ASU's Retention Coordinator
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Name: Joel Forcheney
Position: ASU Retention Coordinator Year: 4th Year Major/Minors: Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics Hometown: New York, New York Interests: Reading, Writing, Running, Listening to Music Specialties: Post-Grad; Class Planning; Goal-Setting; Student Involvement Why I Joined ASP: I joined ASP because I think the work they've done to ensure that black students see familiar faces both inside and outside the classroom is crucial to promoting the academic, professional, and social advancement of a population that too often draws the shortest straw in a competition that was not established for their benefit. |
Peer Counseling Component
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Name: Chanell Nealon
Position: Project Director / Counselor Year: Class of 2013 Major/Minors: African-American Studies Hometown: South Central, Los Angeles, CA Interests: Eating good food with good people, crocheting and DIY crafts, reading, live music Specialties: Post-Grad; Class Planning; Goal-Setting; Student Involvement Why I Joined ASP: I was introduced to ASP during an FSP workshop and the idea of students helping other students succeed at UCLA made me want to be a part of it immediately so I signed up for peer counseling. Once my counselor helped me change majors, and listened to me as I vented about personal issues, I knew I wanted to be that support system for other students. |
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Name: Waruguru Ndirangu
Position: Peer Counseling Coordinator / Peer Counselor Year: 3rd Year Major/Minor: Neuroscience Hometown: Sacramento, CA Interests: Watching Grey's Anatomy & Power, Reading, Community Service, Medicine Specialties: South Campus; Pre-Med; Organization Why I Joined ASP: I joined ASP because ASP really help me find place and feel like I belonged here at UCLA and had very much been part of my growth and development as not only a student put holistically and I want share and be apart of doing what ASP did for me to as many students as possible |
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Name: Ian Taylor
Position: Peer Counselor Year: 2nd Year Major/Minors: Sociology Hometown: Pasadena, CA Interests: Music, Basketball, Community Service Why I Joined ASP: I am a huge believer in the idea that growth and success stems from personal connection and ASP holds that to be a key foundation in its purpose. Along with working towards the important motive of increasing black retention rates, I knew that ASP would give me the opportunity to give back to UCLA's black community after they have already given me so much in my first year here. Being a source of support for our black Bruins is a blessing that I know will also help with my own growth, and I can't wait to get started! |
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Name: Kayla Bryant Dunmire
Position: Peer Counselor Year: 2nd Year Major/Minors: Neuroscience Hometown: Ventura, CA Interests: Loves Kids, Hanging Out w/ Friends, Laughing, Yoga Why I Joined ASP: ASP is a safe space for POC students at UCLA in which I want to help other students grow academically and socially in this space just like I did when I first arrived at UCLA because transitioning is difficult. ASP is positive, motivating, and actively strives to increase the retention rates of Black students at UCLA while building solidarity within ones identity, allowing students to become more confident as a student, friend, or mentor at UCLA. |
Internship Component
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Name: Deja Mathews
Position: Internship Coordinator / Peer Counselor Year: 3rd Year Major/Minors: Sociology / Education Hometown: Seaside, CA Interests: Ukulele, The Boondocks, Working w/ Programs that Produce Empowerment Specialties: Goal Planning Why I Joined ASP: I was in an Upward Bound program in high school, which helped me in the process of getting to college. ASP is that next step- helping students who get into college retain themselves. ASP has helped me in so many ways these last few years & I want to do the same for other students. |
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Name: Nicole Minor
Position: Administrative Assistant Year: 2nd Year Major/Minors: Psychobiology Hometown: Salinas, CA Interests: Empire, Track & Field, YouTube, Natural Hair Journeys Why I Joined ASP: I joined ASP because of my experience in my first year. I appreciated the family space they provided, and I loved their goal to help other students under the Afrikan Diaspora graduate. It's an absolute honor to be a part of not only students' success, but also growth through their time in college. |
Mentorship Component
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Name: Maaliyah "Mimi" Harris
Position: Assistant Director / Peer Counselor Year: 4th Year Major/Minors: Psychology / African-American Studies & Education Hometown: Palmdale, CA Interests: Crime & Psychological Shows, Astrology, Eating Out, Online Gaming Specialties: Stress Management; Goal Planning; Mental Health & Self-Awareness Why I Joined ASP: To be blunt, ASP was a spur of the moment decision, but one of the best decisions I've ever made. ASP is a platform for what my whole life revolves around: the mental health and self-retention of Black people. ASP has been the supportive family I didn't always have, and it has helped me realized my duty to serve as that same support system for the community that has created me. |
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Name: Pattriana "Patt" Perry
Position: Peer Counselor Year: 4th Year Major/Minors: Psychology Hometown: Vallejo, CA Interests: Being Mary Jane, Track, Travel Specialties: Athletics Why I Joined ASP: I joined ASP because I have always been a helper. I love love love helping others especially people who always get overlooked. I have aspirations of becoming a psychologist as well so this is a great step in the right direction. |
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Name: Mikhael Johnson
Position: Peer Counselor Year: 2nd Year Major/Minors: International Development Studies / Global Studies Hometown: South Central, Los Angeles, CA Interests: Poetry, Basketball, Giving back to the community Why I Joined ASP: I had the amazing opportunity to take part in the ASP Internship and the project had already grown on me by the end of the first class. I have always had a passion for making sure that people from similar backgrounds as me know that they can succeed as well and that they know the resources that can get them there. ASP is a great outlet for this and it is more than just an organization, it's a family. |
