: Jamal J. Myrick, Ed.D.
Title: Director of African Student Programs
Pronouns: He/Him
UCR Email: jamal.myrick@ucr.edu
Office location: 133 Costo Hall

Black. Husbae. Dad. Author. Reader. Spartan Athlete. Dad Joke Influencer. Lover of all things good and true. I love the work that I get to do with our Black scholars here at UCR and in African Student Programs. Having the opportunity to shape the lives of future Black leaders motivates me each and every day.

Name: Joaquin F. Tarango 
Title: Program Coordinator 
Pronouns: He/Him/His 
UCR Email: JoaquinT@ucr.edu 
Office location: 229 Costo Hall 

Joaquin F. Tarango (Miwok) graduated cum laude from California State University, Sacramento in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and a strong interest in the field of behavioral neuroscience. His cultural heritage as a traditional Miwok dancer, love for helping people, and dedication to education are at his core foundation. He has worked in, and volunteered for, (and in some cases been “voluntold” into,) various roles within the Native American communities and higher education throughout California. He worked directly for his tribe, Wilton Rancheria, in multiple capacities as a tutor, certified Tribal Monitor, Election Commission Spokesperson, and weekly Elder Food Distribution Program volunteer. From 2012 – 2017 Joaquin loved working with Native youth in his position as a Residential Assistant (RA and Senior Head RA) with the American Indian Summer Institute of Earth System Sciences through UC, Irvine.  
In the spring of 2019, he moved from Sacramento once more to begin his professional UCR journey as a Program Coordinator for Native American Student Programs. This opportunity helped fulfill a career goal developed while attending UCSB (2007-2010). Understanding the need for more direct support of underrepresented groups, he wanted to work with and help Native students on a college campus (albeit he originally planned to be a biopsychology professor with his own lab unlocking the mysteries of the brain). He is excited every day for the opportunities and challenges working with the students and honored to be a part of the Ethnic & Gender Offices at UCR as they work together to create a solid foundation of support and community for all Highlanders.

Name: Katie Estrella
Title: Program Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her
UCR Email: katie.estrella@ucr.edu
Office location: Costo Hall 260

Katie Estrella earned her Master’s degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership-Student Affairs from San Diego State University. Katie’s passion for working in student affairs began during her time as an undergraduate student at California State University, Fullerton where she started the first Disability Awareness Day. Katie is passionate about creating welcoming spaces for all students and helping students engage in meaningful experiences that will prepare them for life after college. During her free time, Katie enjoys cooking, watching reality TV, and traveling. 

Name: Sharon Carriedo
Title: Executive Administrative Assistant
Pronouns: She/Her
UCR Email: sharon.carriedo@ucr.edu
Office location: COSTO 102

Name: 
Title: Budget, Personnel and Program Assistant
Pronouns: he/him/his
UCR Email: 
Office location: 260 Costo Hall

Name: Nancy Jean Tubbs
Title: Director, LGBT Resource Center
Pronouns: she/her
UCR Email: nancy.tubbs@ucr.edu
Office location: 245 Costo Hall

Nancy Jean Tubbs has directed the LGBT Resource Center since 2000. She grew up in Texas (y’all), where she attended Texas A&M University and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Educational Administration. Nancy is a radical bureaucrat who enjoys improving policies, spending budgets, writing reports, questioning gender, dialoguing sexuality, challenging systems of oppression and wearing comfortable shoes. She has co-authored publications on allies development and transgender inclusion. “It takes an entire campus to raise an LGBT resource center,” says Nancy, aka ‘nancyjean.’ “I’m proud to be a member of the UCR family.”

Name: Omar Aziz
Title: Director, Middle Eastern Student Center
Pronouns:He/Him/His
UCR Email: Omar.aziz@ucr.edu
Office location: HUB 377

Omar Aziz currently serves as Director of the Middle Eastern Student Center at UC Riverside. He has over ten years of experience working in student affairs, teaching, and leading non-profits. Omar’s experience in student affairs includes Residential Life and Diversity/Inclusion across universities in California, New Jersey, and Virginia. His teaching background began as a high school math teacher with the Teach for America program in Miami, FL; teaching high school students in Ramallah, Palestine; and serving as a course instructor in the School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University. Omar is currently a PhD in Education candidate from George Mason University and his research interests include race, identity, immigration, and the experiences of Arab, South Asian, Afghan, and Muslim Americans. Omar's non-profit work included serving as a Director of the Afghan-American Community Organization and co-founder of The Samovar Network (a podcast and multimedia forum discussing issues affecting the Afghan diaspora). He grew up in the Bay Area and works tirelessly to convince doubters that he is a lifelong Golden State Warriors fan and never rode on any bandwagon.

Name: Shonté Thomas
Title: Associate Dean of Students, Ethnic & Gender Centers
Pronouns: She/Her
UCR Email: shonte.thomas@ucr.edu
Office location: HUB 381

Shonté Thomas has served as Associate Dean of Students since July 2020. In this role, she directly supports the Ethnic & Gender Centers, offering intentional cultivation of community through collaborations, direct mentorship, student advocacy, and supporting the production of innovative and comprehensive E&G programming. As a scholar practitioner, she bridges theory to practice using skills and an assets-based equity approach, learning from the mistakes of the past, and incorporating campus partners to provide strategic leadership. Her passion and investment in liberatory, equitable diversity work is personal, and she strives daily to create a much-improved ecosystem for all, with specific interest for students with minoritized identities. Fun facts: Shonté is married, loves to dance, and is fur mom to a cute senior dog. Shonté graduated from UCSC with a BA in Politics, earned her MA in Education (with specialization in teaching) from Pepperdine University, and is currently working towards earning her doctorate from UC Davis. 

Name: Toi Thibodeaux
Title: Assistant Director
Pronouns: she/her
UCR Email: toi.thibodeaux@ucr.edu
Office location: 245 Costo Hall
 

Toi Thibodeaux has served as the Assistant Director for the LGBT Resource Center at UC Riverside since 2008, and she is the current co-chair for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on LGBT Students, Faculty & Staff.
 
Toi is available as a resource for all students, staff, and faculty to provide educational programming and training that contributes to student success, community-building and creating a safe, inclusive campus environment. Toi has direct responsibility for the center’s campus-wide cultural and educational programming, cultural competency trainings, as well as for many of the center's student support programs. She provides 1-on-1 student mentoring, facilitates various Tuesday Talks, and advises LGBTQ+ student organizations. Toi is a role model for queer students of color on the UCR campus, and established the BlaqOUT Conference in 2014 and BlaqOUT, a discussion group for LGBTQ+ students who are Black, African American, or of African descent. Toi also spends hours working with LGBTQ+ and questioning students daily in a one-on-one capacity.
Toi Thibodeaux holds a B.S. in Health Care Management and M.S. in Health Services Administration from California State University, San Bernardino.
Fun Facts: My favorite drink is coffee! I lived in Hawaii and never went in the ocean past my ankles!  Oh yeah, I have a pool in the backyard, but I can’t swim! –Toi

Name: William 'Billy' Caganap 
Title: Director, Asian Pacific Student Programs
Pronouns: he/him/his
UCR Email:  williamc@ucr.edu
Office location: 244 Costo Hall

Billy earned dual B.A. degrees in Asian American studies and social sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and an M.A. in higher education administration from New York University. He joined the Asian Pacific Student Programs office in November 2003 and is a member of NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education).