Meet the Staff

Staff

Picture of Catelyn Bridges

Catelyn Bridges

  • CCAMPIS Student Parent Mentor GSR

Catelyn is a current doctoral student in the Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group. She serves as the CCAMPIS Student Parent Mentor and is also a student parent herself. She is excited to support the CCAMPIS Scholars and the TRC. 

Marissa Weiss

Marissa Weiss, Ph.D. (She/her/they/them)

  • Transfer Retention Specialist
Office Hours:
Marissa is on campus Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; and is working remotely on Mondays and Wednesdays.

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).  

Student Assistants

Peer Advisor Ananya

Ananya Bapat (she/her/hers)

  • Peer Advisor, 2022-23

My name is Ananya Bapat, and I am a 2nd year transfer majoring in Political Science. I transferred from De Anza Community College from Cupertino. Knowing that I will have only around 2 years here at Davis, I am constantly trying to get to get involved on campus, and really immerse myself. Knowing that I can help new or incoming transfers is why I joined the TRC.

Campus Involvement: Along with the TRC, I am involved in Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) through the Office of the Transfer Student Representative (OTSR) as their Director of External and Government Relations.

Hobbies: I like to explore campus and recommend taking walks in the Arboretum! I frequent the CoHo, MU, and the TRC to study, grab food, and hang out with friends! Outside of school, I am a huge Star Wars and Marvel fan! Some hobbies are watching TV, doing digital drawings, and cooking + baking! :)

Advice for Transfer/Reentry Students: One piece of advice for new reentry and transfer students is that the more you ask questions, the better. When I transferred here, wherever I went and whoever I interacted with, I asked questions. By doing so I was able to get involved with all the organizations/programs that I am a part of now! Another piece of advice is to take things at your own pace. Everything is probably very overwhelming and the last thing is to add even more stress. Take your time and really experience Davis, not just the school aspect. Approach everything holistically!

Peer Advisor Lienna seated with blue sweater outdoors

Lienna Chan

  • Peer Advisor, 2022-23

I transferred from Butte Community College in Oroville, and am majoring in Chemical Engineering. 

Campus Involvement: There are a lot of clubs I want to join in Fall 2022 like OSTEM and AIChE. I wanted to prioritize figuring out how to balance my time at school and living away from home for the first time. I recently got a summer internship working on photovoltaics and renewable energy data analysis for the Moule Lab. While I do not have an extensive background in this field, I am super excited to learn and gain experiences I previously did not have access to.

Hobbies: Outside of academics, you can find me looking for house plants or drawing at a cafe :)

Advice for Transfer/Reentry Students: As an individual who rushed their education in pursuit of “improvement”, I hope incoming
reentry and transfer students take time to explore different areas of interest. It’s not a sustainable mindset trying to consistently push yourself to your limits without a break; throw in a class unrelated to your major or try out a new hobby. (UC Davis has classes on Dinosaurs, Zombies, Vampires and multiple food-related ones)

Peer Advisor Gurtaj

Gurtaj Grewal

  • Peer Advisor, 2022-23

I am a second year transfer and reentry student majoring in Community and Regional Development. I transferred from Woodland Community College which is located in Woodland California just North of Davis.

Campus Involvement: I am a member of the Student Alumni Association as a member of the student engagement committee and am part of a cohort for Student Leadership Program on Campus that completed in Spring 2022 quarter. As a result of completion, I received a leadership certificate as I completed this program. I stay connected with the campus community by studying at different centers around campus like the Transfer and Reentry Center (TRC), Educational Opportunity Programs & Services (EOP&S Cottage), Memorial Union, and Native American Academic Student Success Center (NAASSC). 

Hobbies: I love to exercise, and some of my favorite exercises are playing basketball at the Activities and Recreation Center and going on runs around Woodland. The longest distance I have run is 6 miles, accomplishment.  

Advice for Transfer/Reentry Students: My advice for transfer and reentry students is don’t hesitate to ask questions. My counselor from Woodland Community College always told me that asking questions is not a weakness and that with clarity, you will have a understanding of what to do.

Photo of Miranda, peer advisor outdoor with a sunflower

Miranda Huntsinger

  • Peer Advisor, 2022-23

Hi! My name is Miranda Huntsinger and I am a second year transfer student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Anthropology and Sociology. I transferred from Santa Rosa Junior College located in Santa Rosa California.

Campus Involvement: Last year I was involved in The Project Happiness and Music Therapy Club. Currently I am involved in a roller skating club where we skate around campus playing music. I am still learning to rollerblade so I spend most of mine attempting to not fall and embarrass myself. My favorite spots on campus include the redwood grove in the Arboretum and the walking paths near the Green at West Village.

Hobbies: I enjoy learning new things and have a hard time just choosing only one hobby. At the moment I am focused on mastering different recipes, creating the perfect Spotify playlist, and I just started my first DND campaign. This school year I plan on learning how to rock climb.

Advice for Transfer/Reentry Students:  My best advice would be to introduce yourself to the people you sit next to in class. Exchanging contact information can come in handy if you have to do group projects or want to catch up with lectures. It is also a great way to make friends and feel comfortable in class.

Photo of Peer Advisor in bench with UCD swag

Stephanie Jimenez

  • Peer Advisor, 2022-23

I am a second-year transfer student from Diablo Valley College! I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education in hopes of obtaining a Master’s Degree to become a community college counselor! My ultimate goal is to pay it forward by helping and mentoring those who need guidance in a complex educational system. 

Campus Involvement: Because I love being involved in the community, I have had many campus involvement experiences. I am an active member of the University Honors Program, Regents Scholars Society, UC Davis’ Girl Gains, and Princess Pals! Previously, I was a mentee for the First-Generation Initiative Program, a social media intern for Healthy Davis Together, and a communications intern for UC Davis’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office.

Hobbies: My hobbies consist of going to the gym, binge-watching all streaming services (I have wayyy too many subscriptions, hahaha), listening to K-pop, cooking, hiking, and hanging out with friends! :D 

Advice for Transfer/Reentry Students: My advice to incoming transfer students and reentry students is to remember that you are not alone and have resources to guide you through your educational journey. We are here for YOU, so take advantage!! Also, remember that you deserve to be here, so celebrate all accomplishments and do not trivialize your abilities. :)