Daniel Lopez is a double alumnus, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SDSU Imperial Valley and a Master’s degree in Educational Counseling from SDSU. As a first-generation student, he embodies the spirit of perseverance and determination in pursuing higher education, blazing a trail for others in his family and community. His passion for education and commitment to student success are evident in his desire to pursue an EDD (Doctor of Education) degree. By combining his academic background with his professional experiences, Daniel seeks to deepen his understanding of educational systems and further develop his skills as an advocate for students from diverse backgrounds. Lastly he is eager to continue his journey of assisting students on their path to higher education, leveraging his expertise, experiences, and unwavering dedication to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Andrea is a transfronteriza and first-generation student. Although she moved to the U.S. as an adult, she committed herself to learning English and decided to study psychology. She graduated with an Academic Excellence Award from SDSU IV and was the student representative for the Building Bridges Graduation in Mexicali in 2023. She is currently a student in the master's in Social Work program and the Graduate Assistant for the Cross-Cultural Center (CCC). During her undergraduate studies, she was involved in research, was a research assistant, and presented at multiple national and local conferences. She was also a tutor and a member of the Chicanx Sin Fronteras Club and Psychology Club. She joined the CCC’s advisory committee in the Spring of 2022 and has been a member since then. In her spare time, she loves to cook vegan food, spend time with loved ones, play with her cat and dog, and play video games.
Alissa Ramos was born in the Imperial Valley and raised between the two borders. She graduated from Imperial Valley College with an associate degree in Psychology and continued on to SDSU-IV for her Bachelor’s in the same subject. She was accepted and graduated from Cal State San Bernardino with a master’s in Experimental Psychology. She came back to the Imperial Valley to teach Psychology at SDSU-IV and usually teaches Cognitive Psychology, Behavior Modification, Chicanx Psychology, and Behavioral Aspects of Teaching. As of 2020, Professor Ramos became the coordinator of the Academic Learning Center and is responsible for tutoring, mentoring, and workshops for the university.
Melissa is a Mexican First-Generation College Student and Transfronteriza from Calexico-Mexicali. She graduated from SDSU Imperial Valley with her B.A. in Psychology and obtained her M.A. in Education Counseling with mental health recovery and trauma-informed care focus. She enjoys helping people by providing food services and creating nutrition events as the Food Pantry Coordinator. She likes to listen to music and watch comfort movies during her free time.
Susana is the Academic Support/Student Affairs Coordinator, and is the heart and soul of SDSU-IV Student Affairs. With a boundless dedication, she serves as a pillar of support for students, faculty, and staff. Her unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment makes her an indispensable asset to the academic community. Whether providing guidance, lending a listening ear, or spearheading initiatives to enhance student success, Susana's passion for her role shines through in every endeavor.
Vannessa Falcón Orta is Transfronteriza (transborder) from the San Diego-Tijuana borderlands and the daughter of working-class immigrant parents from Mexico and Peru. She graduated from SDSU’s Joint Ph.D. Program in Education (JDP) with Claremont Graduate University. Vannessa is Assistant Professor in the Division of Education at SDSU Imperial Valley and in the School of Teacher Education at the SDSU College of Education. A scholar and organizer dedicated to the social justice of Transfronterizx students, her research, teaching and service center on preparing Critically Conscious Border Educators along the California-Baja California Borderlands. She has published her findings in the Journal of Transborder Studies, the journal of New Directions for Student Services, the Journal of Borderlands Studies, and in the National Association of Bilingual Education. For the past decade, she has implemented innovative initiatives informed by her interdisciplinary research in transborder studies and education centered on the advocacy of Transfronterizx students at the San Diego-Tijuana, Imperial Valley-Mexicali and Douglas-Agua Prieta border regions. She is the founder of the Transfronterizx Alliance Student Organization (TASO), creator of the Transborder Student Ally Program (TSAP), and co-founder of Transfronterizx Futures (TF), a forthcoming federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as a hub dedicated to creating initiatives focused on the social justice of the Transfronterizx community at the San Diego-Tijuana border region. She also founded the Building Bridges Graduation Initiative at the SDSU-IV Cross-Cultural Center, the first-ever transborder graduation at the U.S.-Mexico border, providing graduates whose immediate family members cannot cross the border an opportunity to celebrate graduation with their loved ones in México. Today Vannessa is proud to call the Calexico-Mexicali border region her home. For fun, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking with her dog, Chocolate, and dancing tango.
German is a proud California migrant student, and a veteran who graduated from The College of the Desert with an AA in Liberal Arts, a BA in Spanish Literature from CSU, San Bernardino, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in Community College/Higher Education from Northern Arizona University. Prior to his arrival at SDSU, he worked at Palo Verde College and Arizona Western College as an academic advisor for EOPS, Career and Veteran Services, Financial Aid Tech III, Job & Clinical Placement Coordinator, and Financial Aid Director. German is passionate about supporting students in higher education and wants to continue to grow professionally while providing equal access and opportunities to San Diego State University Imperial Valley students. During his free time, he enjoys camping and spending quality time with friends and family.
