Advising

Cristian Ruiz
EOP Advisor

Hello! I'm Cristian, one of the EOP Advisors! I am originally from San Francisco, born and raised in the Mission District. I've recently moved back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles where I worked as a Peer Advisor for California community college students. My academic experience has been shaped by identities such as Latino, First-Gen, Low income and others. My passion has always been in higher education and uplifting those who are marginalized and underrepresented! I am very grateful to be a part of the EOP family.

In my free time, you will always catch me with an airpod in listening to RB royalty such as sza, Jhene, Omar. I also grew up dancing but it's been a while since I've touched a stage so maybe this will be the year! Learning languages is also a hobby of mine, ask me how many languages I can speak!

Earlene Frierson
Email: Earlenef@sfsu.edu

My name is Earlene Frierson, currently an EP Advisor/Tutorial Coordinator. I came to San Francisco to visit the love of my life and got married after Summer School of my first year in college, at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I returned to Arkansas for the following school year. Again, I returned to San Francisco to start raising my family. I have a daughter and a son. Soon, I started taking CEL classes at night to apply for Transfer Status at San Francisco State University. I received a Bachelor's Degree in English, and immediately applied for Graduate School: English Literature. That first Summer, I was asked by the English Dept. to work as a tutor for EOP'S Summer Bridge. I finally applied to work as an EOP Tutor, and then EP assigned me to work with Dr. Freida Lee for one year as a College Recruiter with weekly visits to Balboa, Mission, Phillip Burton High Schools, City College, and attend college fairs, along with Community Counselors. I team taught for the writing section along with Estella Lara. I enjoy being an EOP Advisor, and don't forget to ask if you should have a question or concern about your studies.

Jay-Nee Santo
Email: Jsanto1@sfsu.edu

Hi all!! My name is Jay-Nee (sounds just like Jamie but with a 'n', lol) and I'm so excited to a part of the EOP fam here at SF State! I'm a proud East Bay Native, born and raised.

I started working with EP in December of 2022 as an Advisor, but began my time on campus as a transfer student in 2021. I am a HUGE advocate for community college and transfer students, as a first-gen, low-income, Filipina-American who went through the transfer process myself. During my time in undergrad at SFSU, I worked my way up to becoming a Peer Mentor for the Asian American Pacific Islanders Student Services' financial literacy program, REACH, as well as a Peer Advisor for the undergraduate Psychology Department. I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in counseling, and later became a part of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) as a Peer Presenter for individuals and families struggling with the effects of mental health and addiction. From there I took a leap to apply for a job that I knew could fulfill my passions, and my heart led me back to SF State to bring me where | am today!

Jesus Magaña
Email: Jmagana@sfsu.edu

As an EP student at Cal Poly SLO, I worked as a Peer Advisor within EP. After graduating, I worked as a College Outreach Advisor for a TRIO - Talent Search program working at several San Francisco high schools. This led me to come full circle and become an academic advisor with EP. These opportunities taught me and continue to do so, that giving back and helping others succeed in achieving their goals is vital and important to advancing our communities.

Hobbies: Enjoy being out in nature - hiking, camping, scenic drives. I've been to 31 National Parks. I enjoy reading - science fiction and horror are favorite genres. Favorite books include: Lord of the Rings, Dune, Imajica, The Stand, It.

Julia Hà (She/her)
Email: Jha@sfsu.edu

I am a Chinese-Vietnamese American from the San Francisco YAY Area. I received my B.A. from UC San Diego where I majored in History: War, Revolution, and Social Change with a special emphasis in Genocide Studies, and graduated with a M.A. Ed. degree from SF State in Equity and Social Justice in Education. Before joining the SF State EOPP family, I served as the Social Justice Equity Tutor at CCSF. Also, as the daughter of Vietnamese Boat People refugees who immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1980s, I co-founded Project Yellow Dress, a storytelling platform dedicated to sharing and highlighting the histories, experiences, and voices of the Southeast Asian diaspora.

Rhonda Wright
Email: Rhon@sfsu.edu

I work as a Special Projects Coordinator and Academic Advisor for the Educational Opportunity & Pathways Program at San Francisco State University. EOPP serves first generation college students from underserved communities. I earned my M.A. in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University in 1996, and I am a former EOPP student.

I grew up in the 1960's, right here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my personality was molded by this era. I have worked for social justice my entire life, through volunteer work, public service organizations, my sorority, and various ministries; notably, the prison ministry that I served on for close to twenty years. I also worked as an emotional support volunteer with people who contracted AIDS, visiting those who were sick and shut in.

I am a single mother and my daughter earned her BA degree from San Francisco State University as well.

I love people and enjoy doing the work that I do. I enjoy showing up for life.

"I once heard that a person's purpose in life is found not by looking forward, but by looking back over one's life."

Sam Jones
Email: Samjones@sfsu.edu

I been a EOP employee since 1981-my first position at OP was as science tutor then later Master Tutor.

In 1989, with the support of the EP director Randy Senzaki, I attained the position of Academic Advisor-I have been in this position for over 30 years.

Was a ETHS 50 pre-algebra instructor for two semesters.

From 1999 to 2000, I was the director of the EOP Sumer Bridge Program.

Nancy Lomeli
Email: Nlomeli@sfsu.edu

I'm Nancy, I'm originally from SoCal (IE) and transferred from Riverside City College. I finished my undergrad here at State where I double majored in Environmental Science & Geography. I've worked at EOPP since Fall 2019 as a tutor, summer bridge mentor, peer mentor and now as an advisor! In my free time, I enjoy trying new vegan restaurants, exploring outdoor spaces, gardening and playing with my cat!