Next Stop: Grad School?

MESASpace Skills Sessions: Next Stop: Grad School?
Considering grad school but not sure if it’s the right path for you? This workshop is a judgment-free zone where you can explore your options, ask honest questions, and get real answers. We’ll cover the pros, cons, and timing of pursuing an advanced degree, so you can make an informed choice with confidence.

Vanessa Murua currently serves as UC Office of the President Special Projects and Research Manager conducting complex analyses focused on outreach, advocacy, and academic pathways initiatives to support UC advance its agenda to diversify the professoriate and graduate students. Vanessa examines post degree outcomes, helps lead systemwide surveying efforts, maintains online resources for prospective students, and helps manage the systemwide UC-HSI Doctoral Diversity Initiative grants and President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship program.

Diana Lizarraga has been working at UC Berkeley for since 2003 and is passionate about STEM mentoring. She's currently the Cal NERDS Executive Director and the Division of Equity & Inclusion’s Director of STEM Equity and Success, UC Berkeley

Diana was an EOP, pell, student athlete, re-entry, transfer student and she continues to advocate for non-dominant student communities, especially first-generation students. 

Tiara Wair is currently In her current role as Assistant Dean for Recruitment, Outreach, and Admissions at the University of California, Los Angeles, she leads campus wide efforts to recruit, admit, and yield outstanding graduate students from diverse backgrounds for more than 130 master’s and doctoral programs.

Monica Tejeda is a civil engineer (EIT) for the City of Santa Monica’s Water Resources Division. She began her academic journey at El Camino College, where she worked as a math tutor for the math department and was a MESA student, prior to transferring to California State University Long Beach. At CSULB, Monica completed a double B.S. in chemistry and applied mathematics in 2018. Early on in Monica’s academic journey, she found a love for water chemistry and worked as an undergraduate research assistant at her university, conducting water treatment research. Her interest in water treatment pushed her to pursue a master’s in civil engineering at CSULB, where she enrolled in the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Program. Monica is a MESA alumna and a MESA Industry Advisory Board member.