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Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity staff

Ashley Allen

Ashley Allen

Director, Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity

Contact: ashleyallen@augustana.edu

Leticia Martinez

Leticia Martinez

Office Assistant, Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity

Contact: leticiamartinez@augustana.edu

Student staff 2022-2023

iratze aceves

Iratze Aceves

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Beardstown, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Majors: Psychology, French
Campus Involvement: PACE, Latinx Unidos, Colegia Classica, Augustana Concert Band, HER Campus, TRIO

How do you hope to be a student leader of change at Augustana? I hope to be an example of change, of advocacy, and helping students who come to the office find resources about any topic that relates to diversity. And just like in my previous answers, to help educate and change the people around us. 

diego andon

Diego Andon

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Year: Senior
Majors: Anthropology, Sociology
Campus Involvement: PACE, Latinx Unidos, Filipino Student Organization, Delta Omega Nu

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE has connected me with relationships that will go beyond college.

francesca anduray

Francesca Anduray

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Mount Prospect, Ill.
Year: Junior
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders 
Campus Involvement: PACE, UNYK Multicultural Dance Troupe, Music Maestro, Chi Omega Gamma

Why did you choose to become a mentor? I wanted to create the same impact as my mentors did for me.

stephanie carreno

Stephanie Carreno

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Carpentersville, Ill.
Year: Senior
Major: History
Campus Involvement: PACE, Latinx Unidos, Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity and Special Collections

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE has greatly impacted my experience at Augustana. It has made me a leader in many aspects of my life. None of it would have been possible without PACE encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone.

augie a

Anh Cao

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Vietnam
Year: Senior
Majors: Business Administration, Communication Studies
Campus Involvement: Vietnamese Students Association, Young Democratic Socialists of America

Why is DEI important to you at Augustana? College is supposed to be a space for people to thrive and become the best version of themselves, but one cannot do that if they do not feel safe and included. DEI helps to make students feel more comfortable and welcome. It gives them the extra support they need to find and raise their voices.

aniyah davis

Aniyah Davis

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Majors: Psychology, Theater
Campus Involvement: PACE, Black Student Union, Latinx Unidos, Augie Step, Disney Club, Dat Poetry Lounge

Why did you choose to become a mentor? I chose to become a PACE mentor because I want to give back my knowledge and experience to incoming PACE students to let them know they are not alone. My PACE mentor helped me become more comfortable at Augustana and inspired me to be myself. I know that imposter syndrome can be very common for people of color at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) so I want incoming PACE students to feel as comfortable as my mentor made me.

tristyn escobedo

Tristyn Escobedo

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Willowbrook, Ill.
Year: Senior
Majors: Biology, Pre-Physical Therapy
Campus Involvement: PACE, Omicron Sigma Omicron, TriBeta Biology National Honor Society, Mortar Board Senior National Honor Society, Pre-Soma, Latinx Unidos 

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE made me feel comfortable being on campus and I have met many good friends through the program. My mentors my first year and the OSID staff have taught me what it means to be a good mentor. 

brandon fleisher

Brandon Fleisher

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Gurnee, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Majors: Sociology, Communications
Campus Involvement: PACE, Latinx Unidos, Club Soccer

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? It has helped me a lot through the connections I have made and also has made me more comfortable on campus. Looking back, the program really gave me the edge before the rest of the kids came onto campus.

jaaliyah heard

Jaaliyah Heard

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Swansea, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology on Pre-Med Track 
Campus Involvement: PACE, Black Student Union, Health and Wellness Club, Chemical Society

What is your favorite part about PACE? My favorite part about PACE was when the different offices came and talked to us. It helped ease my mind knowing I had all these support systems.

andrew leon sanchez

Andrew Leon Sanchez

Position: Social Media Content Creator
Hometown: Naples, Fla.
Year: Senior
Major: Asian Studies
Campus Involvement: Cheerleading, Japanese Table, Dance company, Latinx Unidos

Why did you choose to be a student leader with OSID? This office is awesome, welcoming and super fun to be involved with. Also, it allows me to make more friends.

khalil mosley

Khalil Mosley

Position: Peer Mentor
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Year: Junior
Major: Graphic Design
Campus Involvement: Black Student Union, Multicultural Men’s Association

How has the men of color initiative impacted your experience thus far? This program made me feel more welcomed here at a PWI considering the fact that I am a man of color. This program made me realize what brotherhood really is and that you can achieve anything as a man of color coming from a different background.

elia murillo

Elia Murillo

Position: Culture House Coordinator
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology
Campus Involvement: Latinx Unidos, HER Campus, Art Collective

What does diversity mean to you? Diversity to me means a variety of people existing in a community together and getting to learn about each other's cultures and backgrounds. It means learning to not judge based on stereotypes and understanding one another and appreciating each other's differences.

rachel nandelenga

Rachel Nandelenga

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Cary, Ill.
Year: Senior
Majors: Pre-Medicine, Neuroscience
Campus Involvement: PACE, Student Government Association, Phi Rho Sorority, Black Student Union, Student Policy Committee, TRIO 

