Meet the Programming team here at Dashew! Find our more about the great team members who work on the behind the scenes on our events and programs.
Professional Staff
Jenna A. Bustamante, M.Ed. (she/her), Assistant Director of Programs
Hello! I’m Jenna A. Bustamante, I use she/her pronouns. I’m the Assistant Director of Programs at Dashew Center. My professional career in higher education began in 2011, but my time at UCLA started in 2013 when I began my degree in the Masters in Student Affairs program. While there, I interned at Alumni Affairs as the LeaderShape Program Coordinator. After obtaining my M.Ed. in 2014, I moved on to working at other institutions, mostly in the field of international education. I rejoined UCLA in August 2021 in my role at Dashew Center and have been here ever since!
I love live music and concerts and have been to Coachella Fest 5 times. Ask me about #beychella. When I'm not working I'm usually found reading, at a bookstore, or both. I love a physical book, digital book, audio book, or all formats at once. My fave genres are romance, memoir, and horror. I'm also a major fan of horror movies and spooky stuff in general. I love giving and getting movie and book recs!
I value the connections that I am able to make through my work; with the students and scholars at our events, with the student staff and leaders I oversee, and with the colleagues across campus that we collaborate with.
Rose Merida, M.A. (she/ella/hers), Programs Coordinator
Hello! My name is Rose Merida, gender pronouns are she, ella, hers, and I am one of the Programs Coordinator at the Dashew Center. Since I first started at California State University Northridge, I have been heavily involved in different areas of Student Affairs while achieving a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies. I worked in several different capacities of New Student Orientation to support students transitioning into higher education, advocating for accessibility and affordability within the California Statewide System, developing leaders through retreats/trainings, and creating and implementing large-scale events such as concerts and fairs.
A fun fact about me is that I love amusement parks especially Universal Studios Hollywood! I go to Universal Studios about 3 to 5 times a month since I am a proud Annual Pass holder. So, if you need any recommendations for a successful Universal trip, I would love to provide them... the entertainment (like Jurassic Park Dinosaurs), food (like the Toad’s Cafe), and magic (of Hogwarts) make every trip worth it! I am very excited to be able to support students who are adjusting to life and culture in Los Angeles and the United States in general.
As a first-generation college student and American, I understand the feeling of navigating a system that is unfamiliar by yourself and I am excited to be a resource for folks! I am especially excited to be part of the team that fosters a sense of community and belonging at UCLA through programming and interpersonal connections.
Student Staff
Harpreet Lally (she/her/hers), Programming & Leadership Graduate Intern
Hi y'all! I'm Harpreet Lally (she/her), I'm a second-generation Indian immigrant, and I'm currently a graduate student with the M.Ed of Student Affairs program. I'm a huge fan of laying in the sun, hiking, rock climbing, and painting. As a graduate student intern, I'm most excited to connect with students, learn about their cultures, and be a resource to help students achieve their goals.
Hobbies: hiking/being outdoors, rock climbing, art, picnicking, watching shows (especially thrillers)
Where do you call home? Milpitas, CA