EOP Staff

EOP Director

B.A. Social Behavioral Science, California State University Monterey Bay

M.A. Higher Education, University of Denver 

Jesus Morales has joined the division of Student Affairs and Success as the new Director of Educational Opportunity Programs. Jesus is a transformational and dynamic leader who brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to UC, Santa Cruz. In his prior roles he has assisted in supporting executive decision making and continuous improvement via key roles in offices of enrollment services, counseling, IT, institutional planning, policy formation, outcomes assessment and strategic, academic, operational planning in both the California Community Colleges and State University systems. Prior to joining UC Santa Cruz, Jesus served as Director of Degree Planning Initiatives at Los Rios Community College District where he successfully implemented Highpoint Degree Planner online advising tool.

As he transitions into his this exciting chapter at UC, Santa Cruz, he looks forward to meeting everyone, becoming a contributor to our collective agenda, and, above all, serving our current students and future educators by providing them with a positive student experience. Jesus earned a BA in Social Behavioral Science from California State University and an MA in Higher Education from the University of Denver with an emphasis in Organizational Change.

Assistant Director of EOP | EOP STEM Counseling

 B.A. Environmental Science, UC Santa Cruz ; B.A. Sociology, UC Santa Cruz

Assistant Director for Undocumented Student Services

Academic Counselor | Wellness Program

B.A. Sociology, UC Santa Cruz

B.A. Latin American & Latinx Studies, UC Santa Cruz

Welcome to EOP! As an EOP Academic Counselor and program coordinator, I hope to provide a space of support and community for all EOP students. In my role, I provide holistic counseling for all EOP students and I work with a student staff team to create fun and engaging wellness activities for our EOP community. I look forward to working with you and I hope to see you around at the ARCenter! 

A little bit about me: I am a first-generation college graduate and alumna from UCSC! As a student, EOP was the space where I found support, community and friends. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and Santa Cruz has become my second home. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, cooking, baking, journaling, spending time with friends and going on long walks and adventures with my pug! 

Email: luaortiz@ucsc.edu 
Location: Academic Resources Center (ARCenter) 121
Liaison: Porter College, Kresge College

Academic Counselor | EOP Ambassador & P2R, GPS Coordinator

B.S. Business - Supply Chain, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

M.S.Ed. Higher Education Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

My name is Maurice Nicholson, and I’m excited to introduce myself as one of the EOP Academic Counselors. I’m originally from Milwaukee, WI, but I’ve recently made the move to the beautiful state of California—and I’m already loving it here! A little about me: I identify as mixed-race (African American/Black and Puerto Rican), and I’m passionate about a lot of things—sports, comics, art, and cooking are just a few of my hobbies. I believe that life is about finding joy in the things that make us unique and bringing those passions into the work we do.

Academically, I’m a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where I earned both my B.S. in Business and my M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership. My journey hasn’t always been easy—coming from humble beginnings, I understand firsthand the challenges that many students face. This experience has fueled my commitment to student success and retention, and I am dedicated to helping students overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

One of my core beliefs is that learning is a lifelong journey. We should always be striving to grow, not just academically, but as individuals. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve students here at UC Santa Cruz, and I truly hope to make a positive impact on both the students I work with and the campus community as a whole.

I’m looking forward to this new chapter at UCSC and am eager to be of service to all of you. Please feel free to reach out if you ever need anything—I’m here to support you on your journey.

Lead EOP STEM Academic Counselor

B.A. Mathematics, UC Santa Barbara

M.S. Higher Education Counseling & Student Affairs, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Hello EOP students! My name is Leydi Cortes, and I serve as one of the EOP STEM Counselors. I began my undergraduate journey at Santa Barbara City College and then transferred to UC Santa Barbara, where I earned my B.A. in Mathematics. In 2023 I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with my Masters in Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs.

My firsthand experiences as a first-generation, low-income, DACA-mented college student drives my passion to support, empower, and advocate for students. In my counseling role, my focus is on fostering relationships built on trust and respect. I strive to cultivate an atmosphere where students feel at ease sharing their stories. My objective is to form partnerships with students, ensuring they feel supported, confident, and connected to the resources they need to navigate both personal and educational goals.

Outside of work, I enjoy watching new movies and shows. I enjoy cooking my mom’s recipes and occasionally trying a new recipe. My self-care routine includes walks or a workout, reading a good book, puzzles, board games, or video games, and treating myself to a local cup of coffee.

I’m excited to connect with you!

EOP Academic Counselor - Undocumented Student Services

B.A. Liberal Studies, emphasis in Cross-Cultural Studies, The National Hispanic University

Hello! My name is Karina, and I’m proud to serve as a counselor with the Educational Opportunities Program’s Undocumented Student Services (USS) at UC Santa Cruz. I was born in Guerrero, Mexico, and raised in East San Jose, California. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Studies from the National Hispanic University, where I discovered my passion for working in student affairs and helping others succeed.

At UCSC, I’m dedicated to providing guidance, resources, and advocacy for undocumented students, helping them navigate higher education and achieve their goals. I believe in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where students feel empowered to thrive.

When I’m not at work, you can usually find me spending time with my family and friends.

