Meet Our Discussion Leaders

Tianrui Huang

Hi! This is Tianrui (Tee·en-Ray), a senior Revelle student studying philosophy, economics, and communication. I am an active explorer inside and outside the campus. Aside from being your Discussion Leader (definitely that’s my favorite identity), I also write at UCSD Guardian, a student-operated newspaper, and run the Philosophy Club at UCSD. Beyond these, you’ll most likely find me sitting at a random corner reading about Philosophy of Language and trying to survive my honor thesis project. Outside of school, I have a lot of hats on my head given my crazy amount of hobbies. I’m a certificated bartender actively expanding my liquor collection, and I’m also a journalist with a focus on local policy and social justice. In addition, I’m studying Japanese, motorcycling and surfing, so hopefully I’ll grow with more identities in the near future! As a young soul born and raised in Changsha, a Chinese entertainment city, unable to hold back my passion, I always want to live my life to the fullest. I had a wild and busy 2022 summer. I spent 10 weeks in Washington D.C. writing for a local LGBTQ+ newspaper, then I flew to Isreal for a 10-day investigative trip. Right before school started, I stayed in LA meeting my friends, exploring fun sites, and listening to the Cigarette After Sex concert. I’m excited to talk to all of you and ready to listen to your stories! I hope you share the same excitement, and are ready to get the best from these awaiting campus resources!

Abigail Manzo

Hello everyone! My name is Abby and I am a fourth-year Education Major and Dance Minor at Muir college. I entered UCSD as an undeclared major until I realized my passion for teaching and helping! I love working with people of all ages but young children have my heart. Post graduation I hope to become an elementary school teacher and eventually work my way up to school administration. I currently work on campus and hold a student leadership position there but I also work for a family as a Spanish tutor. I love learning new things and putting my knowledge/resources to work! I also love being busy and having a schedule so when it comes to my free time I like to fill it with recreational classes, dance classes and outdoor activities. I grew up being very active as a kid so I enjoy everything! From things like snowboarding, paddleboarding, volleyball, aerial silks and traveling to watching movies, thrifting and spending quality time with family and friends. I would consider myself a friendly extrovert so please feel free to reach out and talk to me about anything! I’ll love it!!

The Saint

Hi everyone, Nice to meet you all! My name is The Saint and I go by full name. It’s my real legal name and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I was born and raised in Burma/ Myanmar and I got my citizenship in US this March. So, I’m first-gen both in immigration and college student. Let me know if you have questions about immigration. I’ve been in California for 7 years. I’m from the Bay Area. This is my last quarter at UCSD. I’m from Revelle college and my major is Communication, focusing on media production. I like working in producing podcasts or TV series. I do standup comedy and act in UCSD student productions like my first standup at the UCSD LOFT talent show and my podcast on Spotify. All these things start to happen because of the classes I took and programs I participated at UCSD. I’m also in other student organizations like APSA, UCSD Communication Society, Basement startup incubator program, and OASIS Hope Scholar, and Triton LinkedIn Group. My hobbies are photography, cooking, traveling, listening to music, watching movies and TV series, writing poems and short stories, reading novels and self-help books. As I have researched about resources and organizations at UCSD, I want to share these that can help you with your path on academic, career or personal level. So feel free to reach out to me through email or office hour. Welcome to UCSD and congrats for your first step to be a triton! I wish you all the best with your academics and student life here at UCSD.

Shina Luu

Hi everyone! My name is Shina and I’m a fourth-year double majoring in General Biology and Global Health at Sixth College. A fun fact about me is that I love sweets– my list could go on forever, but my favorites include mint chocolate chip ice cream, textured cookies, and peanut M&M’s. During my time here, I have gotten involved with the Lion Dance at UCSD and Cancer Outreach Team organizations on campus, and I also served as a Sixth Orientation Leader! The Sixth community is what motivated me to join the First Year Experience team because I enjoyed connecting with new students and acting as a resource for y’all to discover all that UCSD has to offer, whether that’s navigating academic and professional advising or finding a pathway down to the beach. Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions as my goal is to create a welcoming and safe space for everyone.