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE has made Augustana feel like a home for me because it helped me learn a lot about myself and what I envisioned to do at Augustana. Being at a PWI is hard, and I am glad PACE gave me the tools necessary to be able to combat all the obstacles I faced. 

michelle olguin

Michelle Olguin

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Immokalee, Fla.
Year: Junior
Majors: Public Health, Communication Studies
Campus Involvement: Latinx Unidos, Chi Omega Gamma, TRIO SSS

What does diversity mean to you? Diversity is a group of people who come from different races, sexual orientations, genders, etc. They come together to learn and accept one another, having a free space to be who they are.

alexis osei-kofi

Alexis Osei-Kofi

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Aurora, Ill.
Year: Junior
Majors: Public Health, Biology 
Campus Involvement: PACE, Admissions Ambassador, Black Student Union, Greek Life, ALIVE, Student Government Association

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE has allowed me to meet some of my best friends as well as mentors and allowed me to break out of my shell. I highly doubt that I would have been as active on campus if it wasn’t for my PACE mentors. It really is a huge family.

deven pearson

Deven Pearson

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Peoria, Ill.
Year: Junior
Major: Business Marketing 
Campus Involvement: PACE, Black Student Union, Greek life, Wrestling Team

Why did you choose to become a mentor? My mentor helped me so much and played a huge role in my success my first year. I knew I wanted to do the same for future students.

briana reagan

Briana Reagan

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Poplar Grove, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Majors: Geology, Environmental Studies
Campus Involvement: PACE, Latinx Unidos, Concert Band, Udden Geology Club, Sigma Pi Delta

What is your favorite memory of PACE? My favorite memory of PACE was being in a group with two of my current close friends. We met during PACE and we have been friends since. I also enjoyed meeting so many different people and feeling like I had a support system before school even started. 

brian salinas

Brian Salinas

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: West Chicago, Ill.
Year: Junior
Majors: Finance, Accounting
Campus Involvement: PACE, Wrestling, SAAC, and GAB fraternity

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? It has allowed me to have a better transition into college than I would have had if I never went through the program.

jenny santos-martinez

Jenny Santos-Martinez

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Immokalee, Fla.
Year: Junior
Majors: Business Marketing, Graphic Design
Campus Involvement: PACE, Cheerleading, Chi Omega Gamma, Latinos Unidos, Alpha Pho Omega

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE has impacted my experience because it has brought me new memories, friends, and a home. PACE has brought me so much joy and fun moments. I know PACE will give everyone the opportunity to be able to be themselves just like it did to me. 

anthony silva

Anthony Silva

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology 
Campus Involvement: Student Government Association, Latinx Unidos, Delta Omega Nu Fraternity

Why did you choose to become a mentor? I chose to become a mentor because I see the importance and impact the program has. I also took into consideration the impact PACE had on me.  

alexxa soto collazo

Alexxa Soto Collazo

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Spanish Education 
Campus Involvement: Latinx Unidos, HER Campus

Why did you choose to be a student leader with OSID? I choose to be an OSID leader because I love the office and want to give back. I also want to be a support for anyone coming to Augustana with a similar story as my own. I want to be the support for others that I had during my year. 

beverly st preux

Beverly St Preux

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Naples, Fla.
Year: Senior
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders 
Campus Involvement: Multicultural Programming Board, Black Student Union, Cheer, TRIO

What does diversity mean to you? Diversity means to me where I’m able to walk in a space and see and share the same experiences as others. As well as learn about the differences of others.

matthew straus

Matthew Straus

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Darien, Ill.
Year: Senior
Majors: Biology, Environmental Studies 
Campus Involvement: Bass Fishing Team, Latinx Unidos, Peer Mentor, TriBeta Honor Society, Men's Wrestling, Gamma Alpha Beta Fraternity, Sierra Club

Why did you choose to be a student leader with OSID? The staff are the most kind, honest, and courageous people on campus. I want to be like them and learn and create events to help ensure everyone finds a home here on campus.

karina torres

Karina Torres

Position: PACE Mentor
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Year: Sophomore
Majors: International Business, Communication Studies
Campus Involvement: PACE, Latinx Unidos, Black Student Union, Young Democratic Socialists of America, Business Club, Viking Pups, and President of Gender Sexuality Alliance

How has PACE impacted your experience thus far? PACE has allowed me to become more comfortable in the spaces that I am in. My confidence has grown through PACE. This program has opened so many doors for me and it has also allowed me to truly build connections with a lot of people. The people running this program have made it feel like home away from home.

anima upadhyay

Anima Upadhyay

Position: Ambassador
Hometown: Kathmandu
Year: Senior
Majors: International Business, Economics
Campus Involvement: Student Government Association, CORE

Why is DEI important to you at Augustana? Diversity gives you a seat at the table, Inclusion gives you a voice at the table, Equity gives you an opportunity to displace the table.