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Panels
The Latinx Admit Weekend Committee would like to thank all alumni and student panelists. Thank you for sharing your valuable insight and experiences.

Stay Tuned!

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Laura Barrero, class of 2014 is a proud Bruin alum and member of the UCLA Latino Alumni Association. She completed her BA with UCLA's Communication Studies department and was actively involved on campus in Greek Life, Orientation Staff and the Bruin Ambassador program with the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Laura spent the early part of her career as a corporate recruiter for leading companies including Universal Studios, Ernst & Young and Warner Bros. Entertainment. She recently completed her Masters in Human Resources from Pepperdine Graziadio's business school, which allowed her to pivot into a new career as a project manager in HR operations. Outside of work, Laura volunteers on her local neighborhood council and with the San Fernando Valley LGBTQ+ Center. She loves anything outdoorsy, spending time with her fiance Michael (also a Latino Bruin) and their dog, Duke. Latinx Admin weekend has a soft spot in Laura's heart because that is how she met Michael nearly 8 years ago. Laura is a first-generation American and daughter of immigrants from Colombia and Ecuador.

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Ana Victoria Hernandez is a U.S. lawyer born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is the proud daughter of immigrants from Mexico and mother to a French-American child. In 2016, she earned her B.A. with departmental honors at UCLA on a full-ride scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Ms. Hernandez majored in Chicana/o Studies with a concentration on Labor, Law, & Policy; she minored in Global Studies. As part of her undergraduate education, she studied abroad in Mexico City and Paris. In 2021, Ms. Hernandez earned her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and was admitted to the California Bar. During her time at law school, she was also able to study international human rights law in Costa Rica. Ms. Hernandez graduated Loyola with an Immigrant Advocacy concentration. Ms. Hernandez is currently an attorney at the non-profit, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. Due to her personal background and passion for traveling, she enjoys working in the field of immigration law.

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Ms. Hernandez is thrilled to participate in UCLA’s 2023 Latinx Admit Weekend as she fondly remembers the profound impact the event had on her as a first-generation college student, as well as her family.

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Karla Aparicio serves as a Senior Account Executive for Summit Strategy Group. With more than 3 years in public affairs and media, Karla has supported various efforts in education, healthcare, and environmental issues to outreach to historically underrepresented communities over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to her work in public relations, Karla interned for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, where she supported efforts in education policy and advocacy for the farm working community in California’s Central Valley, where she was raised. During her time at UCLA, Karla participated in Hermanas Unidas, USAC committees, Latinx Grad committee, and other on campus clubs that helped foster community and made her feel at home as a first-generation student. She has a degree in Political Science and a minor in Education Studies from UCLA. Outside of work, Karla serves on the board of Hermanas Unidas, Inc. where she coordinates the annual Statewide Conference for Latinx undergraduates and alumni from all chapters in California. She also is involved in the Peruvian Folkloric Association in Bakersfield where she helps to foster and bring awareness to the Peruvian culture in the Central Valley.

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Coming Soon!

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My name is Ashley Ceballos-Hernandez. I am a fourth-year student double majoring in Public Affairs and Labor Studies. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have worked as a counselor for my college peers, and high school students, and have participated in many public policy fellowships. My current career track is to become a policy analyst or data analyst. I am very passionate about mentorship, and empowering youth and community members. Some of my identities include being first-generation, system-impacted, Latinx, and a woman. As someone with these identities, I hope to pursue a future uplifting and supporting communities of color from institutional structures such as the prison industrial system, and educational barriers. I am incredibly excited for the Latinx Admit Weekend because it is an empowering event for new admits that can help remind students of their power and belonging at UCLA.

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Hello everyone! Happy to be a part of this space. My name is Alex Valdivia and I am a first-generation student like many of y’all. I am a 4th year (2nd year transfer) double-majoring in political science and labor studies, and I will be taking next year off to study for my LSAT and apply to law school, where I later intend to go into public interest law. Throughout my time at UCLA I have been involved in various programs and clubs including the Latinx Pre-Law Organization where I serve as the President, the USAC External Vice President’s office where I lobby on education policy at the state and federal level, and the Astin Scholars program where I am doing a year long research project. I am so glad y’all are joining us at this event, which I know will be helpful for many of you as it was for me when I first got into UCLA and went to the Latinx Admit Weekend. Feel free to reach out and/or ask any questions, as I am always willing to help out other Latinx Bruins!

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My name is Leslie Castelan Chavez (she/her) and I am a fourth-year Cognitive Science major with a specialization in Computing and a Minor in Public Affairs. I am a first-generation Mexican American student and I’m excited to be on this year’s panel! My background is in technology, public policy, and music. I have a wide variety of interests but I am currently interested in going into the field of technology in music companies. I hope to be able to work on applications such as Spotify where I can come up with new ways of sharing and enjoying music such as wrapped playlists where people can see their top songs of the year. I currently intern for Livenation and work as a tutor for a computer science class at UCLA. I also have an interest in community service and am Project SPELL’s Vice President. We tutor UCLA workers in English! In the past, I’ve also been involved in student government, and organizing, and hope to continue to uplift my community throughout my life. I am excited to be here and help answer your questions about UCLA! 

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Hi, soy Ashley (: I am a 2nd year Civil Engineering Major first gen Mexicana from the Inland Empire. Some external interests of mine include basketball, football americano, music, and sunsets! For my time at UCLA so far, my two years here have flown by but have been filled with the best experiences, learned lessons, and self-discoveries I am ever so grateful for. I have been involved with organizations such as CEED, ASCE, SOLES, EERI-SEAOSC, LAW, and currently work for UCLA Youthsource.
I could not imagine myself anywhere besides UCLA now being here. The fast pace, diverse, and complex environment has allowed me to grow out of my comfort zone, and access so many opportunities. I have been able to get involved in research, student projects, networking with industry, career fairs, outreach, intramural sports, and more.
I attended my year’s admit weekend, in which it really brought a feeling of community at the place I was going to call home for the next four years. It wasn’t until then that I realized how important it was to me. I did not have this community in high school, so the event left me so excited and happy to come in the fall.

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