Tatyana Simmonds

My name is Tatyana Simmonds, I am a 4th year transfer student here at UCSD as a psychology major with a minor in Law and Society. During my couple months at UCSD I really struggled with managing school/work/life balance in comparison to the junior college that I was at. In addition there was a huge culture shock from my hometown to this University. One of my favorite parts of San Diego is the endless restaurants that I get to try! I am invested in the transfer community because I want students to know that they are capable, welcome and not alone during their first year on this big campus. The overload of information can be overwhelming, but with the help from our team this quarter, I believe we can help you succeed.

Sarah Baim

Hi y’all! My name is Sarah Baim and I’m a second year Physics (with specialization in Astrophysics) student in Sixth College. Some of my interests include philosophy (with plans to double major!), reading, running, and rock climbing. Currently, I call Arlington, VA home, however it’s actually the eleventh place I’ve lived. Moving to new places is always daunting, and it can be difficult to find a place you feel you belong, especially at larger schools like UCSD. However, there really are opportunities for people with all sorts of interests and I look forward to helping you connect with ones that interest you. Even if things are overwhelming at times, it helps to remember that adjusting takes time for everyone. Always feel welcome to reach out to me, whether just to chat or if you have a problem you need help solving. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Ricardo Guerrero

Yo! My name is Ricardo Guerrero, I’m a fourth year Computer Science major in Thurgood Marshall College. I joined FYE as a Discussion Leader because I wanted to use my experiences from the past three years to help you out as fellow students and hopefully make college life an easier transition for you all as first years. In my spare time I like to listen to music (I’m a fan of rock, metal, and anison) while reading manga (Shonen, Horror, Rom-Com), so if you want to give or take suggestions feel free to talk to me about it. I believe the FYE class will be a great introduction to the resources and opportunities UCSD has to offer, while also giving you the advantage of getting advice from upperclassmen while also getting to know fellow first years. I believe we can all have a good quarter and learn from each other, so no stress and let's all do our best.

Raya

I’m Raya, Pronouns they/them. My Ancestors are from Mexico, and I’m second generation Chicanx on both sides which means my family has been in California for two generations. My major is in Political science emphasis on Race and Ethnicity and my minor is in Law and Society. I am also a first gen college as well as Transfer student. My dream one day is to be a great immigration lawyer and Professor as I love teaching and want to help defend human rights. I am a discussion leader because I aim to take part in creating a culture of collective care among transfer students at UCSD that celebrates, and advocates for our peers' successes as if it were our own.

Kaitlyn Nishitani

Hi everyone, my name is Kaitlyn and I am a current third-year undergraduate student from Revelle College majoring in Human Developmental Sciences and minoring in Education Studies. I enjoy working with students of all ages and am currently pursuing a career in teaching! In my free time, I enjoy reading, crafts (especially decorative journaling), and have recently developed a love for puzzles! When I entered UCSD as a first-year, I did not have a clear sense of direction in terms of my career and educational goals. After becoming more acquainted with UCSD’s numerous resources, I can proudly say that I have found my passion in teaching and helping others, allowing me to pursue opportunities that have made my college experience truly special. Over the course of this quarter, I hope to share these resources with you and help you discover your true passions, as well as help you form connections with your peers. College is a time for growth and I am here to help you! I enjoy meeting new people and connecting with students, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or to discuss UCSD resources, my college experience, your goals, or anything at all!

