Our Team

Brittany hails from the Bay Area with stints in Georgia and Mexico. With a solid decade of experience in operations under her belt, she's no stranger to navigating the intricacies of organizational efficiency. She has dedicated three impactful years to the nonprofit sector. She is now in pursuit of a Masters in Public Administration, specializing in nonprofit management from California State University, Northridge.

As a first-generation college graduate, Brittany's journey is fueled by her unwavering passion for equitable access to education. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, she finds solace and inspiration in the pages of a good book

Cara Magliaro joined PCF with more than 15 years experience as an innovative educator, leader, and community volunteer working for organizations dedicated to youth development and educational technology.

As a first-generation college student and passionate educational advocate, Cara graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Education and connects deeply to PCF’s mission and values.

Outside of PCF, Cara stays busy raising her three kids, two dogs, and three chickens and is greatly looking forward to traveling again.

Denise Villamil joined PCF after 20 years in program design/evaluation, relationship building, and management development within the corporate and non-profit sectors. She has held numerous executive roles in her career in both the technology and biotech sectors. She has also been an accomplished entrepreneur of two successful start-up companies. Throughout Denise's career, she has had the opportunity to mentor young professionals both in the US and abroad in the area of professional development. As one of the first in her family to go to college, she understands the impact that higher education and career-readiness has on employment opportunities. Denise was drawn to the PCF mission because of her passion for changing the equality of equity challenges that restrict underserved communities from securing meaningful careers. As such, she was excited to join the PCF team to start a new department within the organization focused on providing robust career advisory services and training programs that address the unique workforce readiness needs that first-generation college students face in today’s marketplace.

Denise graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Business Management from National University. As a native Californian and sports enthusiast she enjoys being in an area where she has local access to the coast and the mountains. In her off hours, Denise can be found spending time with family and friends, traveling, skiing, and giving back to the community through volunteering her time, treasure and talents to various non-profit organizations.

Beth Williams joined PCF with a variety of experience in fundraising for nonprofits and a passion for creating positive change. Beth has dedicated over thirty years to advancing the missions of nonprofit organizations in the areas of foster care, hospice and domestic violence.

As an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFPSV), Beth has demonstrated her commitment to professional excellence by acting as a mentor to those new to the profession and by also serving seven years on the board of directors. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), earned in March 2010, showcasing her dedication to ethical fundraising practices and ongoing professional development.

Beth is driven by a vision of a more compassionate and equitable world and has personally benefited from the impact of access to education as both of her parents were first generation college students who became teachers themselves. Beth and her husband met and graduated from CSU Long Beach and now the next generation has carried on the pursuit of higher education with their son graduating from Cal Poly SLO and their daughter continuing the tradition by becoming a CSULB alum and going on to earn her Masters from USF and becoming a high school teacher. In her personal time Beth, enjoys traveling and volunteering for local theaters and other nonprofit organizations.

Martha, attended California State University, Northridge, where she majored in Communication Studies. While at CSUN, she focused on the intersectionality of communication in human relations, cultural studies, social justice, and training and development.

As a first-generation scholar herself, Martha is deeply passionate about career development, particularly for first-generation scholars. She is also a Latino Leadership Board Fellow, which reflects her commitment to leadership and community empowerment. With over a decade of experience in marketing, communication, sales, and training, Martha brings valuable expertise to her work. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and immersing herself in different cultures.

Before going to college Julia always had this idea of going into education, but originally was on the path to becoming a teacher. However, it was not until she stepped foot on campus predominantly white institution that she realized she needed a community if she was going to continue higher education.

Once Julia found her community in the Ethnic Studies department and family within her multicultural sorority, she realized that that was what she needed to get her through college. She needed the mentorship, support and confidence that both of these communities provided. Julia double majored and earned her B.A. in Comparative Ethnic Studies and a B.A. in History, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo because she wanted to give back to those who were first-generation college students like herself.

