Mayra Guevara
METS Director
510.430.3126, mguevara@mills.edu
Education: San Jose State University, BA Social Work
Favorite College Experience: Making meaningful friendships with people from places
I had never heard of.
Yadira Gonzalez
METS Program Coordinator
510.430.3267, yagonzalez@mills.edu
Education: Bachelor's, double major from Holy Names University–Latin American and
Latino/a studies and Liberal Studies with a Multiple Subject Emphasis. Master of Education,
Holy Names University with an emphasis in Urban Education
Favorite College Experience: Going on our university trips and building lifelong memories
and relationships with other students. Coming from a university that takes pride in
being social justice advocates, I had the opportunity to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico
and learn about the annual teacher's marches and political climate of the state; go
on a civil rights tour through Georgia and Alabama; build houses with Habitat for
Humanity for low income families in Tutwiler, Mississippi; and most memorable of all,
travel to Nogales, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico to learn more about and defend immigrant
rights.
Lynna Din
METS Academic Advisor
510.430.3320, ldin@mills.edu
Education: Laney College, AA Social Science; San Francisco State University, BA Asian
American Studies; San Francisco State University, MS School Counseling
Favorite College Experience: Being able to do internships. Through these experiences
I was able to gain a better perspective about working with various stakeholders (principle,
teachers, counselors, parents, students, and community leaders) within the Oakland
Unified School District. I learned to become humbled and open-minded when working
with students from diverse backgrounds. This is where I found my joy working with
adolescents.
Javarte Bobino
Director, Upward Bound
510.430.3337, jbobino@mills.edu
Education: Doctoral Degree in Educational Psychology from Alliant International University.
Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and Personnel Pupil Services Credential Saint
Mary's College of California. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication from Xavier
University of Louisiana.
Favorite College Experience: All of my undergraduate years were great. I had to chance
to learn about New Orleans and people from all over the world.
Shavonne Clark-Lowe, MPA
Senior Associate Director
510.430.3128, shaclark@mills.edu
Education: BA in Political Science, Education Studies Minor, UCLA; MPA in Public Management
& Policy Analysis, CSU East Bay.
Favorite College Experience: Finding my passion by creating a student community service
group that exposed students to college readiness, art, and activism in Compton & South
Central Los Angeles.
Mario Castro
Upward Bound Academic Advisor
510.430.3208, macastro@mills.edu
Education: BA in Sociology, BS Anthropology
Favorite College Experience: All the friendships and relationships. Having friends
close by was nice.
Thalia Rodriguez
Upward Bound Academic Advisor
510.430.3145, throdriguez@mills.edu
I was born and raised in Oakland, graduated from Castlemont High School. I went to
UC Santa Cruz (GO SLUGS!) where I had the time of my life hiking to class every day.
I am a first-generation college graduate so I know how important it is to have awesome
mentors/college advisers who make you feel welcomed and supported throughout the journey.
Prior to Upward Bound, I was a college adviser at the Oakland High Future Center—I
look forward to seeing some familiar faces. During my free time, I love to scroll
through Instagram food pages, hike, watch cooking competitions (chopped junior is
my fav) and spend time with my dog, Charlie. I can't wait to meet you all!
Vanessa Varko-Fontana
Office Manager, Upward Bound
510.430.2064, vvarkofontana@mills.edu
Education: AA City College of San Francisco, BA New College of California–emphasis
on activism and social change
Favorite College Experience: Travelling to Manzanar with my political science class
to meet Japenese Internment camp survivors and honor their experience and struggles
part of US history. We bonded as classmates and were able to see the impacts of US
politics on communities. This experience helped me find my advocate voice and political
awareness.
Jennifer Guevara
Upward Bound WCC Academic Advisor
510.430.2234, jguevara@mills.edu
I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Mills College Upward
Bound WCC Supervisor. As an Upward Bound alumni I know first hand the difference this
program can make. As a student I was able to benefit from the opportunities UB had
to offer. I met lifelong friends, visited college campuses, benefitted from academic
and moral support, attended fun and educational field trips, experienced many firsts
such as: snow in Tahoe, Washington, D.C. and dorm life during the summer residential
program. I look forward to being able to share similar experiences with you!
Magi Brizuela
Upward Bound Academic Advisor
510.430.3145, mbrizuela@mills.edu
Education: Mills College, BA Environmental Science
Favorite College Experience: My favorite college experience was walking the stage
at commencement, looking into the crowd and seeing my children, parents, and all my
family cheering me on.
Louis Ramirez
Academic Advisor/Educational Technologist
510.430.3211, lramirez@mills.edu
Education: BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice studies from Sonoma State University.
Favorite College Memory: Joining Alpha Psi Fraternity of Sonoma State allowed me to
build life long relationships with amazing men who are now successfully working in
a variety of fields. Additionally, the organization allowed me to participate in philanthropic
work that raised funds for local schools and national organizations. Being part of
a community like this allowed me to experience a sense of academic, professional,
and social support.
Liset Rodriguez
Upward Bound Student Office Assistant
lisrodriguez@mills.edu
Education: Mills College UB alumni, Currently pursuing BS at Mills College
Favorite College Experience: I love college so far because I have so many friendly
people to support me.