Scholars In Residence Mentors
Our Scholars-in-Residence (SIR) graduate mentors support first-generation undergraduate students affected by immigration policies. They host weekly office hours and plan events to help students navigate their UCI academic journeys, explore post-grad opportunities, and build community with other students.
Book your appointment today!
Justine Lim | SIR Co-Lead
She/Her | 2L Public Service Scholar at UC Irvine School of Law
Justine Lim (she/her) is a 2L Public Service Scholar at UC Irvine School of Law, pursuing labor and employment law. Driven by her lived experience as an undocumented Filipino and Chinese immigrant, Justine is a champion of labor and immigrant rights. Because of her experience growing up isolated in rural Pennsylvania, Justine is committed to serving community members by offering her support, knowledge, and expertise. She loves learning from students and has mentored two national cohorts of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) undocumented youth with the UCLA Dream Summer Fellowship. She is currently a Scholar-in-Residence at the UCI DREAM Center, where she hopes to continue her work cultivating and empowering immigration-impacted students. In her free time, you can catch Justine strolling in Aldrich park, thrifting, visiting art museums, or baking new recipes she finds on Pinterest.
Specialties: Narrative Development for Personal & Diversity Statements, Essay Editing, Resume Building, & Interview Skills
Guadalupe S Cisneros Arroyo | SIR Co-Lead
They/Them | 4th year PhD candidate in Global and International Studies
Guadalupe S Cisneros Arroyo is a 4th year PhD candidate in the department of Global and International Studies and are currently serving as a Scholar-in-Residence at the DREAM Center. Where they mentor student on the different aspects of academia that may impact underrepresented students,and help undergrads prepare for post graduation life. Their research focuses on Latinx/a/o involvement in far-right groups in the US and its links to the history of eugenics, fascism, ethnostates, and populism in Latin America.
Specialties: Self-employment, Artivism, Archival Research, & Interview Skills
Joseph Labagnao Ligunas
He/They | 7th year PhD candidate in Comparative Literature
Joseph Labagnao Ligunas is a PhD candidate in Comparative Literature at UCI. Their research looks at the adaptation and narration of Philippine history in various popular forms to interrogate the construction of post-colonial Philippine identity, nationalism, and culture. As a Scholar-in-Residence, Joseph enjoys developing various dynamic professionalization workshops for students, and he is also dedicated to assisting students in navigating college and in discussing various post-graduate options. In his downtime, Joseph enjoys cooking, playing board games, collecting Criterion Blu-rays on sale, and hanging out with his cat.
Specialties: Graduate Application Prep, Presentation Skills, Post-grad Planning, & Interview Skills
Jesus Lopez
He/Him | 3rd year PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering
Jesus Lopez is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department, he is also involved at The UCI DREAM Center as a SIR mentor where he hopes to help students develop their professional skills. His research focuses on characterization of surface morphologies and understanding the charging behavior of Pt for the purpose of fuel cell applications.
Specialties: Networking, Campus Involvement, First-Year Transitions, & Interview Skills
Rudibel (Rudy) Barbosa
He/Him | 1st year Masters Urban and Regional Planning
Rudy is pursuing a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP). He specializes in community-driven planning, with expertise in community engagement, participatory design, inclusive public spaces, comprehensive and targeted planning, zoning regulations, policy development, and project management. His approach brings planning to the street level, fostering equity and participation among historically marginalized communities impacted by past planning disparities. Rudy takes a special interest in data and research in housing that intersect with land use and affordable housing, such as health, economic insecurity, etc. Rudy is interested in using planning to create more equitable and accessible communities. Rudy aims to mentor students through their professional development and brings real world work experience to guide students in their aspirations.
Specialties: Public speaking, Networking, Data & Assessment, & Interview Skills
Jenniffer Perez Lopez
She/They | 5th year PhD candidate in Sociology
Jenniffer Perez Lopez is a Ph.D. candidate in the Sociology Department and is currently a Scholar-in-Residence at the DREAM Center. Their research unpacks the experiences of Central American communities and mixed-status families as they navigate complex immigration policies. She enjoys meeting with undergraduates, planning workshops, and supporting the DREAM Center. In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, going thrifting, volunteering at the local animal shelter and spending her time at the beach.
Specialties: Post-graduate Planning, Research Opportunities, and Graduate Application Prep, & Interview Skills