2011-2012 Peer Liaisons

Hi! My name is Yvette Borja and I’m a sophomore in Saybrook College. I’m a first-generation Salvadoran student, born and raised in a Northern California beach town called Pacifica. I’m a prospective English major and (fittingly) love to write. Here at Yale, I’m a staff reporter for the Yale Daily News, writing mostly for Weekend, the Arts and Living section of the paper. This summer I got to put my YDN skills to work at a local Bay Area newspaper where I wrote a story a week. At Yale, I’m also involved with the political activist subgroup of the Yale Student Environmental Coalition, the Enviro-Advocates. Environmental work is a big passion of mine. Last summer I interned at a San Francisco-based non-profit whose mission is promoting sustainable land usage, particularly in urban areas. I’ll be continuing to work there this summer (on the days I’m not at the newspaper) focusing on policy work. Wanting to learn a little bit more about rural sustainability, this June I worked at a farm/Eco-Hotel in Bagá, Spain for a week through WOOF, the World Organization Of Farming, (and was lucky enough to travel around Europe a bit!). I love the ocean, coffee in mugs, and anything even remotely related to NorCal. If any of these things interest you, come talk to me! I’d love to chat. I’m excited to meet all of you!

Hello! My name is Ulises Ceja and I'm a junior in Timothy Dwight College majoring in Political Science with a concentration in International Development. In the future I hope to pursue a career with the United Nations. On campus, I'm involved in ALAY, Teatro, UIC, and AIESEC. I am of Mexican descent and originally from Los Angeles, CA. On my spare time I love dancing, soccer, Spanish and Latin American literature, languages and traveling! I'm really eager to meet the amazing (!) Class of 2015!!!

Hi Class of 2015!!! My name is Joel Fernandez and I’m a junior in Calhoun College. I was born and bred in New York City (Bronx!) and am an avid New York Giants fan. I love spending Sundays watching football games with my suitemates, blasting music, dancing bachata all night long, and the occasional La Casa late-night study sessions. I consider myself a Francophile, since I’m in LOVE with French and French culture. At Yale, I am involved with the Dominican Student Association, dance with the Sabrosura Latin Dance Team, and am a brother in the Sigma Chi Fraternity. I also volunteer with the HAVEN Free Clinic and do research in a neurodevelopment lab during the year. In the past two years, I was involved with a number of other La Casa groups and served as a staff member my freshman year and as a PL last year. I am currently a Biology major, following the MCDB track, but am considering becoming a Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major. I’m pretty unsure of my future plans, but I really enjoy research and might pursue a PhD or combined MD/PhD degree. I’m excited to meet you all and I hope you are all excited for a wonderful 4 years!

Hi all! My name is José-Alberto Navarro and I am a junior in Berkeley College. I was born in Los Angeles, California and am proud to call the beautiful San Gabriel Valley my home. As a Global Affairs major on the International Development track, I am very interested in sustainable economic growth and public health, especially in less developed countries and historically marginalized communities. At Yale, I am involved in ALAY (Advocate for Latin America at Yale), Queer Peers, Sabrosura and have dabbled in YIRA (Yale International Relations Association). In addition, as a Bouchet Fellow, I conduct research on sustainable food and fuel production and consumption. I'm a really big outdoors person so if you ever want to take a run outside, take a walk to East Rock or hike some of Connecticut's beautiful trails, I'm your guy! Having spent part of the summer in New Haven, I have had the opportunity to explore a lot of the city and its surroundings (trust me, there is SO much to see here!). I am a really friendly and approachable guy, so if you ever want to talk and/or grab a cup of coffee (or tea!), let me know. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all!

Hello everyone! My name is Fabian Ortega and I am one your friendly Latino Peer Liaisons. I’m a junior in Saybrook College (say what?!) pursuing a combined BS/MS degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. I was born in Peru and moved to Long Island, NY, when I was 12 years old. At Yale, I’m involved with Math and Science (MAS) Familias, a support network catered to Latinos interested in pursuing a career in the sciences. So, if you enjoy science and want to meet cool people, join us for dinner! Additionally, I write for the Yale Scientific Magazine and tutor ESL students at a local elementary school. I have spent my first two summers doing immunology/biochemistry research at the Yale Medical School. During the summer of 2010, I also read with 4th and 5th graders through the program Summer Buds. Up until now, I had been interested in going to medical school after graduation, but now I am leaning towards getting a PhD in the natural sciences. Either way, if you think you’d like to pursue an MD, a PhD, or both (which is intense), you can always talk to me! Other than doing science, I enjoy listening to music, reading Latin American literature, speaking French, and spending time with friends (playing videogames and going out). I’m really looking forward to meeting you Class of 2015!

My name is Alma Luz Zepeda and I am an American Studies senior in Ezra Stiles College (Go Moose!). I was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, California by my loving and large Salvadoran family. At Yale I have been actively involved in La Casa Cultural both as a staff member for the past three years and as a student group leader in Alianza Pan-Latin Social Group, Sabrosura Pan-Latin Dance Team, M.E.Ch.A, and Teatro de Yale. I spent my first summer studying Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro (land of samba, sol, playa, y arena), my second as a legal intern at MALDEF (immigrant rights and legal advocacy), and my third as a curriculum development intern in New Orleans (mardi gras, beignets, and delicious southern food). I love dancing to anything with a good beat, talking a bit too loud, listening to music (especially salsa and pop latino) studying in Bass library (my academic haven), watching crime TV shows (Bones and Criminal Minds), shopping (oh, the mall and my absurd love of shopping), cooking with friends (tostadas, pupusas, pastels, the yummy list goes on and on), hanging out with friends, and really just about anything having to do with the people that make Yale my home. I am excited to be a PL this year and can’t wait to meet the class of 2015!!