The Undergraduate Retention Program Ambassadors are distinguished scholars who represent the AvenueE and LEADR programs in the College of Engineering to diverse audiences, including prospective students, families, peers, campus leadership, and the wider community. The Ambassador Program provides leadership opportunities for participants, amplifies the College’s outreach through student advocacy, and fosters a sense of community through student-driven programming.
Learn more about our 2026-2027 Ambassadors below!
Abhay Mahindroo (he/him)
Fourth Year, Electrical Engineering
From Woodland, California
Abhay is an Electrical Engineering major who is passionate about circuit analysis and analog electronics, such as operational amplifiers. He chose UC Davis because of its close proximity to his hometown, Woodland, California.
In his free time, Abhay enjoys doing calisthenics, reading books, or making digital circuits in Minecraft. Occasionally, Abhay enjoys hanging out with his friends to do the following activities: going to the movies, playing mini golf, or going to the Game Room on Campus.
Lastly, some advice that Abhay has for new UC Davis students is that to maximize your learning experience, you need to advocate for yourself, which means going to professor/TA office hours, getting tasks done ahead of time, and joining engineering clubs/working on projects to gain additional engineering experience outside of the classroom
Alfonso Gomez (he/him)
Fourth Year, Electrical and Computer Engineering (with a minor in Accounting)
From Pittsburg, CA
Alfonso chose UC Davis because of its strong engineering program, welcoming campus community, and the opportunities it offers students to grow both academically and professionally. He enjoys studying Electrical Engineering because it allows him to solve real-world problems, think creatively, and better understand the technology that powers everyday life.
Outside of the classroom, Alfonso is involved in CALESS/SHPE and Unitrans, where he enjoys building community and supporting other students. His advice to new students is to get involved early, ask questions, and not be afraid to seek help because college is much easier when you build a strong support system.
In his free time, Alfonso enjoys spending time with friends, exploring new places, and staying active through martial arts and other hobbies.
Ava Kaplin (she/her)
Fourth Year, Computer Science
From Roseville, CA
Ava decided to major in Computer Science after taking her first coding class in high school and developed a passion for programming and seeing how code could turn into full websites, games, etc. Ava chose UCD because it was close to her hometown, and she felt that they provided great support for transfer students.
At Davis, Ava is a part of the Swift Coding Club where she developed her first app. Outside of school, Ava enjoys baking, playing guitar, and playing billiards at Memorial Union. Her advice to any new student is to take advantage of and explore all the resources Davis has to offer.
Cristina Martinez (she/her)
Second Year, Environmental Engineering
From Oceanside, CA
Cristina chose UC Davis after visiting on a rainy day and feeling an immediate connection to the peaceful greenery, the friendly atmosphere, and the campus commitment to sustainability. As an Environmental Engineering major, Cristina is especially interested in water quality and sustainable planning, shaped by hands-on experiences such as a simulated oil spill remediation project and a UCSD engineering mentorship program that introduced her to tools like MATLAB and CAD software.
Cristina encourages new students to take the first step into something unfamiliar and reminds them that it is completely okay to bring a friend or lean on someone they trust if trying something new feels intimidating
In her free time, Cristina enjoys reading fiction and fantasy, exploring local trails, and trying new foods as a pescetarian, especially lasagna and ramen. One of her favorite memories is hiking a waterfall-filled mountain trail in Oregon with her family, and she hopes to get back into hiking more during her time at UC Davis.
Daniel De Lira (he/him)
Second Year, Mechanical Engineering (with a minor in Construction Engineering & Management)
From Los Angeles, California
Daniel chose UC Davis because he knew it would provide opportunities to meet amazing people, build meaningful connections, and grow both academically and personally. What he loves most about engineering is seeing the incredible things that engineers create and learning how innovative ideas are developed into real-world solutions that improve people's lives.
Outside of the classroom, Daniel is involved with the Chicano and Latinx Engineers & Scientists Society (CALESS), where he enjoys connecting with fellow students and supporting outreach efforts. His advice to new students is to get involved early, make connections with their peers, and never be afraid to ask questions or seek help.
In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, working on CAD projects, and spending time with friends and family.
Daniel Rosas Garcia (he/him)
Third Year, Aerospace Science and Engineering
From Fresno, California
Daniel chose UC Davis for its College of Engineering's dynamic Aerospace Engineering Department. Daniel recommends that new students take their first year nice and slow, getting used to the quarter system while also making time to form friendships and explore what Davis has to offer.
