THE 2019-2020 DIRECTORS
Co- Executives
Yailin Orozco is a Co-Executive Director. She is a third-year Psychology major from Santa Maria, CA. When she joined Bruin Hope her favorite part was the connections she was able to make with the kids. She loved seeing their eager faces light up when Bruin Hope walked into the orphanage and always being received with such love. Although this still holds a place in her heart, her new favorite thing is seeing new volunteers fall in love with this organization and the kids. She really likes how Bruin Hope pushes us to be like a family so that we are able to be there for the kids we serve.
Leticia Camacho is a Co-Executive Director. She is a third-year Human Biology and Society & Chicanx Studies double major from Inland Empire, Rialto, CA. She enjoys hanging out with her hermanas, bailando un zapatedo, and eating kbbq! She has been in Bruin Hope since week one of her freshman year and it has been the most amazing and life-changing part of her life. Her favorite part of Bruin Hope is all the smiles and hugs from the children that fuel her during every site visit.
Education
Alma Ortiz is a Co-Education Director of BruinHope. She is a third-year Psychology major and Education minor from Lancaster, CA. Through BruinHope, she is able to bring her love for volunteering to a different community and connect on a deeper level with children which she has not really had the chance to do so before. Her favorite part of volunteering with BruinHope is getting to know the children and seeing the sibling-like relationships form between club members and the children with each trip. She is looking forward to adding new members to this family!
Ana Pineda is one of the Co-educational directors for BruinHope. She is a third-year Biology major and Global Health minor from Burbank, CA. Words cannot describe how much being a part of Bruin Hope has changed her for the better. Coming into UCLA she felt like she didn't really belong to a community, she went to class and to work but felt more like an obligation than anything else. When she first joined Bruin Hope fall quarter of her second year, everyone was so welcoming and the very first trip she went on she remembers expediting the process of getting a passport because she really wanted to go. Being a part of the board of directors has been a difficult but incredible journey and it reminds her everyday how incredibly lucky she is to be a part of such an amazing program. Bruin Hope has her heart and she can't wait to see what's in store for us in the coming year!
Finance
Angela Yu is a Co-Finance director. She is a third-year Psychobiology major, Global Health minor from Thousand Oaks, CA. After coming to UCLA as a freshman, she was so scared that she wouldn't be able to find her own group of people. However, after joining Bruin Hope, that fear was instantly gone. There was suddenly this warm family that welcomed her with open arms. And no matter what cultural barriers there might be, her favorite part of Bruin Hope has been feeling at home away from home.
Miguel Barragan is a Co-Finance director. He is a third-year Economics major from Tustin, CA. He loves visiting the children and seeing the smiles on their faces. He likes being able to see his two organizations, Bruin Hope and Gamma Zeta Alpha, come together for the communities in Mexico.
Graphics and Outreach
Jennifer Rhee is a Co-Graphics and Outreach director. She is a second-year Political Science and Cognitive Science major. Her favorite part about Bruin Hope is seeing the kids. She feels that they are the absolute sweetest and loves how they really do remember us! She remembers the first trip she went on Bruin Hope had a water balloon/water gun fight with the kids and one of the girls named Lydia and her were just going at it, spraying water at each other. They didn't even speak to each other. The next trip she went to Lydia remembered her straight away and it really made her day!
Mercedes Verduzco is one of the Co-Graphics and Outreach Director. She is a third-year Biology major from Norwalk, CA. She has loved every minute of Bruin Hope and everything this organization does to help others. Whenever she leaves a site visit she can't help but have a huge smile on her face. She looks forward to seeing Bruin Hope expand even more than it already has and the new faces that are just as eager to make a difference.
Safety Risk
Jisselle Rosales is the Safety and Risk director. She is a third-year Biology major Chicana/o/x Studies minor from Paramount, CA. Her favorite part of Bruin Hope would have to be seeing the beautiful smiles of all the kids as well as getting to know all the volunteers who share the same goals of giving back to communities.
Internal Volunteer
Jacky is the Internal Volunteer. She is a fourth-year Geography/ Environmental Studies major from Fresno, CA. Her favorite party about Bruin Hope is being allowed into the lives of children she wouldn't have otherwise met had she never joined this club. Seeing how these kids' faces light up whenever they see us and hearing how they look forward to us coming back has been a very rewarding experience for her. Remembering conversations with the kids and sharing these with family/friends is also something she will always cherish.
Transportation
Michael is the Transportation Director. He is a second-year Political Science major, Chicano Studies minor from Los Angeles, CA. His favorite thing about Bruin Hope is having the opportunity to give back. Since his first quarter at UCLA, Bruin Hope has received him with open arms and has made him feel like he is part of a family. Joining the board has strengthened abilities like speaking to an audience and being organized. It has also helped him preserve his Latinx heritage. Bruin Hope has given him so much and that is why he loves this organization.
Infant Education
Maria Diaz-Gudino is the Infant Educational director. She is a third-year Applied Mathematics major from Santa Maria, California. Maria has two favorite parts of Bruin Hope. She loves seeing how much the children grow and change from trip to trip. It's fulfilling for her knowing that as Bruin Hope we account for a part of that growth. She also loves the relationships that she has established with the directors and volunteers. It warms her heart whenever she sees someone on campus and they greet her with a smile or conversation. She appreciates it. She loves that she found a small home away from home. She would like to say thank you for allowing her to flourish and for allowing her to put her crazy ideas into actions!
Social
Stacy Hernandez is the Social director. She is a third-year Biochemistry major r from Hesperia, CA. Her favorite part of being in Bruin Hope has been sharing our mission and love for the kids with other organizations in the larger UCLA community. As Bruin Hope continues to grow we continue to use our platform to obtain as much support as we can for all of our children. Everything we do is for our kids and she loves hearing that others are just as eager to support this beautiful cause. She also loves that she was able to find a family within Bruin Hope. As a director she can now reciprocate the love and support to new members of the organization that welcomed me with open arms.
Secretary
Rebecca Bernal is the Secretary director. She is a third-year Statistics major from Shafter, CA. Having been born in Mexico, her favorite part of Bruin Hope is being able to give back to where she's from! Seeing how happy and appreciative the kids are, never fails to put things into perspective and makes her grateful to have what she has. This club has given her a home away from home, and she hopes that continues to be the case for others!