If you’re ever in the ARCenter, please stop by and say hello! I’m on campus on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and I’m also available to meet virtually. 

I look forward to meeting you and supporting you on your journey here at UCSC!

Availability link: https://ucsc.campus.eab.com/pal/Nq4uQGXmJY

EOP Administrative Specialist

B.A. Psychology, UC Santa Cruz

B.A. Latinx-American/Latinx Studies (LALS), UC Santa Cruz

Hello everyone! My name is Roberto Becerra and I am a recent UCSC alum. During my time in Santa Cruz, EOP was a great resource that supported me all four years. I was an EOP Bridgee as well as an EOP Wellness intern for 3 years during my undergrad. Now that I have transitioned from student staff to professional staff, I am excited to provide support to EOP students the same way that it was provided to me. 

A little bit about me is that I am a first-generation college student who was born and rained in Inglewood, California. Coming up to Santa Cruz was a huge transition for me and one that almost made me leave UC Santa Cruz within my first quarter here. I hope to meet students to alleviate their concerns regarding navigating higher education and to know that they can succeed! 

Staff Attorney

B.A. Psychology with minor in English, Barnard College, Columbia University

Joint J.D./M.S.W., Boston College

Ritu Goswamy (they/them) is a Staff Attorney with the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center and serves UC Santa Cruz. They are a graduate from Barnard College, Columbia University (B.A. Psychology, minor in English) and Boston College (Joint J.D./M.S.W. degrees). Prior to joining the Center, Ritu worked as a child welfare worker in Oakland, and as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center (now Legal Aid at Work) and Legal Advocates for Children & Youth (part of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley). Ritu was an Equal Justice Works Fellow with Homeboy Industries, where they founded the legal services program serving formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people. Ritu then ran their own private immigration law practice for 15 years focused on complex family-based and naturalization cases, U visas, VAWA, asylum, and removal defense. Ritu is also a leadership and wellness coach and published author. They enjoy hiking, walking on the beach, farmers markets and ayurvedic wellness practices. Ritu is a second-generation immigrant, and proficient in Spanish and Hindi.

EOP STEM Counselor & Academic Success Coach

B.A. History, UC Santa Cruz

B.A. Education, UC Santa Cruz

M.Ed. Higher Education with focus in Student Engagement, Pennsylvania State University

Nancy Gonzalez Reyes is an EOP STEM Counselor and Academic Success Coach with seven years of experience supporting students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds in both K-12 and higher education. As a first-generation student and daughter of immigrant parents, Nancy is deeply committed to dismantling barriers in academic pathways to help students achieve their full potential. She earned her degree in History and Education from UCSC and recently completed her M.Ed. in Higher Education with a focus on Student Engagement from Pennsylvania State University. Nancy is dedicated to being a resource and advocate for students, providing guidance and creating a safe space for exploring the higher education system. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, and engaging in creative pursuits such as painting, pottery, and live music.

Email: npgonzal@ucsc.edu 
Location: Academic Resources Center (ARCenter) 121, Baskin Engineering (BE) 159

EOP STEM Counselor & Academic Success Coach

B.A. Sociology with minor in Education, UC Santa Cruz

M.A.Ed. K-12 and College Counseling, University of Redlands

Hello EOP Banana Slugs! My name is Emilia Cline Arellano and I serve as one of the EOP STEM Counselors & Academic Success Coach. My goal is to collaborate with students and empower them to pave their pathway to success. My counseling style focuses on the intersectionality of a student's experience and use of that experience to identify the unique strengths that all student's possess. A little about me, I was a first generation college student and a former EOP student. I received my B.A. at UC Santa Cruz in Sociology with a minor in Education. After working for several years at the Santa Cruz County Medical Society, I went back to school and received my M.A. in Education with a focus in K-12 and College Counseling from the University of Redlands. I have been working with students across California in a variety of different settings from teaching nutrition education in K-12 schools to serving as a School Counselor to support mental wellness.

Email: eclinear@ucsc.edu 
Location: Academic Resources Center (ARCenter) 121, Baskin Engineering (BE) 159

UC Computing Scholars Coordinator

B.A. Child and Adolescent Development, California State University Northridge

M.S. College Counseling and Student Development, Azusa Pacific University

Hi everyone! I am excited to share a bit of myself. I was an EOP scholar at CSU Northridge (CSUN) during my undergraduate years and received a lot of support from the EOP staff. I made really close friendships with my EOP peers who are still some of my closest friends till this day. Growing up, I was part of a K-12 organization called Harmony Project that supports first generation and under-resourced communities in Los Angeles through music education along with building college/university navigating skills which were so helpful in my own educational journey. My interest in pursuing a career where I could support the greater community through education greatly increased when I became a peer advisor at CSUN and got the opportunity to mentor first and 2nd year students. Before working at UCSC, I worked at UC Merced as an academic advisor and coordinator of peer advising. I am beyond excited to continue to support UC scholars here at Santa Cruz! A bit of myself outside of work, I enjoy walking my dog, trying new food, karaoke, singing, and dancing. I look forward to connecting with all of you!

Email: kealas@ucsc.edu
Location: Baskin Engineering (BE) 181