Meet Our Team

Lilia Valdez (she/her) is currently a PhD student at UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies studying Race, Cultural, and Ethnic Studies. Her research explores the implementation of educational policies in American K-12 school systems and the ways in which historically marginalized communities, such as English Language Learners, are considered in policy implementation at the local level. Prior to her time at UCLA, Lilia attended Loyola University Chicago where she received her Juris Doctorate and master’s in Public Policy. Lilia has held positions as a Senior Policy Analyst with UCLA’s Academic Senate, a Research Assistant at the Civitas ChildLaw Center’s Legislation and Policy Clinic, an Extern with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and a Law Clerk with the City of Chicago’s Law Department. Lilia was born and raised in Southern California, where she attended California Baptist University and received her Bachelors degree in English and Political Science.

Ray Diaz (he/him/él) is a dedicated organizer, educator, and writer with a passion for community empowerment and social justice. A proud alumnus of the University of California, Santa Cruz, he holds a B.A. in Politics and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to public service, equity, and youth development. Currently serving as a Student Teacher in LAUSD, Ray works to inspire and educate the next generation. As an OC Parks Commissioner, he advises on policies and strategies for the development and maintenance of Orange County’s parks, harbors, and beaches, ensuring accessibility and sustainability for all residents.

Ray’s leadership experience includes serving as Vice President of the Student Housing Coalition, where he championed affordable housing initiatives, co-sponsored legislation like SB-886, and promoted diversity and inclusion. His tenure as Chairperson of the Santa Ana Youth Commission highlights his dedication to improving youth services and championing teen programs in his hometown. An award-winning journalist, Ray’s writing has appeared in The Santanero, Knock LA and Voice of OC, earning him the prestigious 2023 National Ruben Salazar Journalism Award. His work addresses critical issues like housing justice, systemic inequality, police accountability, and state-sanctioned violence, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

With a diverse professional background that spans from education to public service, Ray is a skilled communicator and strategic thinker. His expertise in policy analysis, community outreach, and higher education teaching underscores his ability to create meaningful impact across various sectors. In his spare time, Ray enjoys exploring Orange County’s natural landscapes, supporting grassroots movements, and engaging with local cultural initiatives. His guiding philosophy centers on empowering people, fostering equity, and creating opportunities for all.

Mark Holton (he/him) is a third-year PhD student in Biomedical Sciences at UCSD and serves as the Treasurer of UCGPC. His research focuses on inflammatory diseases studying the microbial determinants of disease and developing targeted therapeutics to treat gut dysbiosis. He previously studied how cancer cells become resistant to treatment at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Before working at the Broad, he got his B.S. in Bioinformatics at UCSD.

Jalen “Jay” Ward (he/him) is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of California, Davis, where his research focuses on political communication on social media, how identity shapes candidate behavior, and the evolving role of technology in modern democratic processes and public perception.  At UC Davis, he currently serves as the External Vice President of the Graduate Student Association, where he is committed to advancing equity-driven policy, student engagement in the legislative process, and student-centered governance. Prior to this role, he served as the Legislative Affairs Director (State & Federal), coordinating student advocacy efforts at the campus and systemwide levels. Jay also serves as the President of the Graduate Association of Political Science Students (GAPSS), where he works to build community, expand professional development opportunities, and strengthen graduate student voices within his department. Jay remains deeply committed to accessible governance, coalition-based advocacy, and strengthening pathways for graduate student leadership across the University of California system.

Onwodi Ifejeokwu (she/her) is a 4th year PhD in Dr. Atena Zahedi’s lab in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology at UCI School of Medicine. Her research focus is neuro-immuno-oncology specifically looking at ways to mitigate immune-related neurotoxicity associated with CAR T cell therapy. Prior to this role, Onwodi served as UCI’s student advocate for the ongoing cuts to federal funding. She currently serves on the Student and Postdoctoral Advisory Council for UCI’s School of Medicine.  Before attending UCI, Onwodi received her B.S. in Neuroscience from Tulane University in New Orleans. 

