Paola Benitez Ayala

Passionate Student Affairs professional with 5+ years of equity and social justice experience. Dedicated to the holistic development of all students, especially students from underserved communities. Highly skilled in advising students on transfer requirements, the transfer process, and campus resources. Proven expertise in collaborating with programs across campus and institutions successfully developing meaningful partnerships.

• Bilingual: Spanish both written and communication
• Excellent organizational, oral, and written communication skills
• Knowledgeable of transfer process and requirements
• Over 4-year experience supporting underrepresented, first-generation, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-income students
• Experienced in planning, implementing, and coordinating workshops and activities for 20 to 200+ students
• Communication Platforms: Zoom, Teams, Social Media Platforms (Instagram and TikTok)
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration and independently by being organized and self-efficient
• Proficient in SARS, Canvas, ASSIST, Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel)

• Phi Beta Kappa
• Student of Distinction, Mt. SAC 2020
• Dexter MacBride Leadership Scholarship
• Future Counselor Scholarship
• Sam and Roslyn Berkman Undergraduate Scholarship

• UCLA Educators for Tomorrow Research Program, Los Angeles, California, Researcher, 01/21, 06/21, Conducted qualitative research rooted in social justice within the field of education., Interviewed and collected testimonies from Latina college students., Presented research findings and recommended corrective actions.
• Mt. SAC Movimento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MECHA), Walnut, California, Gender and Sexuality Chair, 05/19, 06/20, Advocated for inclusivity of women of color and the LGBTQ+ community., Organized a minority women's initiative and created workshops., Planned and led the annual Day of the Dead event on campus.

• El Centro, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, California, Professional Expert, Student Services, 09/22, Present, Promotes an environment of belonging as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, anti-racism, and accessibility through the programming of El Centro for all students, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members., Assists in planning and organizing cultural and educational program events, informational seminars, workshops, and presentations in collaboration with various programs across campus., Implements intersecting identity programming such as: the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Transfer Experience, Finding Familia: The LGBTQ+ Latinx Experience, and Celebrating Afro-Latinidad campaign., Develops and implements the Latinx Transfer Experience in collaboration with the Transfer Center and Counseling Department., Provides supervision to four Student Ambassadors., Coordinates outreach efforts by scheduling classroom presentations, designing program brochures, and creating partnerships with off-campus resources., Prepares flyers, social media campaigns, and participates in campus tabling events., Organizes, schedules, and chaperones cultural enrichment fieldtrips and college tours., Tracks, analyzes, and collects data using surveys, spreadsheets, and other related software., Administers program needs assessments and program evaluations., Manually updates and enters new student sign-ups into El Centro Listserv., Co-coordinates a 16-week learning experience (Fall and Spring); Knowledge is Power Learning Cohort., Assists in the development of the Student Led Equity conference.
• UCLA Center for Community College Partnership, Los Angeles, California, Peer Advisor and Foster Youth/Former Foster Youth Student Program Coordinator, 01/21, 08/22, Coordinated and facilitated Foster Youth/Former Foster youth, Minority Women, and Latinx Transfer Experience webinars., Supported the center's commitment to equity, social justice, diversity, anti-racism, and accessibility., Developed strategies to motivate current community college students., Facilitated workshops on University of California Transfer Admission Guarantee (UC TAG)., Collected data, maintained a database, tracked transfer progress, and followed up with assigned student cohorts., Coordinated outreach and recruitment activities at assigned community colleges., Reviewed students' personal insight questions for UCs and Private Universities., Met with students on a one-on-one basis to advise on university transfer requirements.
• Bridge Program, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, California, Peer Advisor, 05/18, 06/20, Utilized ASSIST and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) when assisting counselors., Provided coaching to students related to course registration process., Advised and guided groups of students during the academic year., Created a safe space for diverse incoming students., Assisted counselors in facilitating classroom lectures and program presentations., Advocated for students that expressed concerns about their classes.
• Honors Program, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, California, Honors Ambassador, 08/19, 06/20, Facilitated classroom presentations and hosted information booths., Coordinated and facilitated presentations tailored to Latinx student organizations., Created one-on-one appointment slots and checked students in for appointments.