As a child, Daniel was fascinated by the unexplored frontier of space and what lies beyond Earth, pursuing amateur astronomy and astrophotography to connect with the wonders above.
Dayanna Alvarado (she/her)
Third Year, Electrical Engineering (with a minor in Accounting)
From Pittsburg, CA
Dayanna chose to do Electrical Engineering because she enjoys experimenting with electronics. In her free time, she likes building Lego cars and 3D puzzles, exercising, and visiting new places.
Her advice for incoming students is to be open to going to events that bring you out of your comfort zone because those events are what will make you grow the most. Her second piece of advice is to make time for a social life to prevent burnout.
Fernando Cabrera (he/him)
Second Year, Mechanical Engineering (with a minor in Construction Engineering & Management)
From Dixon, California
Fernando chose UC Davis not only because of its strong academic reputation and prestige, but also because it's not that far away from home. His interest in engineering began at a young age, when his parents taught him how to fix various parts of his family car. For Fernando, a car is a metaphor for engineering, in which a single component malfunctioning could have catastrophic consequences for the whole system. Being able to both problem solve and be creative are aspects of quality he believes are the heart of engineering.
Fernando would advise new students on creating connections between students, faculty, and professionals by joining clubs, attending events, or going to professors' offices. But also, he would advise students to have balance in having fun and knowing when to “lock in” while attending university.
In his free time, Fernando enjoys staying active either playing soccer or working out.
Gael Rodriguez (he/him)
Fifth Year, Biomedical Engineering (with a minor in Materials Science)
From San Diego, CA
Gael Rodriguez chose UC Davis because of its welcoming and collaborative community, as well as the many opportunities available despite being far from his hometown of San Diego. As a Biomedical Engineering student, he enjoys learning how biomaterials and medical devices can be designed to improve patient care while making them more affordable and accessible.
Outside the classroom, Gael stays involved in CALESS (Chicanx and Latinx Engineers & Scientists Society), where he previously served as President, and works as a Peer Mentor helping first-year students adjust to college life. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, trying new energy drinks, and spending time with friends or calling his family back home.
One piece of advice Gael gives to new students is to not be afraid to put themselves out there and find their community. Although he initially struggled to do so, getting involved helped him find his group and make UC Davis feel like home, even while being far from San Diego.
Harsh Sheth (he/him)
Third Year, Computer Science (with a minor in Business
From Fremont, CA
Harsh chose UC Davis because he likes the welcoming community and the variety of resources UC Davis offers its students. He enjoys Computer Science because he loves building new things and coming up with innovative ideas. His advice for new students is that networking is your net worth, and to dream big — no dream is too big.
An extracurricular activity Harsh is involved in is working for a startup and contracting at Handshake AI. During his free time, he likes to hang out with friends, play basketball, and go to the gym.
Jack Zhang (he/him)
Third Year, Aerospace Science and Engineering
From Los Angeles, CA
Jack chose UC Davis because it offered a strong engineering curriculum and, having grown up in a large city, he was drawn to the small-town vibe. He enjoys the hands-on nature of engineering. During his time at UC Davis, he has been involved with the Aggie Propulsion and Rocketry Lab (APRL), gaining practical experience while working alongside other students.
His advice to new students is to make as many friends as possible early on, as those relationships often become the foundation of their college experience. Outside of academics, Jack enjoys spending time with friends: golfing, gaming, or exploring nearby cities.
Jonathan Ferrer (he/him)
Third Year, Biomedical Engineering
From Camarillo, California
Jonathan chose UC Davis because of its strong engineering program, collaborative community, and opportunities to gain hands-on experience through research, design projects, and entrepreneurship. What he loves most about engineering is using creativity and problem-solving to develop solutions that make a real impact.
Outside of class, Jonathan is involved in startup development and engineering design projects, and in his free time he enjoys working on cars, electronics, fitness, and spending time outdoors. His advice to new students is to get involved early and take advantage of the many opportunities available on campus.
Karol Martinez Gonzalez (she/her)
Third Year, Chemical Engineering
From Woodland, CA
Karol chose UC Davis because it is close to home and is a great school with lots of support for its students. She loves studying Chemical Engineering because the classes are challenging yet fun since they require students to come up with creative solutions. Another thing Karol enjoys about Chemical Engineering is that her friends and peers within the major are very nice and willing to help each other out.