Originally from China, Zhiting (Jack) Feng (he/him) is a 4th year PhD student in Epidemiology at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, specializing in HIV/STIs prevention and treatment research. Jack serves as a Graduate Student Researcher and leads External Relations at the UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research, and Health. Jack serves for his second elected term as External Vice President of the UCLA Graduate Students Association, where he advocates for the rights, opportunities, and well-being of nearly 14,000 graduate and professional students. In his role, Jack believes in the power of inclusive coalition-building and shared governance, principles that guide his approach to leadership as External Vice President. He works to forge sustainable partnerships and strategic collaborations with government officials across all levels, institutional stakeholders, policymakers, and student and community leaders to advance student protections, promote equity, and strengthen targeted advocacy efforts. Jack holds a B.A. in Biochemistry and Ethics and Public Policy at the University of Iowa, as well as a M.H.S. in Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Pamela Romero (she/her) is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of California, Riverside, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Labor Studies. She serves as the Executive Vice President of the UCR Graduate Student Association and represents graduate students through advocacy at the campus, state, and federal levels. Pamela has participated in legislative advocacy efforts in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., focusing on higher education, labor, immigration, and student equity. She currently works in policy development at UCR Student Health & Counseling Services, helping modernize institutional policies and procedures to improve student services. As a first generation college student, Pamela is passionate about advancing equitable public policy and expanding access to education, healthcare, and opportunity for underserved communities.

Daniel Chulak (he/him) is a first-year Master of Public Policy student at the University of California, San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy and serves as Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs at UCGPC. He brings more than seven years of experience in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he worked as a public servant dedicated to driving positive change at the local, state, and federal levels. Originally from New Jersey, Dan earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Business Economics from the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) at Rutgers University. During his time at Rutgers, he was a strong voice for students serving in the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA), the SEBS Governing Council, and the University Senate. Dan is committed to advancing policies that strengthen higher education, support groundbreaking research, and empower graduate and professional students to reach their full potential.

Gabe Avillion (he/him) is a third-year PhD candidate in the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology program at UCSF, where he currently serves as the Executive Vice President for the Graduate and Professional Student Association. Gabe is a member of the Villeda lab, where his research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline and interventions to restore cognition in aged individuals. He previously studied cardiac developmental biology at UC San Diego, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology as well as his Master of Science in Biology. Gabe is passionate about supporting the UCSF community and advocating for graduate and professional student needs. He is focused on ensuring that students have the freedom, protection, and resources necessary to be successful and is committed to protecting funding for research and higher education.

James Wang (he/him) is a second-year PhD student in Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research focuses on the development of quantum computing and simulation through hardware co-design and machine learning techniques. In his undergraduate, he was committed to educational roles such as TAing and working at tutoring centers and was involved in the leadership team of recreational club activities as well. He believes in representing the voice of the graduate students at UCSB and looks forward to working with the rest of the UCGPC to ensure graduate student representation across the UC system.

Matthew Marzec (he/him) is a fifth-year PhD candidate in Philosophy at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where his dissertation research examines expert trust, epistemic authority, and the conditions under which communities—particularly marginalized ones—are justified in their distrust of expert institutions. His teaching spans Philosophy, Feminist Studies, and Critical Race & Ethnic Studies, reflecting a commitment to equity-centered pedagogy. Matthew serves as External Vice President of the Graduate Student Association at UCSC, where he advocates for graduate student rights and representation at the campus and systemwide levels. He is deeply committed to mentorship and student development, coaching high school Ethics Bowl teams, supporting undergraduates through Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) and Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), and mentoring summer research interns through UCSC’s Science Internship Program.

Zoe Schuck (she/her) is a second-year PhD student in political science at UC Davis. Her research focuses on the dynamics of media attention and media framing with specific attention to the relationship between political frames and affective polarization. Prior to her role with UCGPC, Zoe served in various positions of public service and advocacy with the Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) in Mankato, MN, the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, and the City of Loveland, Colorado. As the advocacy and operations associate with UCGPC, Zoe is passionate about data-driven projects and tying quantitative methods with narrative perspectives and personal experiences of graduate students to ensure that graduate and professional study is equitable, accessible, and supportive for students of all backgrounds.