Our Crew

Our full-time staff are dedicated to meeting the holistic needs of UC San Diego students in regards to their housing, food, and financial security. 

Alicia Magallanes

Director

Contact Alicia at a1magallanes@ucsd.edu

As Director of the Hub Basic Needs Center, Alicia (she/her) oversees and provides supportive services to increase accessibility of basic needs resources for students at UC San Diego. She has worked alongside resilient communities in south Los Angeles as a street outreach worker, was a Farmers Market Recovery Glean Lead with Food Forward at the Hollywood Farmers Market, and conducted her graduate studies field practicum with Feeding San Diego locally.

She aspires to cultivate a basic needs secure campus environment and shift dialogue around the topic of basic needs to reflect the resilience as well as innovation of our amazing undergraduate and graduate student communities.

Kameo Quenga

Associate Director 

Contact Kameo at kquenga@ucsd.edu

As Associate Director of the Hub Basic Needs Center, Kameo (she/her) oversees internal operations of Hub services and aims to center both professional and student staff wellness. She aims to utilize data and assessment to right-size how our services can continue to support the ever-changing needs of our student populations. She serves as the liaison between Basic Needs and Case Management Services, with goals to maximize both on and off campus partnerships as it relates to tackling basic needs challenges through a collaborative and justice-oriented lens.

Kameo brings lived experiences from both the Bay Area & South Sacramento which allows her to recognize that alleviating basic needs challenges for our students cannot be done alone. Basic Needs are retention efforts.

 

Operations Staff

Maria Carmen Gonzalez 

Basic Needs Program Coordinator
Contact Maria Carmen at mcg008@ucsd.edu

As the Basic Needs Coordinator, Carmen (she/ella) focuses on supporting students by providing holistic consultations in regards to their access to food, stable housing, and financial wellness resources. Carmen also helps run the basic needs center by overlooking the center daily operations and student staff.
Before this role, Carmen was completing her Master’s degree at the University of San Francisco (USFCA)! During her graduate experience, she served as an Assistant Residence Director (ARD) within Residential Life for two years. She also had the opportunity to support the food pantry during her graduate experience. Lastly, she also worked at UCSD within the Student Affairs Case Management (SACM) on campus during the summer.
Carmen is a proud first generation Latinx college graduate. She is passionate about uplifting student leaders in their roles and addressing challenges within basic needs to support UCSD college students.

Food Security Staff

Haley Okamoto

Assistant Director of Food Security Programs

Email Haley at hokamoto@ucsd.edu

As the Assistant Director of Food Security Programs, Haley (she/her) oversees a portfolio of essential programs, including CalFresh Outreach, Triton Food Pantry, and the Food Recovery Network. Haley is dedicated to building strong, collaborative relationships with both campus and community partners to deliver cohesive services and information that address UC San Diego students' basic needs. In her role, she is involved in the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of food security programs, continuously seeking new initiatives to grow the food security portfolio.

As a Kanaka Maoli/Indigenous scholar, Haley aims to bring a decolonial approach to addressing food security with a focus on food sovereignty. Haley brings lived experience from growing up in Hawaiʻi to attending college in Oregon, which allows her to understand the importance of access to culturally relevant and sustainable food options.

 

Beatriz Chavez Vega 

Food Programs Coordinator

Email Beatriz at bchavezvega@ucsd.edu

 

Beatriz manages the programmatic and administrative support to the portfolio of food security programs, including but not limited to the Triton Food Pantry, Food Recovery Network, and other supplemental nutrition assistance programs. Her previous work included supporting and managing the Associated Students Food Pantry at San Diego State University.

 

 

 

 

Isabel Rodriguez 

CalFresh Coordinator

Email Isabel at isr018@ucsd.edu

As the CalFresh Program Coordinator, Isabel (she/her)
oversees the CalFresh portfolio and student operations. She serves as an advocate for students in need by keeping up-to-date on CalFresh policies, expanding program initiatives, and collaborating with the many community partners including the County of San Diego, the San Diego Food Bank, and more.

Isabel possess a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and a Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Psychology to further her understanding of student development and education systems overall. Her previous experience in Student Life & Leadership and Basic Needs at Palomar College provided her with valuable insight into the barriers students face when accessing essential resources. As a first-generation Latina and advocate for equitable education, Isabel is committed to addressing food insecurity and helping students access the resources necessary to thrive both academically and personally. 

Housing Security Staff

Vacant

Basic Needs Housing Specialist

Marissa Islas

Basic Needs Housing & Education Resource Coordinator
Email Marissa at mjislas@ucsd.edu

As the Housing and Education Assistant, Marissa (she/her) focuses on supporting access to safe and stable housing for students at UC San Diego. She informs students of housing resources through their transition from on-campus to off-campus living. The main purpose of this position is to develop short-term and long-term strategies to address food and housing insecurity on campus. Additionally, Marissa supervises the Basic Needs Peer Education Program which is our basic needs outreach team.
Before this role, Marissa was a Peer Educator Student Lead at The Hub. She is passionate about providing basic needs accessibility for students at UC San Diego through the administration and retention of resources. 

 

Natalia Hernandez

Basic Needs Rapid Rehousing Coordinator 
Cal State San Marcos, B.A., Capella University, M.A.
As the Basic Needs Graduate Assistant, Natalia Hernandez (she/they) meets one-on-one with students to help connect them with Basic Needs resources and helps connect students with the appropriate Basic Needs staff.
Before this role, Natalia Hernandez worked as a Registered Behavior Technician for nearly a decade. Using Applied Behavior Analysis, she worked one-on-one with children who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and helped them learn new skills and improve their social interactions. Natalia is currently in school, working towards her master's in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Natalia is a first-generation American, college graduate, and the first in her family to pursue a master's degree. Outside of her professional work, Natalia is a proud member of the California Native Plant Society and an avid gardener of native plant species.

 

 

COMING SOON