Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, TaÃna started her educational career at LA Valley College as a nontraditional returning transfer student. Inspired by her passion for social justice and pride in her multicultural Latinx identity, TaÃna earned her degrees in Sociology and Latin American Studies from UC Santa Cruz. After graduating, she began her professional career in student affairs at Services for Transfer and Re-entry Students (STARS). TaÃna's passion for working with transfer students guided her to UC Berkeley’s Center for Educational Partnership, where she oversaw communications statewide for the Puente Project. When returning to Los Angeles, TaÃna joined UCLA where she oversaw the Living Learning Communities for UCLA's Office of Residential Life. As Assistant Director of Student and Community Engagement at SLICE, TaÃna oversees the programs that engage OXY students with the college campus and connects them with the greater Los Angeles community.
In her personal praxis, TaÃna co-directs Plaza Comunitaria Sinaloa, a non-profit organization that empowers underserved communities through adult education, employment development, and community events that celebrate the cultural diversity in the San Fernando Valley.
Stop by her office at SLICE and community build!