Contact & Meet the Staff
Cal Poly Office
Location: Bldg.15
Main Office Hours: Monday–Friday: 8:30am–5pm
Counselor Office Hours: Monday–Friday: 9am–4pm
Cal Poly Email: eop@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Instagram: @eopcalpoly
Cal Maritime Office
In-Office: Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm
Virtual: Friday: 9am-5pm (https://csum.zoom.us/j/8466536219)
Cal Maritime Email: eop@csum.edu
Cal Maritime Instagram: @csumeop
EOP Presentation Requests
We are happy to receive your request for EOP presentations however our staff and space resources are limited. We encourage all visitors to contact the Welcome Center for tours and general presentations.
Please make sure your group fits the following requirements prior to requesting an EOP presentation. Student population fit the following...
- grades 9-12
- qualify as low-income population
- qualify as first generation to college requirements
If all are true please make sure to email eop@calpoly.edu at least 1-2 months prior to your visit. Be sure to include date and time of visit, headcount, grade of students.
Roger Wang
Eop Director RWANG62@CALPOLY.EDU
My name is Roger Wang and I am honored and proud to be the Educational Opportunity Program Director here at Cal Poly! I am a proud first-generation college student, who grew up in a low-income Asian-American single-parent household, growing up in Los Altos, CA in the Bay Area. My higher education journey started at Cal Poly Humboldt and I graduated with my BA in English - Literary Studies. Since then, I have worked in Student Affairs for over 12 years, working in Housing & Residence Life, the Dean of Students Office, and most importantly, I was an EOP Advisor for 2.5 years at Cal Poly Humboldt where I had a caseload of 200 low-income, first-generation students who I helped from pre-admission all the way to graduation and beyond.
I am ecstatic to have the privilege of working with the EOP program and work with the amazing staff here to help you on your journey to achieve your goal of earning a degree. I am passionate about advocating for and supporting EOP students and I look forward to meeting you. My office is located in Building 52, office 18, and if my door is open, feel free to say hi! I almost always have candy in my office and I love talking to students. So, please stop by and say hi!
EOP Counselors
Jalen Chavez
EOP coordinator JChavez@csum.edu
My name is Jalen Chavez and I am the coordinator for the Educational Opportunity Program for the Cal Poly Maritime Academy, Solano Campus. I am a first-generation college graduate and was raised in the Suisun City-Fairfield part of the Bay Area. I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine and majored in Criminology, Law and Society with a minor in Psychology and Social Behavior. I have been working in higher education for 3 years at the California State University, Maritime Academy – now Cal Poly Maritime Academy – beginning my journey as a Program Assistant for EOP. I was then promoted to the current position of EOP Coordinator following my first year of employment, where I now oversee the entirety of EOP on the Cal Poly Solano Campus alongside our EOP peer mentors.
As a first-generation college graduate, I want to do my part in helping our EOP students navigate higher education and ensure they have an amazing college experience. I always look forward to being of service to others, so please do not hesitate to visit!
Gaby Peralta
Hi! My name is Gaby Peralta, and I’m originally from San Diego, CA. I first came to Cal Poly as an EOP student and graduated in 2018 with my B.S. in Psychology. After graduation, I moved back home and worked at a nonprofit supporting formerly incarcerated individuals—helping them connect with job opportunities in the local community. That experience really sparked my passion for working in education and supporting students like me—first-gen and from low-income backgrounds.
I went on to earn my Master’s in School Counseling with a PPS credential from San Diego State. While at SDSU, I worked in the EOPOS department for three years before making my way back to Cal Poly!
I’m so excited to be back and serving the community that made me feel at home when I was away from San Diego. Honestly, EOP is the reason I graduated. It gave me the support I needed—and a second family, both during and after college.
Outside of work, I love traveling, going to concerts, and trying new foods! I’m always up for a good chat about pop culture and reality TV. I can’t wait to meet you all!
Danielle Justesen
Hello! My name is Danielle Justesen and I am a SLO native. I attended multiple colleges, navigating transfer processes between CC, CSU, and UC, and received a BA in History. After some time working, I returned to school obtaining my Masters in Education with an emphasis in Teaching. I began my career teaching in urban public-school districts in the Bay Area. In this time, I became deeply committed to supporting communities with all the ins and outs of school systems. Following teaching I continued to focus on supporting the education landscape more broadly through working in operations at two Edtech startups. I am thrilled to join EOP and continue supporting students through their college experience. Navigating college and careers after can be overwhelming and exciting.
