Biographies
Cristina
Aguirre
I was born in Ramona, CA but raised in Fresno, CA. Aftergraduating from Roosevelt High School, I attended UCSD where I graduated in 1998 with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. I have been involved with TRIO programs for about 5 years. The best thing about this job is working with the students and the great staff. During my spare time I like to go jogging or kick back at home and watch old movies such as Goonies. I enjoy dancing to and listening to Rock en Español. But most of all I love to play and watch soccer. In the future, I hope to stay involved with student outreach programs, as well as obtain a masters degree.
Rachel Acosta
Rachel is a 2006 USD alumna who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She is currently working on her masters in Leadership with an emphasis on Educational Reform. While a student at USD, Rachel worked closely with USD’s Center for Community Service Learning as the Juvenile Hall Site Coordinator and an Educational Scholar Advocate for San Diego youth. In 2006, Rachel accepted a position with Teach for America and taught High School in the Rio Grande Valley. Outside of her passion to work for social justice, Rachel loves to sing gospel music, cook, and spend time with her family. Rachel thrives off seeing her students reach their potential and strives to inspire each one to become socially conscious citizens of this world!
Sara Boquin
Sara is a graduate of the University of California, at San Diego with a major in Spanish Literature and is currently completing a Master of Arts at San Diego State University in Latin American Studies. Sara has worked for TRiO programs since 2001 and has been with the USD SSS program since 2006. Sara truly loves her job of assisting undergraduates with academics and to navigate the wonders of this thing called life.
Noel Salunga
Noel Salunga has been part of the TRIO family as a TRIO Talent Search Alumni, Summer Bridge Participant, Upward Bound Tutor/Counselor, SSS Academic Tutor, UB Academic Coordinator, and now is currently the McNair Scholars Director at the University of San Diego. In addition, he is an adjunct instructor of Ethnic Studies USD, teaching Asian American Studies courses. While maintaining his academic and professional duties, Noel is also a current part time graduate student working on his Ed.D.
Shelley Barajas-Leyva
Shelley Barajas-Leyva is a native San Diegan. She is the proud Academic Coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program at the University of San Diego. She holds a B.A. in Spanish with a Minor in Religious Studies from San Diego State University. She is currently working towards a Masters in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling at the University of San Diego, in the School of Leadership and Education. Shelley enjoys salsa dancing and singing karaoke! She thrives off of seeing her students succeed and she is determined to be a life long learner.
Ramiro Frausto 
Ramiro Frausto was born and raised in San Diego, and is proud to call America’s finest city his home. He is currently in his senior year at San Diego State University where he will earn his B.A. in history. In addition to being part of the McNair and SSS teams at USD, he is also a McNair Scholar at SDSU. In pursuit of a PhD, his primary goal is join the professorate. Ramiro truly enjoys his position with the Institute of College Initiatives and credits his experience here with renewing his academic vigor and dedication.
Anayensi is currently a senior at USD double majoring in English and Philosophy, minoring in Gender Studies. Currently, she is the Academic Coordinator for the Upward Bound program. She has served as a Tutor for 2 years and as an RA for 2 UB Summers. She greatly enjoys working with the UB high school students, assisting them with academics and helping them reach their potential. In her free time she enjoys going to the beach, doing community service, collecting postcards, playing soccer and tennis, reading, and attending spoken word events. Within the USD community she is involved with the Women's Center, Student Support Services, Intramural Soccer, TRiO Association, ASTRA Club, and Alpha Kappa Psi.
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Ouma hails from the northern part of Uganda, in the popular town of Gulu that experienced war from 1986 to 2006. He attained a bachelor degree in Development Studies from Gulu University in Uganda in 2006 and a diploma in Leadership and Management of the Civil Society from Strathmore University in Kenya in 2008. From 2006 to 2010, he has been involved with the Non Profit sector activities to promote access to livelihoods for poor communities, peer-to-peer peace building, child protection and education. He worked with Youth Coalition for Peace as a Team Leader; Concerned Parents’ Association as a Program Officer, all in Uganda. His most recent work was with the Norwegian Refugee Council, an International Non Governmental Organization in Uganda, as the Project Coordinator for the organization’s Education program. He championed the Go Back to School and Stay in School campaign that was designed by the ministry of Education in Uganda to promote the education of girl children, he coordinated teacher training activities and youth education program. His experience of the war in northern Uganda, work with former child soldiers, and the Youth Coalition for Peace deeply inspired him to pursue the MA in Peace and Justice Studies at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies (University of San Diego).
Originally from Michigan, Mary Miller is currently a Junior at USD majoring in Marketing and minoring in Spanish. She has been working with the ICI for two years now as the Assistant to the Director, Cynthia Villis, Ph.D. She is also the immediate Past President of USD's Rotaract Club. In her free time Mary loves to do listen to music and cook.