Julia entered the nonprofit community as an intern for the Community Roots Project in San Luis Obispo where she realized she could be both part of a nonprofit and help with education together in her professional career.

Raj graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from San Jose State University, and brings over a decade of experience working with community members through various nonprofit organizations. As a first-generation college graduate, Raj understands the unique challenges and opportunities faced by first-generation students, particularly during the critical transition from high school to college.

Raj is deeply passionate about empowering scholars and is committed to ensuring they receive the support and mentorship needed to thrive. He appreciates the heart, dedication, and compassion that our mentors bring to guiding students on their path to success.

Eduardo was born in Redwood City, CA but moved to Hayward, CA when he was five years old. Being a Hayward Made student, Eduardo completed his entire education in Hayward. Eduardo obtained his AA in Communication Studies from Chabot College in the Spring of 2017 and recently graduated from California State University, East Bay with his BA in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Latinx and Chicanx Studies. During his educational journey, Eduardo worked with the TRIO Educational Talent Search Program at Chabot College and Hayward Promise Neighborhood at CSU East Bay as a Program Facilitator and Promise Intern. In these roles, he focused on being a mentor for first-generation, low-income, and multiracial students and families. His passion is to continue working with students and families from around his community. In his free time, Eduardo enjoys adventurous car rides and getting lost on the road with good music playing.

Lizeth Diaz Navarrete grew up in San Jose, California and was the first in her family to attend and graduate from university. Lizeth earned her Bachelor's in Psychological and Brain Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Master's in Counseling and Guidance from San Jose State University. It was during this transformative period that she discovered her true passion for helping underrepresented students understand their talents and strengths to thrive in higher education.

This passion led her to intern at SJSU's Career Center, where she dedicated herself to empowering students to make informed decisions about their career paths and leverage their unique abilities to pursue fulfilling careers that not only align with their passions but also offer financial freedom. As a first-generation woman of color, Lizeth is committed to using her lived and professional experiences to aid other students in higher education succeed at a holistic level and work towards addressing systematic inequities.

Margaret Galvan grew up in Orange County, California. As a first-generation college student, Margaret has a passion and drive for self growth and uplifting of her community and those around her.

At the University of California, Santa Cruz, Margaret double majored, earning a Bachelor’s in History and History of Art and Visual Culture. It was there that she found her love of community and programs at the Museum of Art and History in Downtown Santa Cruz. Post-college, Margaret continued her museum journey in Orange County, volunteering and working at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda. Always finding herself on education and community programs teams, she realized her purpose. Margaret is excited to join The Peninsula College Fund and has hopes of creating a bigger and more direct impact on the lives of the next generation. She looks forward to building a community in San Jose and finding new places to volunteer and share her passions.

Steven Pazce is a dedicated professional with a passion for community empowerment and storytelling. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management from San Francisco State University in 2022, overcoming the challenges of being a first-generation low-income student.

During his college journey, Steven sought guidance from mentors who helped him navigate academia, inspiring him to give back to his community upon graduation. He joined the Latino Education Advancement Foundation as a mentor shortly after graduating, where he shared his experiences and supported a cohort of students facing similar challenges.

As a proactive student leader, Steven served as the Vice President of Marketing for the Management Organization for Business Students at SFSU. In this role, he honed his skills in managing, delegating tasks, and executing projects, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.

Outside of his academic pursuits, Steven embarked on a side project as a content management freelance consultant, leveraging his marketing expertise from managing his successful YouTube channel. He is passionate about leveraging digital platforms to tell stories and empower individuals, especially those from underserved communities.

Steven Pazce remains committed to his mission of helping students reach their full potential, creating compelling content, and advocating for inclusivity and diversity in all of his projects. As a College Services Program Coordinator at PCF, he plans to have an impact in student’s lives on a bigger scale.