When I am not working, I am with my family and our 2 dogs. I enjoy spending time outside, teaching my daughter how to help in the garden, going to Blues baseball games, or taking the dogs to Port San Luis. I am a serial hobbiest and love learning new things. I have tried all sorts of crafts to relax and decompress. Aside from daily life I enjoy going to concerts, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Roberto Ruiz
I am a first generation transfer student who grew up in Venice, worked in community recreation in Santa Monica and advocated for students in underrepresented high schools in the Los Angeles Harbor schools, Compton, Norwalk and Long Beach. Even as I assisted students in the Santa Monica Malibu districts, I have learned that students have hope and that is my goal as your EOP counselor ~ to help you in the completion of your degree and to prepare you to the world beyond Cal Poly.
Ulises Serrano
Hello everyone! My name is Ulises Serrano and I am excited to be a part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Cal Poly Scholars teams. I am proud to say that I come from a Latino immigrant, first-generation low-income background and am also local, originally from Santa Maria and Guadalupe, CA. My own higher education journey has led me to Allan Hancock College, eventually transferred to UC Berkeley where I completed my BA's in Political Science and Ethnic Studies and later attended Harvard University where I received my Education Master's in Higher Education. I started my work as a higher education advising and student services professional over eight years ago when I worked as an Academic Achievement Counselor at UC Berkeley's Transfer Student Center. Since then, I have worked at Harvard Law School, Allan Hancock College, UC Berkeley, and briefly at San Jose State University.
In my free time some of the things I enjoy doing include watching anime, reading about history and politics, playing video games on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, watching shows on streaming services, playing with our family dogs, and going on outside walks. I am happy to be back home in the Central Coast and grateful I get a chance to work with EOP and Cal Poly Scholars students. I am here as a resource and look forward to working with as many of you as possible. Don't be afraid to ask questions, the team and I are here to help you make your Cal Poly experience a memorable one. Again, please don't hesitate to reach out if things come up as you navigate your time on campus. Take care!
EOP Student Assistants
Mariana Johanna Perez
Graduate Student Assistant
Hi everyone, my name is Mariana Johanna Perez (she/ella), and I am a first-generation Chicana from Templeton, CA ! I am currently a first-year graduate student in the Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs Program but also got my undergrad at Poly in Comparative Ethnic Studies. During my undergrad, I was fortunate enough to have such great support systems like EOP, scholars, and the ethnic studies faculty. Through my major and chosen family, I was able understand how our identity became a part of transforming academia and a strength. Those experiences inspired my passion for fostering educational equity and supporting students as they navigate higher education. I hope to create the same sense of community that shaped my own journey, while advocating for systems that help all students thrive!
In my free time I enjoy making jewelry, running, reading, sculpture, and going to live shows! I can't wait to meet you all so soon!
Sonia Rojas
Graduate Student Assistant
My name is Sonia and I am a first-year graduate student in the Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs Program. I was born and raised in Dana Point, CA. My college journey began at a community college and then transferred to a CSU.
During my time at both colleges, I was fortunate to be a proud member of the EOP program, which played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. As a first-generation college student, I understand the challenges that come with navigating higher education, but I also know the importance of having the right support system. I am grateful for the opportunity to now be part of the EOP team, where I can contribute to helping students succeed, just as I was supported during my own academic journey.
In my free time, I enjoy exercising, spending time with family and friends, and discovering new food spots. I am eager to connect with all of you!
Kassandra Davila
Major: Architectural Engineering
Hello everyone! My name is Kassandra Davila and I am first-generation second-year ARCE student minoring in Construction Management. I was born and raised in Orange County, CA and currently reside in Riverside, CA when school is not in session. I am a proud member of EOP, Cal Poly Scholars, and the Structural Engineering Association Student Chapter here at Cal Poly. On my free time, I love to weight lift, hangout with friends & family, and explore new places & hobbies!
Areliz Rosas-Espinoza
Major: Psychology
Hi everyone! My name is Areliz Rosas-Espinoza. I am a third-year Psychology Major with minors in Ethnic Studies, Spanish and Child Development. I am a first-generation student from NorCal. In my free time I like to hit the gym, read or spend time with friends!
Ivan Gonzalez
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hi, I’m Ivan Gonzalez, a mechanical engineering major interested in pursuing a career as a sports engineer. I enjoy combining my love for sports with engineering, and outside of school I like spending time with friends at LA CASA and playing soccer.
EOP Maritime Peer Mentor
Juan Aguilar Ignacio Huerta
Major: Mechanical Engineerin
Hello, my name is Juan, and I am a second-year Mechanical Engineering student. I enjoy making and building things, and I am always interested in learning new skills and discovering new ideas. . My hope for this school year is to do amazing in all of my classes and grow my engineering skills.
Ian Torres
Major: Business Administration
Hello everyone my name is Ian Torres, I’m a junior IBL major. I'm from SoCal and I like to watch sports, play basketball at PEAC with friends and collect Marvel and Star Wars comic books. I've gone through what you're going through being a freshman so feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have.
