Staff

Lenika Rivas Sanchez

Program Assistant
Puente

Lenika not only comes to Puente with an impressive background and skill set, she also has a passion for wanting to be involved in equity work for underserved communities that aligns with our program mission. As a first-generation student, she attended Brown University and earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Latin American & Caribbean Studies. She also spent time in Washington D.C. as an intern for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Her most recent job was with the Office of Student Affairs at Columbia University. In addition, Lenika also brings...

Linyi "Nikki" Yu

Program Coordinator
EBSCC

Nikki Yu was born in Guangdong, China, and migrated to the United States with her family at age of 10. She first attended middle school in Los Angeles, California, but shortly moved to Oakland, California. Nikki graduated from the University of California, Berkeley receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies with two minors in Education and Chinese in May 2021. Her passion for youth empowerment and education started when she was in high school through her experience as a Tutor in a summer camp where she was later promoted to Program Director Assistant. Starting her first year at...

Luis Yataco

Data & Systems Manager
CCTS
TAP

Luis Yataco was born and raised in Peru before moving to California to complete his high school education. Although he did not consider pursuing a university education while in high school, he was lucky to find great mentors at his community college, where he also discovered his passion for education and promoting educational access. After transferring to UC Berkeley, he continued working with fellow students and was fortunate to find leadership opportunities at the Transfer Student Center, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and the Starting Point Mentorship Program....

Maika Jimenez

Transfer Specialist (NorCal)
CCTS
TAP

Maika (She/Her/Ella) was born in Mexico and immigrated to Pittsburg, CA when she was 3 years old. She is a first-generation, DACAmented, transfer student from Los Medanos College where she earned her associates degree in Sociology and Psychology. She graduated from UC Davis where she majored in Sociology and minored in Chicano/a Studies. After graduating from UC Davis, Maika served as a DCAC/EAOP College Adviser Fellow at Antioch High School for three years. As a Transfer Specialist, her goal is to help and support Community College students on their journey towards higher education...

Maryam Irfan

Assistant Director - East Bay Charters
DCAC
EAOP

Mayzia Thompson

Program Manager
DCAC
EAOP

Mayzia was born and raised in Sacramento, California. She is a product of the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) and Academic Talent Search (ATS) program. A wildcat for life, Mayzia graduated from The University of Arizona in 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Nutritional Sciences, with an emphasis in Dietetics. At an early age, she recognized the importance and vast impact of college readiness programs, and now takes pride in being a part of a team that is making the same positive impact on younger generations. Mayzia enjoys shopping, traveling, watching and playing...

Melanie Ly

Program Manager
CCTS
TAP

Melanie Ly is a first-generation Hmong American from Sacramento and is the oldest of 5. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and minored in education. She is transitioning from a former Destination College Advising Corps College Adviser Fellow from 2021-2023 to her new role as the Program Manager with the Transfer Alliance Project. Because Melanie experienced the existing barriers and struggles to pursue her higher education, she is passionate about helping underserved and underrepresented students reach their full...

Melinda Martinez

High School Teacher Training Coordinator
Puente

Melinda Martinez identifies as a Chicana and grew up roller skating in the LA suburbs. She has her BA in English from UCLA where she fell in love with Latinx writers who reflected experiences and cultures similar to her own. This fired up her passion to teach literature, which began her 20 year journey as a high school English teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District. She feels privileged in her role working with amazing teachers across the state to support underrepresented students as the High School Teacher Coordinator for the Puente Project. She loves...

Melva Alvarez

STEM Community College Coordinator
Puente

Monica Montenegro

Executive Director
EBSCC
CEP Leadership

Mónica has dedicated her professional career to advocating on behalf of low- income students and broadening their access to higher education. She has served as Executive Director of the East Bay Consortium since the year 2000 and serves as Director of the East Bay and Solano County Consortium, a Cal-SOAP Project. Mónica started working at EBC while she was a student at Cal. She was hired full time when she graduated from Cal.

Mónica came from Chile with her parents and three of her five siblings when she was 16. She graduated from Richmond...