Abstract
With the increasing number of undocumented students at the UC campuses, it has become pertinent that campuses create an inclusive campus climate to promote the recruitment, retention, and graduation for this distinct population of students. As of fall 2014, all UC campuses now have student support services for undocumented students including a coordinated support services office or resource center, student and professional staff, and campus allies. In this panel discussion, attendees will learn and collaborate with current directors, counselors and coordinators who all work directly with undocumented students to share best practices,challenges, and the next steps in continuing to build the bridge for serving this special student population.
Speaker Biography
Enrique Campos
Enrique, Undocumented Student Program Coordinator, SOAR, UCLA
Enrique Campos is the Undocumented Student Program Coordinator. He holds a B.A degree in Spanish from UCLA. He was born in Mexico and migrated to the United States at the age of ten. In his role as the coordinator, he currently oversees the Mariposa Achievement Project which is the program’s commitment to enhancing the student’s academic success. Also, he provides navigational tools to students to enhance their academic performance and rise the retention rates in the university.
Habiba Simjee
Habiba, Coordinator, Undocumented Student Services, UCSB
Habiba Simjee received a J.D. from Berkeley Law, and her B.A. in International Studies, Economics and History from UC San Diego. Drawing on her experiences during law school providing legal services to undocumented students in collaboration with the Undocumented Student Program at UC Berkeley, Habiba now coordinates the programming efforts for undocumented students at UC Santa Barbara. Habiba works closely with various campus and community partners to ensure that undocumented students receive the support they need to succeed in their academic and career goals.
Andrea Gaytan
Andrea, Director, AB 540 & Undocumented Student Center, UC Davis
Andrea Gaytan is the director of the AB540 & Undocumented Student Center at UC Davis. She uses a cross-cultural and social justice lens to critically engage in her work. As the founding director of the center, she has been responsible for creating meaningful collaborations across campus departments, including coordination of academic advising, legal consultation, counseling and financial support services to better serve undocumented students, their families and the community at large."