Aday serves as the Case Management Coordinator for the Counseling & Psychological Services (C&PS) at SDSU-Imperial Valley. She helps our students connect with student health services as well as break the stigma against mental health and spread awareness of the importance of seeking help. Aday graduated from Imperial Valley College with an AA in Behavioral Sciences as a first-generation college graduate. She transferred her studies to Northern Arizona University, Yuma Campus, where she earned a BA in social work. She then proceeded to obtain her master’s in social work from San Diego State University, IV Campus in 2017. Aday was a transfronteriza student herself making those long border lines every weekend. She is currently studying to take the licensing exam for the LCSW. Aday likes to be involved in our campus community and serves as a wellness coach for our first Guardian Scholars as well as serving as part of the Advisory Committee for the Cross-Cultural Center.
Melissa is advising Criminal Justice, and Public Administration. Melissa graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Children and Family Services, and from Grand Canyon University with a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Melissa has worked in Mental Health Rehabilitation and most recently as an Outreach Specialist with Imperial Valley College where in addition to outreach she assisted students in meeting their academic and social needs. Melissa has also volunteered in support of the elderly and the Imperial Valley LGBTQ+ Resource Center. She was a first-generation college student and is committed to supporting students from similar backgrounds as they navigate higher education. Melissa enjoys baking, reading, and spending quality time with her family.
Angela Piña is the STEM Healthcare Retention Specialist and Academic Adivisor for Public Health major. She graduated from SDSU-IV in 2022 as part of the IVUP Program. Throughout her three years on campus, she demonstrated a strong commitment to advocating for student needs, a dedication that persisted even throughout the challenges posed by the pandemic. Over the past four years, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, Angela has been actively involved in various campus organizations, including Associated Students, Chicanx Club, and Planned Parenthood Generation Action. Notably, she has made significant contributions to the Student Accommodation Services Center (SASC), where she played a key role in establishing the SASC Center—a safe and inclusive environment for students. Angela's efforts extended to enhancing the department's operations by implementing systems for employee hours, conducting informative workshops, and creating promotional materials for SASC. Angela's passion for supporting students on their academic journeys led her to pursue a master's degree in Education and Counseling, which she completed in May 2023. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Angela enjoys embracing challenges, whether they be mental or physical. She finds joy in reading, staying active, and expanding her linguistic horizons by learning Italian and Japanese.
Part Time Instructor in History and advisor of Chicanx Sin Frontera. Gilberto Reyes Morgan, has always lived between Mexicali and El Centro he is what we call a transfronterizx person. As Native of the hybrid borderland (Mexicali/Valle Imperial) he has based my academic work in its history. His thesis Race and National Identity in Mexicali, Territory of Baja California, Mexico (1903-1937), talks about the cultural, economic, and social impact the Japanese and Chinese communities had in Mexicali through the 1900 to the early 1940s and I also focus on agrarian movements like 1937 Asalto a las Tierras and how the colonization of the Colorado River has had a negative effect in the Cucapa community. Gilberto got his A.A. in Liberal Studies at Imperial Valley College and his B.A. in History from San Diego State University Imperial Valley. He also has a Masters in History from Cal State Fullerton under the guidance of the Chicano Anthropologist Dr. Alexandro Gradilla, Historians Dr. Steven Neufield, Nancy Fitch, and Dr. Gerardo Arellano (now in UCSD Raza Center). Since 2013 thanks to the Chicanx Studies Program and History Department he has presented various topics on the history of the counter cultural movements in México since 1950s-1990s and struggles in of the Chicnax community at the Imperial County at the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS). In 2015 he came back to Mexicali/Imperial Valley since then he has taught as a part timer at both of his alma mater Imperial Valley College and San Diego State University (IV Campus). In the past four years he has worked at IVC with faculty and staff on creating a Chicano Major at IVC. He has taught and helped create the course Chicano 100 (intro to Chicano Studies) and Chicano 110 (Chicano Heritages). In addition, Gilberto is not only advisor and one of the founders of the SDSU IV Campus club Chicanx Sin Fronteras but he has also become the mentor of many SDSU students that are going to be the future leaders of the Imperial Valley.
Perla Soto-Urzua
Perla is an English major and is studying in San Diego State University in Imperial Valley. Her career goal is to teach English Literature and Creative Writing. She enjoys reading and writing in her free time. Perla’s passion is to write and dreams to publish a book one day. Her aspiration is for her words to be used as an escape or solace from the real world. She is currently a leader in different student success fees throughout SDSU. She enjoys participating in various projects on campus and loves helping any way she can.
Frida Diaz is a graduate student currently working on her Master’s in Social Work. She also works as Head Coach for the Academic Learning Center. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology at SDSU-IV in the spring of 2023. Frida is set to graduate in May of 2026 and looks forward to becoming a school social worker and creating a safe and inclusive environment for children.
Alexia Reyes
Alexia is an English major and is studying in San Diego State University in Imperial Valley. Her goal is to make friends and have an amazing experience in SDSU. She likes to listen to music, especially BTS. She reads in her free time and likes to write short stories. She is currently a leader in different student success fees throughout SDSU. She always helps everyone around her and is happy to participate in any event or organization. ll as informing students about the resources available for them.
