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Meet the Counselors

    Anum Qadir (she/her)

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    Assistant Director of EOP STEM Counseling

    Hi! I'm Anum -  I was a first generation, transfer student at UC Santa Cruz with a double major in Sociology and Environmental Studies, having started my work in EOP as a peer coach. Now, a decade later in higher education after various roles in academic advising and coaching, I'm honored to have a role serving as an Assistant Director of Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), at UC Santa Cruz! I believe in helping students build their agency throughout their journey at UC Santa Cruz through meaningful dialogue, counsel on campus navigation, and first-gen student engagement. Advocacy for students is the 'why' of my work! Outside of work, I love reading, hiking, community engagement, and art! Independent films, bookstores, and a solid coffee shop are some of my favorite things. 
    Location:
    Science Hill - Physical Sciences Building rm. 214
    Academic Resource Center - ARC Rm. 121
    Liaison: Cowell & Stevenson, Crown & Merrill, Physical & Biological Sciences, RISE Scholars
    Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi
    Contact: aqadir@ucsc.edu 

    • Leydi Cortes (she/her)

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    Lead EOP STEM Counselor

    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!

    Location:
    Science Hill - Physical Sciences Building rm. 214
    Academic Resource Center - ARC Rm. 121
    Liasion: Rachel Carson & Oakes, Baskin Engineering Advising, MESA, Next Generation Scholars in Applied Math, STARRS
    Languages: English, Spanish
    Contact: leacorte@ucsc.edu 

    • Nancy Gonzalez Reyes (she/her/ella)

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    EOP STEM Counselor & Academic Success Coach

    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.
    Location:
    Science Hill - Physical Sciences Building rm. 214
    Academic Resource Center - ARC Rm. 121
    Liasion: TBD
    Languages: English, Spanish
    Contact: npgonzal@ucsc.edu 

    • Emilia Cline Arellano (she/her)

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    EOP STEM Counselor & Academic Success Coach

    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.
    Location:
    Science Hill - Physical Sciences Building rm. 214
    Academic Resource Center - ARC Rm. 121
    Liasion: TBD
    Languages: English, Spanglish
    Contact: eclinear@ucsc.edu