Pawee Akkharachotmongkhol

I am a 4th year General Biology major with a Psych minor at Revelle College. I am very proud to be a Revelian and I even like to say that I am the most “Revelle” Revelle student you will ever meet because I am the President of Revelle College Council this year and I was VP Admin last year. I have been a Peer Advisor in the Revelle Academic office for the past 3 years I was also one of the Senior Orientation Leaders for this past Orientation, but before that, I was an OL for 2 years! Before you think “does she even leave Revelle?!” The answer is yes, I do! I am also involved in other orgs outside of Revelle. I am the Retention Coordinator for the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APSA) club on campus. I have been a member of APSA since my first year and this will be my 2nd year on board as Retention Coordinator. I am also in Phi Sigma Rho (PSR), which is a social STEM sorority on campus. I have been a member since winter quarter of my first year. I actually joined with my roommate! Besides all of my extracurriculars, during my free time, I like to cook and hang out with my friends! I also like to go cafe hunting on the weekends because I am addicted to coffee and all things caffeinated! When I am not cafe hunting, I am making Spotify playlists! I love music, I am always listening to music. Fun fact, I have over 70 playlists on Spotify, one for every occasion. Another random fun fact about me is my favorite TV show of all time is Avatar: The Last Airbender. I can talk about it for hours! I actually won a giveaway through UCSD and got a signed photo of Prince Zuko by Dante Basco, who voiced him. He also sent me a video of himself saying my favorite Zuko quote! Well, that’s enough about me! Let’s talk about you, my students! As my students, I hope y’all will make new friends and many build connections through FYE. I hope you find a community through this program because life is just more fun when you have great people by your side. Whether you find your community in the FYE program or through an org or resource you learn about in FYE, know that there is a place for you here at UCSD.

Arlene Nagtalon

Hello everyone! I’m Arlene, I use she/her pronouns, and I’m a second-year Molecular and Cell Biology major at Revelle College. I’m also a prospective double major in Health Justice & Social Entrepreneurship, which is a major I’m currently creating and declaring! I’ve lived in San Diego all my life, so I’m more than happy to give suggestions of places to eat, visit, and see outside of La Jolla. I’m excited for this opportunity to work with all of you to help transition to your new lives as Tritons! Remembering my first-year, I have to admit that it was a rough transition. Being a commuter student who relied on public transportation for the first time, I struggled with time management and finding my community. It was difficult to watch my peers sit in lectures in groups and pairs as I entered lecture halls alone, but I’m glad that I was able to create lasting friendships through clubs, organizations, and classes, and feel more connected to the campus environment. Outside of my duties of being a discussion leader, I’m a Mental Health Lead at The Zone, a lounge for student well-being designed to promote healthy, balanced living to students, and a College Ambassador for Reality Changers, a nonprofit organization in San Diego that prepares youth to become first-generation college graduates and agents of change in their community. In my free time, I enjoy writing, traveling, trying new foods, and thrift shopping! As a minority student and someone who knows the ins and outs of San Diego, I want to show y’all why I call this place my home. Hopefully you’ll find reasons to love it here as well! Aside from being a discussion leader, I want to be an accessible resource to all of you. Free to contact me via Canvas, email, Discord, and/or LinkedIn!

Alina George

Hello everyone! My name is Alina and I am a 3rd year student at Revelle College. I am involved in some really cool Revelle-based organizations like Student Initiated Programs at Revelle and Emerging Leaders Program as well as a dance-based organization called Alter Ego. My favorite thing to do is make playlists based on my current moods and then plug in my headphones and dance to them. I think the First Year Experience is going to be a great place for you all to start making meaningful connections as well as learning about all the amazing resources UCSD has to offer. I hope to see you all soon!!

Ben Liou

Hi everyone, my name’s Ben! I’m an out-of-state student studying electrical engineering, and I’m also the first in my family to study undergrad in the US. I like playing the guitar, writing, and talking about random philosophic topics. I’m super excited to study abroad in Japan in Spring 2023 and hope to help you make the most of your college experience. I want to help you connect with people and also help you plan for future success through intern, part-time job, lab, and other opportunities. Please feel free to reach out to me about anything!

Genesis Dantay

Hello, my name is Genesis Dantay, but you can call me Gen! I’m so glad to have you all here in the FYE/TYE program, and I’m sure by the end of this quarter and during it, you will get all the resources you need to have a successful first year here at UCSD. A little bit about myself, is that I am currently in my last year as an undergraduate with a major in Human Biology on a pre med track. I am also in medical orgs such as MedLife and M.E.M.O, so if any of you are interested in joining orgs just like those, please let me know or shoot me an email after class! Some hobbies I have outside of school is playing tennis, so if any of you know how to play, or simply want to learn you could catch me at the tennis courts near the muir apartments literally anytime of the day.

Meet our Discussion Leaders

Fall 2022 Discussion Leaders