Pre-Professional Student Staff Team

The pre-professional student staff team provide logistical and program support for El Centro Chicano y Latino at Stanford. Student staff members work alongside the professional leadership team during the academic school year and are arranged into committees that work collaboratively to fulfill and promote El Centro's mission and vision, honor its history, and espouse its cultural values.

The full expectations and responsibilities of this pre-professional student leadership position are listed below.

• Student Staff are required to work on-site at El Centro Chicano y Latino.
• Office hours will be scheduled Mon - Fri between 10 am - 5 pm.
• Mandatory Training - Monday, September 15th, 2025- Mandatory Overnight Retreat (TBD, Weekend in Sept or Oct)
• Weekly Meetings are scheduled on Fridays, 12 - 1 PM
• The pay rate begins at $19.00/hr
• Abide by the Center's Values in their role as representatives of El Centro Chicano y Latino 

In the past, committees have included the Academic Resources & Professional Development,  Community Building & Wellness, Cultural Education Programming, Outreach and Administration, Marketing & Publicity, and the Frosh Scholars Program. The application period for this opportunity is OPEN to current Stanford Students sophomores and above from April 8th through April 22nd, 2025 (by 9 AM PT).  

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & APPLY

Frosh Liaisons
Frosh Liaisons are current frosh who serve as a platform between El Centro's staff and the amazing community that comes through the walls of El Centro, especially undergraduate students who are in their first year at Stanford.  The application for these positions opens early in the Fall Quarter, shortly after NSO (New Student Orientation).

Transfer Liaisons
Transfer Liaisons are current transfer students who serve as a platform between El Centro's staff and the amazing community that comes through the walls of El Centro, including those who have recently transferred. The application for these positions opens early in the Fall Quarter, shortly after NSO (New Student Orientation).

New Student Orientation Community Coordinators
NSO Community Coordinators are current students who work with the professional team over the summer to plan El Centro's New Student Orientation each Fall. The application for these positions open early in the Spring Quarter. Occasionally, the coordinators are chosen by the professional team based on level of experience and involvement at El Centro throughout the year. The application period will open Spring 2025.  

2024-2025 Pre-Professional Student Staff Team

Dianaly Bolas 

Class of 2027, Psychology on Premed Track

Hi! It is so exciting to be part of El Centro’s Student Staff team this year. I am from Southern California, specifically from Santa Ana! On my free time, I enjoy going to the beach (SoCal beaches preferably), hiking, watching Grey’s Anatomy or any Marvel movie, and visiting aesthetic coffee shops. I love spending time with my family and friends doing anything. My favorite food are Cemitas Poblanas (A sandwich dish from Puebla, Mexico which is where my parents are from!) I look forward and am so excited for this year.

Karina Gonzalez

Class of 2027, Sociology Major with a minor in Education

Hi! My name is Karina Gonzalez, my pronouns are she/her and I am currently a sophomore studying Sociology with a minor in Education. I am from La Puente, California but my family is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico! I’m also a Stanford tour guide, so I enjoy talking, going on walks, and sharing my favorite coffee shops on campus!

Jackie Martinez

Class of 2027, Interested in Political Science, Chicano/Latinx Studies with a minor in 

I am originally from San Diego, CA, where I attended Hoover High School in my low-income neighborhood of City Heights. My parents are immigrants from Mexico, descending from Michoacan and Chihuahua. I am the middle child of three with an older sister and a younger brother back home. I love watching movies, going out with friends, live music, and dancing cumbias with my girls. I am also a caffeine addict and a night owl. I express pride in my Chicana identity and love learning about other cultures and Latinx history. I have an interest in immigration reform- aspiring to pursue a career in immigration law as a way to give back to my community. I joined El Centro because it is not only a pathway to meet new students, but also a way to start immersing myself in the beautiful Latinx community we have here on campus. I am at El Centro in order to provide a welcoming environment for all students alike and to advocate and uplift our voices. I am also very excited to cultivate our Centro community through service, programs, and of course our yearly highly anticipated events! I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you, and please don't hesitate to come up and say hi or strike up a conversation with me!

Citlali Ayala

Class of 2027, Sociology Major and a Minor in Spanish

Hello! I am Citlali Ayala (she/her), Class of 2027, from Los Angeles, California. I am pursuing a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Spanish, with hopes to enroll in a PsyD program after graduation. I am passionate about mental health advocacy and hope to become a provider in the future, with a focus on working with Spanish speaking/Latino patients in communities where mental health stigma is prevalent. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy dancing folklórico, hip hop, salsa, and bachata as well as reading and practicing yoga.

Angel Luna

Class of 2025, Biomechanical Engineering Major

Hey, my name is Angel, I was born and raised in Houston as one of four sons. During my own time, I enjoy playing and watching football (futból) and chess. I’m always looking for new things to learn and try, especially food. I’m serving as a Centro student staff member to become more involved and have a stronger influence on the culture that is left at Centro after I graduate.

Karen Medina Aparicio

Class of 2027, Computer Science Major

Karen (she/her) is graduating 2027 and is interested in edtech. She is from San Juan, Puerto Rico and in her free time she enjoys photography and playing volleyball. This summer she went to Peru (Arequipa and Lima) to see her family! Ask her about frosh 101 leading, SWITE and SOLE.  

Moises Gonzalez de la Rosa

Class of 2025 

Esther Ceballo Ortiz

Class of 2026, Human Biology Major c/ Health Policy

Hola comunidad! I am an immigrant from La Romana, Dominican Republic, and currently reside in Metro Atlanta, GA. I’m majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Social and Biological Determinants of Health. My goal is to earn a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) and pursue a career in Global Public Healthafter undergrad. Also, I'm passionate about exploring and connecting students to opportunities beyond the classroom—internships, scholarships, summer programs, and more! Feel free to reach out with any questions. Lastly, In my free time, I enjoy traveling, listening to Latin music, watching novelas, playing tennis, and being in comunidad.