In her free time, Karol likes to hang out with friends, spend time in the arboretum, and watch a show while working on a puzzle. The number one advice Karol would give to new students is to explore and try new things, because having fun during college is as important as studying.
Leilani Jackson (she/her)
Fourth Year, Biomedical Engineering (with minors in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies)
From Stockton, CA
Leilani chose UC Davis because it was one of the only schools that offered biomedical engineering. Her goal is to make the medical field more inclusive through medical research and technology. In her free time, Leilani likes to crochet and watch thriller movies.
Maria H. Mozo (she/her)
Third Year, Biomedical Engineering
From Los Angeles, CA
Maria chose UC Davis because she loved the small college town vibes and all the welcoming organizations that Davis had to offer. She loves engineering as a whole and is excited about solving real-world problems.
Her favorite piece of advice to new students is to get comfortable being uncomfortable, because putting yourself out there will only help you and make things easier. In her free time, Maria researches ducks because she likes ducks.
Marilyn Pineda (she/her)
Second Year, Aerospace Science and Engineering (with a minor in Managerial Economics)
From South Central Los Angeles, California
Marilyn’s love for engineering and aerospace stems from a young age while on trips to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Marilyn fell in love with UC Davis because of the opportunity to be independently away from home, its scenery, and its vibrant community. She is a part of the Space and Satellite Systems Club as well as CALESS, all part of her love for STEM.
Off campus, she enjoys sewing, doing nails, movie watching, and most importantly spending time with friends. Her biggest advice for incoming students is to put themselves out there, school is important, but so is community.
Marisol Sepulveda (she/her)
Fourth Year, Computer Engineering
From Woodland, CA
Marisol chose UC Davis because, along with it being extremely close to her hometown of Woodland, CA, it was the first University she was introduced to as a child making it her lifelong dream school. She chose and continues to like Engineering because math is her strongest skill and favorite subject, and Engineering heavily applies math. She participates in COFFEE club meetings regularly, enjoying being around other EE and CE majors (and free food).
When Marisol has free time, she likes to play Minecraft, watch television, explore with friends, and relax with family. Marisol's advice to new students is to make sure to have friends (at least one) in the same or related major, as they are incredibly valuable when you need help.
Merali Chavez (she/her)
Third Year, Electrical Engineering
From Inglewood, California
Merali chose UC Davis because she fell in love with the campus's rural vibe and wanted a place where she could easily connect with nature as she came from a busy city. She decided on electrical engineering after working with her dad, who is an electrician, an experience that showed her exactly how much hard work goes into actually building a home from the ground up.
When she’s not busy with classes, she loves cooking, exploring the outdoors, and listening to music.
Nevaeha Kane (she/her)
Second Year, Civil Engineering (with a minor in Construction Management)
From Atlanta, Georgia
Nevaeha chose UC Davis because she enjoyed the campus and felt as if there were a lot of opportunities here: outreach, academics, community. She loves problem-solving and trying to figure out how she can improve something that’s already been developed. Nevaeha is a part of two clubs on campus: CALESS & ASCE. In her free time, she enjoys painting and reading.
Some advice she wants to give to upcoming students is to just be out there, whether it’s trying to meet friends, connect with staff, alumni, or companies, or trying to apply for a position in a club — you never know the outcome of things, so it's best to at least try.
Santiago Gomez (he/him)
Second Year, Mechanical Engineering
From Reseda, California
Santiago’s passion for engineering started with LEGO Mindstorms, and continues to grow through extensive 3D modeling and robotics. Santiago chose UC Davis for its cozy campus and amazing career opportunities.
In his free time, he enjoys biking, cooking, playing guitar, and listening to new music.
Shamss Elgheriani (she/her)
Second Year, Mechanical Engineering
From San Leandro, California
Shamss chose UC Davis because of its reputation for having a positive communal environment. She enjoys studying engineering due to the way in which the core foundations of engineering shape her understanding of the world and the everyday mechanisms that surround us.
Her advice for new students would be to utilize faculty office hours and tutoring resources early and often, to look into all the cool opportunities the campus provides (including clubs, study spots, and nature), and to remember to take breaks and enjoy social activities (they're more important than you would think). Shamss's hobbies include reading, knitting, and hiking.