Our Berkeley Career Engagement Peer Advisors for 2024-2025
Amy Eliassieh
Hi everyone! My name is Amy Eliassieh (she/her) and I am a Senior double majoring in Psychology and Social Welfare, minoring in English. I’m from San Jose, CA and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Peer Advising team! I’m passionate about mental health & menstrual advocacy, and I’ve loved expanding my knowledge during my time at Cal by exploring how psychology and social policy intersect to create a meaningful change within my communities. I love working one-on-one to support individual students, and have had many mentor positions in the past. I’m looking forward to being one of your Peer Advisors and helping you make the most of your college experience!
Charles McCoy
Hi everyone, my name is Charles McCoy. I am a third-year Junior psychology student. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to be your guys’ career peer advisor and essentially guide you towards your career goals wherever possible. As a first-generation student, finding a job or even getting started can seem scary, but career engagement is about meeting you wherever you are and showing you you’re not alone. Before my position here at the career engagement, I worked closely at my community college as a peer advisor for the career and transfer center, where I essentially guided students who didn’t know how to transfer or take advantage of the job opportunities that were available to them. As someone who loves spending time with family, nature, and traveling, one piece of advice I learned is how important it is to utilize everything around you and ask for help when needed. Starting this new position as a new peer advisor, I want to be that helping hand that guides you guys to your next destination. I can’t wait to see you guys come stop by!
Elizabeth Diaz
Hi everyone! My name is Elizabeth (she/her/ella), and I’m a junior majoring in History with a minor in Chicanx/Latinx Studies. I grew up in the Central Valley in an immigrant family, which has deeply shaped my identity. As a first-generation college student and a transfer student from Bakersfield College, I understand the challenges and triumphs of navigating higher education. My previous experience as a Peer Mentor for the TRIO SSS Program, Peer Advisor for the Bridges Program at Bakersfield College, and Peer Tutor has shown me how much I enjoy working with my peers. I’m passionate about guiding and supporting students through their journeys. Fun fact: I’m currently conducting research here at UC Berkeley as part of the Millers Scholars Program, and I love cats! I’m here to support you—no question is a bad question! Stop by the Career Engagement Center to say hi or ask anything. I can’t wait to meet you!
Fiona Ma
Hi everyone! My name is Fiona (she/her/hers). I am a sophomore double-majoring in Linguistics and Spanish and Portuguese with a concentration in Latin American Literatures and Cultures. I am a first-generation student from San Francisco, CA and have experienced first hand the importance of mentorship and advising through on-campus resources such as EOP, DSP, bridges MRC, and Berkeley Career Engagement. Through this role, I am super excited to push forward resources and close information gaps as we navigate higher education and plan for the future together. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, riding public transportation, visiting museums, and swimming. I look forward to meeting you all soon!
Helen Alvizures
Hello! My name is Helen Alvizures, pronouns she/they, and I am a second year student majoring in molecular and cell biology and minoring in Chemistry. I grew up in Los Angeles, Koreatown in a tight knit latinx and Spanish-speaking community. I love to work directly and personally with members of my community. My experiences of working under healthcare practitioners helped me identify various disparities in the healthcare system which today continues to motivate me to do as much as I can for those who identify as underrepresented and are often marginalized. Some hobbies of mine include swimming, journaling, learning new languages, and playing video games. Feel free to reach out to me about anything, I really look forward to assisting you on your academic and professional journey here at Cal as I embark on my own as well!
Cindy Cisneros Barajas
Hi everyone! My name is Cindy Cisneros. I am a senior majoring in Sociology with a minor in Data Science, and I’m so excited to be joining the team as a career peer advisor this year. As a first-generation college student from an underrepresented background, I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to navigate college and career planning. Before joining the Career Center, I mentored students through the Latino Education Advancement Foundation in San Jose and UC Berkeley’s Educational Opportunity Program, supporting first-gen students in their academic, personal, and career journeys. These experiences have fueled my passion for creating inclusive, supportive spaces where students feel empowered and equipped to succeed. I’m really looking forward to working with you all this year!
Jade Chen
Hi! My name is Jade Chen (she/her), a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering and computer science and I am super hyped to be a peer advisor for the upcoming school year and getting to know everyone. I’m from Jacksonville, FL and have become a huge lover of the mountains after a decade of the beaches. I am closely involved with HKN on campus working with academic and career development. In my free time, I enjoy dancing with AFX at Berkeley and traveling/sightseeing. Feel free to reach out about anything!
Helen Parra
Hi all! My name is Helen Parra (she/her/ella), and I’m a fourth year student majoring in History with a minor in English. I transferred from Long Beach City College where I began working with other college students as a writing tutor, furthering my passion and interest in making higher education accessible for everyone. My identity as a first generation college student and as a Latina has shaped my experience, as I continue to learn how to navigate both the challenges and opportunities at Cal. Before starting as a Peer Advisor, I have been involved in research through the Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarships (OURS) where I participated in URAP and SURF. URAP provided me the opportunity to work with a History PhD Candidate on their dissertation research, and SURF provided me with a funding fellowship to travel to Cuba where I worked on my own historical research in preparation for my senior thesis. I understand how difficult it can be transitioning to university, and I want every student to learn about and take advantage of the many resources available to them. I’m looking forward to working with you all!
Viridiana Rosas-Garcia
Hi everyone!! My name is Viridiana Rosas. I am a junior double-majoring in Ethnic Studies and Psychology. I was born and raised in East Oakland, CA. I am a proud first-generation college student and have always been passionate about advocating for higher education. On campus, I am involved with the campus organizations, bridges Multicultural Resources Center, and the Raice Retention Recruitment Center, where I serve as the K-12 Coordinator, helping expose students within the K-12 system to higher education. I am so excited to work as a peer advisor this school year and to work one-on-one with you all!