Nohely grew up in eastern Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. In elementary school, she was bussed to school through the Tinsley Transfer Program, where she witnessed firsthand the educational disparities between her community and neighboring ones, initiating her career interest in working to reduce the education gap.

She graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and American Studies and Latina/o Studies, and spent her junior year abroad at the University of Oxford through the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford. At Williams, Nohely was an Orientation Leader for incoming first-generation students and served on the board for Vista, the campus affinity group for Latinx students.

After college, Nohely was a high school English teacher for 4 years at Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto, her alma mater. Her passion for supporting the success of first-generation students like herself led her to PCF, where she hopes to continue being a resource for scholars in her community.

In her free time, Nohely can be found reading at a cafe, attending a concert, or at the park with her dog.

Yessica Ramirez is a first-generation immigrant from Mexico who currently resides in Hayward, California. She is the first in her family to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Cal State East Bay. During her educational journey, she founded an undocumented student focused club that advocated for resources, fostering a tight knit community environment.

Yessica has dedicated significant time to volunteering, particularly through food pantries and tutoring programs aimed at supporting low-income individuals. Most recently, she is a volunteer at The Tech Interactive Museum as a Women In Data Science Ambassador. Furthermore, as an advocate for people of color and undocumented youth in STEM fields, she continues to contribute to the empowerment of underserved communities through educational and outreach initiatives.

Matthew immigrated to the US when he was 3 years old and grew up in the Central Valley, more specifically, Delano, CA. He is a first-generation, low income college student. Matthew first attended his local community college, Bakersfield College, majoring in Theater Arts & Psychology. He then transferred to University of California, Berkeley where he got his dual Bachelor of Arts in Theater Performance Studies & Media Studies. Majority of his time at UC Berkeley was spent in community with the Pilipinx Community as the Retention Director for Pilipinx Academic Student Services (P.A.S.S.). In this role, Matthew helped celebrate, honor, and inform the Pilipinx community through events, workshops, and community gatherings in collaboration with his team and other organizations.

After University, he worked at WeWork Salesforce Tower in San Francisco as a Community Associate. There he was able to create a network of like minded individuals as well as a professional and personal support system.

Matthew also has many creative and fun pursuits: dancing and singing, staying active, learning new languages and instruments, and cooking for others. He is very passionate about giving back to communities. These passions and values continue to drive his direction in his life, and being part of PCF is just one way those identities align. Matthew is excited to help build a community and positively impact scholars' lives at PCF as a Program Coordinator

Lupe Vazquez is passionate about supporting and advocating for low-income, first-generation, and undocumented community members. She is committed to helping youth reach their full academic and personal potential while remaining their authentic selves.

Previous to working at The Peninsula College Fund, Lupe obtained her B.A in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies in 2022 from the University of California, Merced. During her time at UC Merced, she worked for The Success Mentor Program where she mentored first generation students by providing campus resources and social support to help them navigate their first year. She also conducted research through her school's Undergraduate Research in Humanities program which focused on humanizing undocumented youth’s experience through storytelling and uplifting their lived experiences.

Lupe was born in Mexico and migrated to the U.S at the age of 5 years old. She was raised in Mountain View and attended Mountain View High School. In her free time, she enjoys listening to a good podcast, finding new music, and spending time with her partner and their dog, Spots.

Samantha Wenzel is a Bay Area native, raised in the North Bay. For 12 years she has worked with Bay Area students as a mentor, coach, and teacher. Samantha graduated from Santa Clara University with a BA in Communication in 2016. Her maternal family settled in San José when they first arrived in the U.S. from Mexico, and she is committed to serving the community in which her roots are planted. Her passion around education system reform has led her to dedicate her career to serving organizations that provide the necessary support needed for underserved students to succeed in a system that was not created for them to thrive in. With her experience in working with first-generation students in both the high school and college setting, she aims to utilize her role as Career Services Program Coordinator to support PCF scholars in their pursuit of a career aligned with their dreams and sense of purpose.