Staff

Hazel Amina

Associate Director of College Advising
Pre-College TRiO
UB
UBMS

A Native Hawaiian from Nānākuli, Hawai’i, and a graduate of Waianae High School. Hazel began her TRIO Journey with the Pre-College TRIO Upward Bound (UB) program from the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa (UHM). She continued on to the Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) Program at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). While at the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa campus, Hazel participated in the TRIO Collegiate program Student Support Services. She was passionate about “making...

Dr. Jennifer C. Villicaña

Senior Policy Adviser & Associate Director for Organizational Development
CEP Admin
CEP Leadership

Committed to advancing educational and career equity, Dr. Jennifer C. Villicaña, our Senior Policy Adviser and Associate Director of Organizational Development, guides policy analysis and implementation, oversees department-wide projects, including strategic planning and organizational development, and leads human resources and risk management initiatives. Dr. Villicaña's journey with CEP began as a work-study undergraduate student with our Pre-College Trio Educational Talent Search Program (ETS). She then held different roles within our Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) and...

Jessica Thach

Associate Director of Data Analysis and Communications
CEP Leadership
CEP Admin

As an Oakland native, daughter of Southeast Asian refugees, and first-gen college graduate, Jessica is rooted in bridging academic research and community praxis into her role as a college access practitioner-scholar. Jessica’s moment of impact that defined her purpose for this work emerged from being a product of two college access programs and being mentored by Southeast Asian educators. Not only has Jessica supported multiple generations of students from the Bay Area to the Greater Los Angeles Area in the capacities as a college adviser and college writing instructor, she is...

Joly Agdinaoay

Office Manager
DCAC
EAOP
CEP Admin

Joly Agdinaoay was born and raised in the Philippines. She finished her education in Manila, Philippines
and moved to United States to follow her siblings. She resides in Contra Costa County. She’s been
working with CEP as an Admin Assistant since 2002 and enjoying her work and love seeing her
colleagues committed and passionate in supporting the students to obtain a higher education and
personal success.
Joly love to spend time with her family and friends and enjoys travelling, cooking and gardening.

Josefina Canchola

Director of Secondary Programs
Puente

Josefina E. Canchola is an immigrant to the United States. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She is a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District, having had attended Hammel Street School and Belvedere Junior High School. Josefina’s family later moved to Whittier, California where she attended Pioneer High School.

Josefina went to the University of California, Riverside. Where she received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sociology. She is the first in her family to receive an undergraduate and graduate degrees. She...

Joshua Smith

Office Manager
CEP Admin

A native of San Francisco, Joshua has resided in Berkeley since the late 1980's. A graduate of Berkeley High School 91', upon graduation, he worked in the retail and banking trades before centering his career path in the field administrative support. A field that lead Joshua to his current role as Office Manager, a position he has held since 2015 with CEP. When Joshua is away from the desk he can be found giving back to the community. Joshua currently is a volunteer Board member for San Francisco LGBT Pride as well as a senior volunteer with Burning Man.

Julia Vergara

Executive Director
Puente
CEP Leadership

Keyanna Hatcher

Director
Pre-College TRiO
ETS
UB
CEP Leadership

Proud native of Inglewood, CA with roots in Birmingham, Alabama, she grew up surrounded by the strength and hard work of Black women who encouraged her to be her best self. She has embodied being well-rounded throughout her lifetime with her commitment to being an athlete and dancer, lifelong learner and active leader in the community. UC Berkeley awakened the educator in her and grew a passion for college preparation and access through her involvement with BRRC and other campus organizations and continues to mentor youth and young professionals across the nation. This is only...

Lakeysha Jones

Program Director
NAF at Berkeley
CEP Leadership

Lakeysha has served UC Berkeley for 7 years, and most recently as the East Contra Costa County Regional Manager for Destination College Advising Corps & Early Academic Outreach Program, a role in which she has supervised 7 College Adviser Fellows; provided training, professional development, and guidance for her staff; and collected, analyzed, and evaluated student enrollment, service, and outcomes through data.

Before her role in CEP, Lakeysha served as an Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admission at UC Berkeley, where...

Larissa Gomez Vazquez

CC Counseling Coordinator
Puente