Monique de Villa '16 is a dynamic social media professional, mental health advocate, and wellness coach. As a social media coordinator at UC Merced, her goals include working with her team to elevate the brand of the fastest-growing public research university in the nation. Her work has been featured in articles by UC Merced, the University of California, American Builders Quarterly, and the Merced County Times. In addition to her primary job functions, Monique is driven by her passion to lead change through facilitating personal growth and transformation. She does this by educating her online community about mindful wellness and making evidence-based knowledge and mental health practices accessible to larger audiences. She focuses on service and impact through connection, education, and empowerment.
Monique is a graduate of UC Merced where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. You can learn more about her work on Instagram at @monique.de.villa
Sanjeev '09 is an artist who dances, choreographs, acts and leads thought. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he began performing at 3 years old at family functions and in various venues throughout his childhood. He credits Old Bollywood and American pop culture for inspiring his unique style of high energy and expressive dance while holding his own definition of gender. While performing, he pursued education which lead him to earn a Bachelor of Arts from UC Merced in 2009 as part of the first inaugural class and a Master's of Education from the University of Vermont in 2010. His path in Education has brought him to institutions such as the University of Southern California, San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, and Stanford.
He has traveled the country extensively giving talks and conducting trainings on inclusive and kind behavior. He takes pride in leading thought in spaces of identity.
Stephanie Chang '09 attended UC Merced in 2005 as a founding Bobcat and graduated in 2009 as a member of the first inaugural class with a Bachelor's of Science in Bioengineering. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in cardiac physiologist research, was involved with the Engineering Service Learning Projects for two years, and was a member of student organizations such as Vanguard, the Society of Women Engineers, the Biomedical Engineering Society and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Following UC Merced, she continued her graduate education at Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences where she earned her Master's of Business and Science in Medical Devices and Diagnostics. Today, Stephanie works as a Design Quality Engineer at Stellartech Research Corporation and has accumulated more than 7 years of experience in catheter operations and capital equipment operations.
