Staff

Dr. Claudia Canizales Aguilar

Director of Training & Curriculum
CEP Leadership
CEP Admin

Dr. Claudia Canizales Aguilar immigrated from Nicaragua and is a first-generation college graduate. With the guidance of the Early Academic Outreach Program, Dr. Aguilar enrolled at UC Berkeley and earned a BA in Social Welfare. With the financial assistance of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, she earned master's and doctoral degrees from the University of San Francisco. Through her capacity as a college professor, counselor, researcher, and college access practitioner and trainer, she has worked with students, families, teachers, counselors, and...

Claudia Morales

Executive Director
CEP Leadership
CEP Admin

I have been working with outreach at the University of California, Berkeley for the past 20 years as a part of EAOP, SUP and DCAC. Although I have worked with schools throughout California, my main focus has been on K-12 schools in the Bay Area, with a specific emphasis on ESHUSD and SJUSD. I am presently the primary writer and visionary for UC Berkeley’s aspirational and college knowledge materials and curriculum for both K-12 students and their families as well as having forged a robust partnership with San Jose Unified. I am instrumental in the organization and implementation of...

Danielle Armstrong

Innovation & Partnerships Manager
CEP Admin

Dennise Rocha Barrios

Assistant Director - San Jose
DCAC
EAOP

Dennise moved to the United States when she was 12 years old and is the daughter of Mexican farmworkers. Her work in college access is rooted in her personal experience navigating education as an English-Learner and a first-generation undocumented Latina. Prior to joining DCAC, Dennise worked in the Office of Admissions at UC Merced and managed a college access program for immigrant and refugee youth in Nashville, Tennessee. She also served as the Associate Director of the Migrant Education Program in Tennessee, where she led a statewide effort to improve the educational outcomes of...

Denzale Johnson

College Advisor
Pre-College TRiO
UB
UBMS

Devan McFadden

Program Manager
EBSCC

Devan McFadden, Richmond-born native, attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Welfare in Fall 2014. During his time at Cal, Devan was heavily involved in programs that focused on mentorship and college access such as Stiles Hall’s Mentor / Role Model Project, Y-Scholars Program, and Breakthrough Sacramento. Devan continued pursuing his passion of working with youth by becoming a College Advisor Fellow with UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corps (DCAC) and Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). Since completing...

Dion Medina

Transfer Specialist (NorCal)
CCTS
TAP

My name is Dion Medina (he/him). I was born in Pampanga, Philippines and later immigrated to Vallejo, CA, where I grew up. My educational journey began at Diablo Valley College, where I earned my associate's degree in communications. Subsequently, I transferred to the University of California, Irvine, where I obtained my bachelor's degree in Education, with a double major in Social Policy and Public Service. After graduating, I joined UC Irvine as the Community College Program Coordinator. My objective in this role is to assist students in achieving their educational goals through...

Elizabeth Potts

College Advisor
NAF at Berkeley

Elizabeth Potts graduated from UC Berkeley in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Minor in Education. As a first-generation and low-income college student herself, she has a passion for mentoring and college access. She believes that education is a human right and that all people, regardless of identity, academic background, or financial status, deserve to pursue their goals. As a college student, Elizabeth was heavily involved in the middle school mentoring organization Project SMILE, and as an RA in the Residence Halls. After graduating, Elizabeth served two years as...

Emerald Young

Associate Director of Academics
DCAC
EAOP

Emerald is a proud product of Oakland Public schools and the TRIO Talent Search Program formerly
known as Educational Guidance Center. As a first-generation low-income student, education has always
been an important part of Emerald and her families’ goal. With the support of her family and key
mentors, she was admitted and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Sociology with an
emphasis in social psychology.
She always envisioned herself working in a field that gives back to the community that raised her.
Through her work during her undergraduate year with the...

Folasadé Obisanya

Silicon Valley Regional Director
DCAC
EAOP

Sadé is no stranger to UC Berkeley nor CEP. She began her educational career here in February 2017 with the Upward Bound/Upward Bound Math Science program as the Math Science Program Coordinator. She truly found her passion working with students from similar backgrounds and intersections to her, underrepresented, low-income and first generation. From making great strides of service and advocacy, Sadé then stepped in to become the Regional Manager for Destination College Advising Corps, supporting the East Bay charter schools. She then suddenly transitioned to the College Board as an...