C9/JRLC Academic Advisor, Claudia Torres Arias (She/They)
About Me
Growing up undocumented within an immigrant low-income household, I believed for a long time that receiving an education was an unattainable and unrealistic goal for my family and I due to my socioeconomic and legal status. In spite of these fears, I graduated in ‘21 from UCSC as a first-gen college grad and Oakes affiliate (ooaaaakess!) with my B.A.’s in Psychology and Sociology. During my time at the university, I held multiple roles within Student Affairs that ranged from student life and housing, peer academic advising and mentorship, retention and outreach efforts, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
As an advisor, I practice a holistic strengths-based approach that requires active listening and creating safe spaces in which students feel seen, heard, valued, equipped, and empowered to use their wealth of knowledge and resiliency to continue being active agents of their life. Our intersecting identities and histories impact how we experience and navigate the world around us. Hence, I firmly believe that prioritizing the fulfillment of basic needs alongside addressing personal, educational, and professional challenges a student may encounter, can significantly enhance a student's well-being and ability to thrive at the university. I view advising as a collaborative effort and aim to work alongside students to identify the appropriate tools and resources needed to navigate complex university policies and practices.
As I reflect on my experiences within higher education, I hope to continue to learn and grow as an advocate so I am better able to help cultivate both safe and welcoming spaces that emphasize retention and acknowledge the multidimensional identities that many UCSC students possess. Through my work, I hope to be able to help foster a campus community that is inclusive of all student populations, empowering them to pursue their personal and professional goals and aspirations at the university and beyond. Fun fact: In my free time, I really enjoy experimenting with new recipes, binge watching dramas and documentaries, picking up a good book, and propagating new plants!
Education
- B.A., Psychology, UC Santa Cruz '21
- B.A., Sociology, UC Santa Cruz '21
