Meet Our Staff !
Program Director:
Yesenia Curiel
“ Wear your mask with pride, it can save lives.”
Email: ycuriel2@ucmerced.edu
Phone: (209) 233-1746
Fun fact: My dogs names are Tenco and Yaotl and I love making them doggy treats !
CARE Campus Advocate:
Lynna Cano
Phone: (209) 386-2051
Year at UCM: Since December 2017
Fun fact: Sometimes I dress as a clown and do balloon animals for kids !
Prevention Education Coordinator :
Valara Villanueva
Phone: 209-355-0763
Years: I'm a UC Merced Alumn ('15) and been in CARE since 2018
Fun Fact: I attended P!NK's Beautiful Trauma world tour twice in one year !
Prevention Interns:
Itzel Otero Castaneda
Year: 4th
Major: Earth Systems Science (ESS)
Fun fact: My cat, Panchito, doesn't like me but I love him !
Athena Pulido
Year: 4th year
Major: Political Science
Fun Fact: I have never broken a bone !
Marcillino Abdelmalak
Year: 2nd year
Major: Biology with human emphasis
Fun Fact: I've been vegetarian for two years !
Ashley Tejeda Oliver
Year: 3rd year
Major: Management and Business Economics & Political Science
Fun Fact: I have visited 4 countries in my life !
Maddy Verdin
Year: 3rd year
Major: Sociology
Fun Fact: I've been skydiving twice !
Amirah Majrashi
Year: 4th year
Major: Public Health
Fun Fact: I have two Russian blue tabbies and they’re brother and sister !
Alicia Rodriguez
Year: 4th year
Major: Psychology
Fun Fact: I love to design rooms and decorate !
Jimena Arias Perez
Year: 4th year
Major: Biology
Fun Fact: I like hiking !
Yasmine Lunar
Year: 3rd Year
Major: Political Science
Fun fact: I only eat Oreos with peanut butter !
Bela Caballero
Year: 4th year
Major: Public Health major and Psychology minor
Fun fact: I drive a minivan !
Toni Gonzalez
Year: 3rd year
Major: Political Science major and Sociology major
Fun fact: I identify as nonbinary (Pronouns: they/them/theirs)!
Admin Interns:
Jose Moreno Urias
Year: 3rd year
Major: History
Fun Fact: I like to play video games when I have time to myself, especially Dead by Daylight ! (10/10 recommend if you are a horror game fanatic.)