VSC staff tying yellow ribbons around trees on campus

Meet the Staff

Staff

Hope Medina

Hope Medina, Ph.D.

  • Director, Transfer and Veteran Services
  • Veterans Success Center

Student Assistants

Hailey Ambrosio

Hailey Ambrosio

  • Peer Advisor

Hello, my name is Hailey! I am a fourth-year Human Development major with a minor in Education. I am the child of a U.S. Navy veteran and from a small town in the Bay Area. My future goal is to become an elementary school teacher after my time at UC Davis. I enjoy doing puzzles, singing, and cooking. I look forward to assisting veterans and dependents in reaching their academic goals. 

Ellie Chareonsuphiphat

Ellie Chareonsuphiphat

  • Peer Advisor

Greetings! I’m Ellie. I am a fourth-year Economics major, with minors in Technology Management and Chinese. My goal is to pursue a career in business or finance. I grew up on an island in the Bay Area, where my father served in the Coast Guard as a Search and Rescue Pilot.  Living in Davis, you can find me on the weekends playing soccer, grabbing a latte downtown or making my own matcha's at home, reading at the MU, and practicing calligraphy in my journal. Feel free to ask me anything from class advising to the deeper questions about life! 

Alexsa G.

Alexsa G.

  • Peer Advisor

Hi, my name is Alexsa! I am a third-year Medical Molecular Microbiology major and also minoring in Theatre. I am a dependent of my dad, who retired from the US Navy as a chief petty officer after 20 years of serving. I am from San Diego and a transfer student. Activities I enjoy are swimming, hiking, and dancing. I am so excited to meet new students and help them succeed academically!

Andrea R.

Andrea R.

  • Peer Advisor

Hi everyone! My name is Andrea. I’m a fourth-year Philosophy major with pre-law emphasis, as well as a first-generation college student. I currently serve in the Army Reserves and am based in the Central Valley. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, traveling, listening to music, and grabbing coffee. I’m excited to connect with fellow service members and support military-affiliated students here at UC Davis!

Katie Rodriquez

Katie Rodriquez

  • Peer Advisor

Hello, my name is Katie. I am a fourth-year Philosophy major. My future goal is to attend law school to become a business lawyer. I am from Bakersfield and the daughter of a U.S. Marine. In my free time I like to study, hang out with my friends, and spend time with my family. My favorite place to go to is Temple Coffee to get my matcha daily. I look forward to meeting and helping everyone that comes into the center.

Ari

Ari Tilles

  • Peer Advisor

Ari is a fourth-year Statistics major, and he is a dependent of an Army veteran. Ari loves singing, playing and writing music, and you can often find him watching and playing sports during his free time. He also loves traveling and telling lots of jokes. Ari is excited to help fellow veterans and dependents achieve their goals.

Nathan W.

Nathan W.

  • Peer Advisor

Nathan Wentland is a full-time MBA student at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management and a Peer Advisor at the Veterans Success Center. He worked for over a decade as a U.S. Merchant Mariner and continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he has been a member for more than 11 years. Nathan is passionate about helping veterans successfully transition into academic life and fostering community on campus. Originally from Idaho, he enjoys spending time with his family, baking cookies with his daughter, and hanging out with the world-class cows on campus.