Dasha holds Associate of Arts degrees from Santa Monica College, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) specialization from Antioch College. Prior to coming to UC Davis, Dasha was at UCLA where they most recently served as the Office and Intake Coordinator for the Campus Assault Resources & Education (CARE) program and the Program Coordinator for Case Management Services (CMS). 

Dasha's goal was always to one day end up working with a Center-based program, preferably at a university, so seeing that the Transfer & Reentry Center was hiring at UC Davis felt like the stars were aligning for exactly just that. They've been working with college students since 2015 and find it to be such a rewarding and celebratory experience being able to not only watch the students you work with achieve their student success stories, but also to be able to grow with them through those journeys.

Dasha was a transfer student (Santa Monica College to UCLA) so they understand how it can sometimes feel isolated and lonely on a big campus where it feels like most students have already found their footing and their communities. It can feel overwhelming trying to find where you belong, so Dasha hopes to collaborate closely with the transfer student community to help alleviate that stress and develop opportunities where students can feel more closely connected with the campus and each other.

Hello! My name is Madeline Thompson, I am a current MSW I student at California State University, Sacramento. I received my bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2016 and earned my AA in Social Sciences from Sacramento City College in 2013. As a former UCSC transfer student, I obtained a wealth of support and resources from the STARS Transfer and Reentry program to successfully navigate the first year of my undergraduate studies. I’m passionate about helping and guiding students along their educational journey and super excited to offer the same supports and mentorship I received during my undergraduate studies.

My journey into the field of Social Work began over ten years ago where I served in a variety of social service agencies and schools. In my previous role, I held an administrative position at Sacramento City College within the Counseling and Transfer Center and previously served as a Service Coordinator during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic at Alta California Regional Center. This organization aims to support individuals and their families with developmental and intellectual disabilities with community collaborations through a strength - based approach. Most recently, I joined the Sacramento City Unified School District at a local elementary school as an MSW I Intern to work with our K-6 scholars. Upon the completion of my graduate program, I plan to continue to advocate for our students from an equitable lens not only as a Social Worker, but as a Social Justice Worker, to break the barriers among disproportionally impacted students to foster and support an inclusive and educational environment.

During free moments, I enjoy dedicating time to my yoga practice, cooking delicious healthy food and tending to my community garden. I also love going to concerts, camping and hiking in Mendocino, California. I am excited to join this new community while getting to know and support all the new and existing Aggies!

Marissa offers support and advocacy for reentry students (ages 25 and older, with children, married/partnered, returning from a break in school, caregiving for adult family members).  

Hi, my name is Ellah Allen and I am a third year transfer student with a major in Psychology. I transferred from Solano Community College in Fairfield, CA. I am also a Pre-Med student and hope to pursue a career in the medical field after my time at UC Davis. My future goal is to become a person who can provide utmost care and diligence to my patients. I would love to work with women and children and further advocate for their rights and education.

Campus involvement: Currently I am involved in an on campus ministry called Davis Christian Fellowship. I also have had the opportunity to be involved in a student run clinic called Clínica Tepati that provides free healthcare for the underserved Latino communities in Sacramento. The global learning hub has become a frequent place for me as I plan to study abroad in the Summer of 2023 to Ghana. There I will volunteer at a local Pediatric hospital for 5 weeks learning about the increased rate of childhood morbidity. Along with the TRC, I hope to get more involved within campus this upcoming year.

Hobbies: My hobbies include going on walks, painting, and watching movies. I consider myself a foodie and love to try different foods any chance I get. My favorite food is sushi and I love a good bagel. Reading and writing are some of my go to activities that I wish I could do more of, now with my busy schedule. But hanging out with friends and family also makes me the happiest.

Advice for Transfer/Reentry Students: A piece of advice I would like to share is to continue to be yourself and be open to new possibilities. Coming to a university with many different people and cultures will be eye opening within itself but in this you will find who you really are. You will be amazed at the growth you may see in yourself by meeting new people, making new friends, and creating new habits. You can accomplish big things with the person you are today and you don't have to change to do that. Embrace the challenges of being a new student and be open to new experiences and indifferences, it's what will make you a better you ;).