Our Staff
Ana Navarrete, Program Director
Ana was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico and migrated with her family to the U.S. when she was 9 months old. As a child she lived in San Jose for many years until she moved to Stockton, CA where she attended high school and community college. As a first generation student and also undocumented, navigating higher ed was a very difficult, but through her involvement in the Puente Program and the California Dream Network, Ana was empowered to advocate for institutional support for undocumented students in higher ed. In 2013 Ana obtained a B.A. in Latin American and Latino Studies from UC, Santa Cruz, and since graduating she has continued her work in developing best practices and resources to support the success and graduation of undocumented students in higher ed. During her free time Ana enjoys roller-skating alongside her dog, Tin Tan.
Andrea Hernandez Galindo, Life After College Consultant
Andrea Hernandez is a first-generation student and a first-year Graduate Student in the Master's Program for Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University (SJSU). She is a returning Spartan, having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and a Minor in Chicano Studies from SJSU in the Spring of 2021. As a first-gen student and of undocumented status, she has faced challenges and continues to do so as she navigates higher education and her professional career. Through support from Hugo Mora-Torres from the CHHS at SJSU and Ana Navarrete from the USRC at SJSU, she became more educated on the topics of undocumented status (AB540, Dreamers etc.,) as she was going through doubtful situations. She is very thankful for all the guidance and encouragement she received from SJSU and believes that networking is pivotal in our community. We can share our experiences, resources, and mutual support. Andrea is looking forward to giving back to the community by helping students and supporting the growth of their life after college.
Eliana Olivas, Student Assistant
Eliana was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. She is a first-generation college student at San Jose State University majoring in Political Science and minoring in Sociology. She is the oldest amongst her siblings and moving away from home was hard to transition to at first, but she is learning to take advantage of everything college has to offer. She hopes to one day give back to her community by working in legislation with a concentration on immigration reform. She is passionate about increasing representation for underrepresented communities. In her free time, she enjoys going out with her friends and family, going to concerts, and listening to true crime podcasts.
