Courageous Career Conversations Conference Speakers & Alumni

Adriana is the Director of the Office of Public Participation (OPP) at the California State Water Resources Control Board, which was created to ensure the Water Boards’ decision-making processes involve the public and uplift perspectives from environmental justice communities and California Native American Tribes. OPP supports the Water Boards by implementing effective stakeholder engagement and public outreach, facilitating meetings, and providing resources for language access. Adriana is also the Water Boards' Tribal Liaison and in this capacity, they facilitate government-to-government engagement between the Water Boards and California Native American Tribes.

Previously, Adriana was Regional Water Manager at the Community Water Center and Coordinator for the People of Color Sustainability Collective at the UC Santa Cruz American Indian Resource Center. They have years of experience improving community involvement in water quality and water rights governance including advocating for increased access to clean drinking water through the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. They have developed and facilitated workshops, programs, and events related to environmental justice, Human right to Water, groundwater management, racial justice, and community leadership.

Julisa Lopez (she/her): Social Psychology PhD candidate at the University of Michigan

Julisa Lopez is Mexican American and a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. She was raised in the Central Valley and, in 2018, she became the first member of her family to graduate from college with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. During her time at UCSC, she was an intern at the American Indian Resource Center for three years and a research assistant for Dr. Covarrubias social psychology research lab for three years. Currently she is a Social Psychology PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. Broadly, her research explores how representations of Indigenous Peoples in society shapes how people think about and interact with Indigenous Peoples. Julisa orients herself as a research scientist, data warrior and social justice scholar. As she pursues her PhD, Julisa remains highly involved as an organizer in her Indigenous community and is committed to putting her research into action. Ultimately, her goal is to use research as a tool to improve the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples.

Rennea Howell (She/they): PreK-12 Program Officer

Rennea is affiliated with the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma. She attended UCSC from 2015-2019, during which time she served for two years as an intern for the American Indian Resource Center (AIRC). While at the AIRC, Rennea discovered a passion for educational equity, specifically pertaining to Indigenous students. Upon graduating from UCSC with a BS in Molecular and Cellular Developmental Biology, she joined Teach For America as a South Dakota corps member. Rennea taught high school science on the Standing Rock Reservation from 2019-2021. In June of 2021, Rennea transitioned to work at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), a national non-profit that focuses on increasing indigenous representation in STEM fields. In her current role, Rennea works to support indigenous youth, as well as their teachers, in k-12 schools throughout the country. She oversees two science fairs exclusive to Native students, a computer science program, and a Native youth community project based out of Cheyenne River in South Dakota, along with several smaller programs.

Jasmine Banks (she/her): Project & Policy Analyst, EOP at UCSC

Essence Spencer (she/her): Social Media Strategist, Four Year Success Fellow 

Angie Yang (she/her): Electronic Arts, Philanthropy Social Impact Coordinator

Hi I’m Angie (she/her) a UCSC alum from the class of 2021. Sometimes you can find me donating to non-profits all over the world as a Social Impact professional at one of the worlds largest gaming companies. And other times you can find me crocheting on the couch, hanging out with my loved ones, or traveling to a new city to experience the food scene!

Kailey Dillard (she/her): City Year, Student Success Coach

My name is Kailey (she/her) and I'm a 2021 UCSC graduate in Feminist Studies. I'm currently a Student Success Coach at City Year. In my spare time I like to study astrology, numerology, watch movies and spend time with my pets.

Xiomara López, M.Ed. (she/her/ella): Director, El Centro: Chicanx Latinx Resource Center

Xiomara (she/her/ella) was raised in South Los Angeles and is a proud daughter of immigrants from México and Guatemala. She is a first-generation college graduate and received her B.A. in Legal Studies from UCSC and an M.Ed. in Educational Counseling from USC. She has over five years of experience in student affairs within the UC system and the California Community Colleges. After interning at El Centro during her undergraduate career, Xiomara was inspired to engage in cultural center work. As the Director of El Centro, she is excited to work with students, staff, and faculty to develop culturally-relevant programming and co-curricular activities that support the transition to the university, promote holistic wellness, and foster a sense of belonging and community for Chicanx Latinx students. Xiomara leads with values of social justice, diversity and inclusion, corazón, and service to students.

Srija Srinivasan (she/her):

Hi! My name is Srija Srinivasan (she/her). I am a first-generation college grad from the class of 2020 and a former AA/PIRC intern. While at UCSC, I studied Intensive Psychology and Cognitive Science with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence. Currently, I am working as a User Experience Researcher in the tech industry. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, playing video games, and exploring Bay Area cuisine!