Iliana Marissa Crisostomo

Class of 2025

Ana Altamiranda

Class of 2028, Undeclared Major

Bio Here Hi! My name is Ana Altamiranda (she/her/ella), and I’m proud to call Mendoza, Argentina, my home. With interests spanning from gender studies and sociology to engineering and data science, I genuinely enjoy engaging in thoughtful conversations on a wide range of topics. As a FLI, international, and Christian student, I’m eager to explore the intersections of these identities with you. I’m a native Spanish speaker and can understand Portuguese, so feel free to chat with me in either language! Also, if you’re looking to improve your Spanish, I’d be happy to be a conversation partner. In my free time, you can find me reading, swimming, or volunteering. I also serve as a frosh liaison for the Haas Center for Public Service, so if you’re interested in finding opportunities to serve both at Stanford and/or in the local community, I’m a great resource to start with. As a Centro student staff member, I’m committed to creating an inclusive space where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported. Navigating college as a Latinx/Chicanx student can be challenging, but El Centro (and I!) are here to provide a strong support system to help you thrive. Whether you need someone to listen, hang out, or just talk about shared experiences—I’m here for you!

Emily Velasquez

Class of 2028, Interested in the Human Biology Major with a minor in Psychology

Hello everyone! My name is Emily Velasquez (she/her/ella). I’m from North Providence, Rhode Island, and I am a first-generation Guatemalan-Spanish American. I’m also a proud member of the FLI community at Stanford. Currently, I am a freshman in the Class of 2028, planning to study human biology on the pre-PA track with a minor in psychology. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, making handwoven bracelets, taking day trips, and trying out new food spots! :)

Cristian Aguilar

Class of 2025, International Relations and Iberian and Latin American Culture Major

Hola familia, my name is Cristian, I was born in Santa Clara, Cuba but was raised in Miami.  I love listening to music and dancing. Appreciating diversity and culture is a big part of how I interact with my environment. No matter where I go, I try to learn and share. I hope to keep learning about our comunidad while working at El centro, and exchange knowledge and experiences with anyone who comes by.

Eric Romeo Calderon

Class of 2025

Anthony Farfan

Class of 2025, Biomechanical Engineering Major

Hello everyone, I'm Anthony Farfan Jacuinde, a proud Mexican-American currently in my third year majoring in biomechanical engineering, from Oxnard, California. My aspirations revolve around establishing or supporting companies within the biotech sector, particularly those dedicated to creating new therapies.  I am especially interested in the 3D printing of cells, a technology with vast applications, including the potential to create organs, thereby mitigating the scarcity of donors and diminishing the likelihood of organ rejection. I am also really interested in this thing called aquaponics which combines my love for agriculture and fishkeeping into this really cool and sustainable way to grow food. Outside academia, I enjoy painting, running, weightlifting, and just chitchatting with my friends.

I chose to join El Centro as a student staff member mainly because of the love I have for the space. Ever since I discovered El Centro back in my freshman year it has become like a second home for me where I can go hang out or do work surrounded by my comunidad. It’s really hard to put into words the feeling of immense joy and gratefulness I get when I walk into El Centro, and not only do I see people who look like me but are also experiencing and talking about things in ways that I too experience and can relate to. And to sometimes hear this done in my mother tongue (Spanish), is just an amazing feeling that I don’t know I could experience anywhere else on this campus. So when I got the opportunity to help contribute to the very center that has provided me with so much happiness, support, and beautiful memories I knew I had to pursue it.

Angelica Perez

Class of 2025, Human Biology Major

I'm Angelica Perez a current Junior majoring in Human Biology. I was born and raised in the most wonderful city in the world- Chicago! I grew up on the Southside, specifically the Gage Park neighborhood and I do in fact say the word “pop” (what others would call soda). I can spend hours talking about my city, so please feel free to stop by and chat with me. My family comes from Michoacán and Guanajuato, Mexico. I am the first in my family to attend college and I aim to further my education at medical school to become an OBGYN. 

 I am very excited to start my new position as a Centro Student Staff Member. As someone who is actively in the space, I cannot wait to officially join the team. Centro has been a space for me to engage in many cultural events where I am not only able to socialize with our beautiful community but I am also able to participate in programming that grows my learning! I cannot wait to contribute to our community by supporting and empowering our students through our programming. Most importantly, being part of El Centro allows me to build meaningful connections with others. I cannot wait to give back to a space that has given me so much from academic support through tutoring to emotional support through the amazing members apart of our community. I hope to see you at one of our events like Cafecito or during office hours! 

Leslie Quintana

Class of 2025, Human Biology Major

Hey y’all I’m Leslie, a Chicana from Southeast Los Angeles. I am the daughter of immigrant parents from Acapulco, Guerrero. Some of my interests include both watching and playing basketball, listening to music primarily R&B; my all-time favorite artist is Giveon, and reading cheesy romance novels. I am beyond excited to be working at El Centro and contributing to making the space a safe and welcoming place for all Latinx students on campus. Come through and check out all the great things El Centro has to offer!

Ninette Calderon

Class of 2025,  Management Science and Engineering Major

Ninette Calderon was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She was raised by two immigrant parents from Central America and Mexico. She is currently a first-generation freshman studying Computer Science and Education. In attempts to help those around her and her community, she started a non-profit organization this past year, Care for Los Angelenos, which provides basic care resources to the homeless community in Los Angeles. Ninette aspires to continue contributing to her community back in Los Angeles and now at Stanford by highlighting the potential that resides within’ her first-generation and Latinx peers.