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From a friendly bet to a career breakthrough and a lifetime of achievement and giving, Alliance member Arnold Gutierrez, Ph.D. ’90 is a prime example of how one pivotal moment can transform a life. Growing up in San Bernardino as one of four children, Arnold’s parents made the…
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Orange County native Connor Ruffalo isn’t just walking toward graduation, he is sprinting to the finish line. Having completed his undergraduate degree in Economics in just two years, his drive and ambition are deeply shaped by his family’s immigrant journey from Sayula, Mexico to Tustin, Calif., a story…
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Over the last decade, Alliance member Christina Roman has dedicated her career and philanthropic endeavors to champion financial empowerment for the next generation of leaders. Through her own personal financial struggles, she has humanized finance one story at a time, meeting people where they are and striking a…
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Growing up in Palmdale, Calif. as the oldest of three in a working-class family, fourth year Rocio Rivera learned early that dinner table conversations could change the world. The Political Science and International Studies major grew up in a bilingual household where politics were personal and her Guatemalan…
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When you think of unwavering commitment and infectious enthusiasm for UC Irvine, one name shines through: Pamina Barkow ’03, EMBA ’16. A beloved UC Irvine Foundation Trustee and proud two-time alumna, Pamina is more than just a leader-she’s a force of nature whose passion for her alma mater…
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Yaslin Carrasco, a second-year Nursing Sciences major at UC Irvine, embodies resilience and determination in her pursuit of higher education. Her journey to UC Irvine was marked by both challenges and triumphs, rooted in her upbringing in Kerman, a small agricultural town in California’s Central Valley. Growing up…
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Through a journey of determination, success, and a deep-rooted desire to make a difference, UC Irvine economics graduate Roger Nieves (’93) exemplifies the power of education and the spirit of giving back. After 21 years at PIMCO, in 2022, Roger embarked on a new mission of giving back…
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A world away from the high school dropout she once was, Santa Ana resident and fourth-year criminology major, Daisy Gomez stands proud as a UC Irvine Student Parent and Families Educator. In her mid-30s, Daisy became a single mother of two girls and although it was a struggle,…
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As Vice President of Global Quality, Advanced Patient Monitoring at Becton, Dickinson and Company, Iván Lugo Cardona, exemplifies leadership and community engagement as an active founding member of the UCI-OC Alliance and Health Affairs Committee Co-Chair. Distinguished for his passion, grit, and influential presence, Iván has garnered immense…
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Against all odds, Elijah Gabriel Guerra, a 3rd year criminology major at UC Irvine, has triumphed over unimaginable adversity. At 20 years old, this remarkable young man has endured more hardships than many will face in a lifetime. Courageously battling through the horrors of gang violence, abuse, crushing…
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