Oakes Academic Advisor, Jose Gallaga (he/him)

About Me:

Being a first generation college graduate and professional has given me the opportunity to guide other students who are not only first generation, but fall within the underrepresented student spectrum. Starting my college journey at the age of twenty two has given me a different perspective of what it means to be a “non-traditional student”. Rather than a deficit, I utilized my honed skills acquired via odd jobs, and other life experience prior to my education as applied strengths. This, accompanied by the support of my family, friends, and community to help me achieve my educational goals. As Tara Yosso states, “Community Cultural Wealth” is an array of knowledge, skills, abilities, and networks possessed and utilized by communities of color to survive and resist racism and other forms of oppression” (2016). As an advocate for underrepresented students, I have worked with the TRiO program at USC as a Student Advisor which allowed me to assist underrepresented high school students transition into college. After graduating from USC, I took off to Utah where I became an Academic Counselor for the First-year Advising Center at Utah Valley University. Returning to California, I am now a College Academic Advisor for Oakes College at UC Santa Cruz. When not advising students, I love working out at the gym and practicing his barbering skills.

Hometown:

South Los Angeles, California 

Education:

• M.Ed, Postsecondary Education & Student Affairs, University of Southern California 20’
  
• BA, Sociology and Minor, Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley 18
  
  
• AA-T, Sociology and General Education, East Los Angeles College 16’

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