Spring 2022 STEP Team
STUDENT COORDINATORS
Daniela Contreras, Student Coordinator
Email: dcontreras34@ucmerced.edu
Daniela is a second-year undergraduate student double majoring in Sociology & Psychology. She was born and raised in Hollister, California. She is also the youngest daughter of an Immigrant Mexican single mother. Daniela is a first-generation college student hoping to give back to her community. As a previous AVID student, serving as a mentor is one way she would like to give back. As a mentor she would be of service by being supportive, providing assistance throughout your undergraduate journey, pledging your support, as well as trying her best to inspire others. After undergrad, Daniela hopes to attend post-graduate education and later enter the Social field of public relations.
Along with being a STEP student coordinator, Daniela has been involved in other student organizations. She is on the committee of academic excellence in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. She previously was a STEP scholar, before becoming a student coordinator.
Spring Semester Office Hours: MON: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm & 1:30pm - 4:30pm
TUE: 9 am - 11 am (remote)
WED: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
THU: 8 am - 10 am (remote)
FRI: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Schedule a Meeting: https://calendly.com/dcontreras34/30-minute-meeting?month=2022-09
Yendy Padilla-Hernandez, Student Coordinator
Email: ypadilla-hernandez@ucmerced.edu
Yendy is a third-year undergrad student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Management and Business Economics. She was raised in East Los Angeles, CA, and a daughter of two Mexican immigrants. As a first-born child of four, a low-income, and first-generation college student she would often have herself to rely on, in searching and taking advantage of the opportunities presented to her. As she personally understands the struggles that come with her background, she hopes she can serve as a mentor to any and all students who may share a similar experience. She is highly passionate and motivated to contribute to students’ academic and personal endeavors by providing guidance and resources to help them succeed.
Along with being a STEP student coordinator, she is also actively involved in other organizations on campus. She is the Internal Vice-President and Treasurer for Merced Pre-Law Society, the SSHA Senator for ASUCM, and has interned for the California State Capital and has interned at Washington D.C with the UCDC program. Fun fact: her favorite sport is soccer and has even participated in UC Merced’s Intramural Sports. In the future, she plans on attending law school to study both Immigration & Business Law. She hopes to pursue a career as an attorney to represent and serve her Latinx community with their socio-economic struggles.
Spring Semester Office Hours: MON: 10 am - 1 pm
TUE: 10 am - 12 pm & 3pm-5pm
WED: 10 am - 1 pm
THU: 10 am - 12 pm & 3pm-5pm
FRI: 12 pm - 1 pm
Schedule a Meeting: calendly.com/yendypadilla
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Jason Juarez
Email: step@ucmerced.edu
Schedule a Meeting: Please refer to email address provided above.