Meet Our Staff

Academic Counseling Support

Liliana Iglesias | Director

Liliana graduated as a first generation college student from UC Berkeley and earned her Master’s degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California. Liliana grew up in Los Angeles county, comes from a mixed status family, and has always held immigration issues close to her heart. In her role as Director for USP, she supports USP staff and students, and works with partners on and off campus to coordinate and develop strategies to further meet the needs of undocumented students and their families. Liliana aims to ensure that our students feel a sense of community and are empowered to take full advantage of the resources/opportunities available to them as UC Berkeley students.

Deisy Leanos Meza | Assistant Director

Deisy was born in Mexico and came to the United States at a young age. She spent her childhood in the LA area and the Central Valley before moving to the Bay Area for undergrad. She graduated as a first-generation, undocumented student from UC Berkeley with a double major in Social Welfare and Chicano Studies. In her role as Assistant Director, she supports USP student staff and professional staff to coordinate services for undocumented students. She is passionate about working with underrepresented students and finding solutions that empower curiosity for learning, develop strong critical thinking, and promote personal growth.

Fun Fact: Deisy enjoys hiking, weight lifting, traveling, and being surrounded by nature.

Camille Simsuangco | Counselor

Camille Simsuangco (she/her/they/them) was born in the Philippines and came to the United States at a young age. They grew up in the Bay Area and graduated as a first-generation, low-income, and undocumented student from UC Berkeley with a degree in Integrative Biology. Their experiences as an undocumented student throughout their undergraduate career have influenced their passion for supporting the undocumented student community. As a Counselor for the Undocumented Student Program, Camille hopes to continue building on their knowledge of the range of issues related to the educational, economic, political, and social experiences of undocumented students and address the needs of students impacted by immigration and higher education policies.

Fun Fact: In their free time, Camille enjoys working on crochet projects, going on walks with their 3 dogs, and listening to BTS!

Keziah Aurin | Counselor

Keziah Aurin (they/them) immigrated from the Philippines in 2014 and has lived in the Bay Area ever since. As a first-generation, low-income, and previously undocumented student, they found their passion in uplifting marginalized communities through mentorship and capacity-building. They graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Sociology and was heavily involved with the Pilipinx community at Cal. They also co-authored two research briefs with the Undocumented Research Cohort published in January 2021, outlining the experiences of undocumented students at UC Berkeley. In their role as Counselor, Keziah aims to support and empower undocumented students through USP services.

Fun fact: In their free time, Keziah enjoys spending time with friends, watching Drag Race, and listening to musicians such as BTS, Rina Sawayama, and Alamat.

Jessica Mena Flores | Undocumented Graduate Student Specialist, Office for Graduate Diversity

Undocumented Graduate Student Resources

Jesssica graduated as a first generation college student from Sonoma State University and earned her Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs from Iowa State University. In her role, as Undocumented Graduate Student Specialist, Jessica Facilitates the Marco Antonio Firebaugh Scholars Program and supports undocumented, low-income, first-generation college, and minoritized graduate students at UC Berkeley. As an undocumented professional, Jessica enjoys connecting with students and creating space for them to be their authentic selves. Jessica has lived in the bay area most of her life and loves going on walks with her fur baby Rocky Germán Flores. 

Fun Fact: Jessica enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and re-connecting with friends, family, and colleagues! 

Mental Health Support

Diana Peña, PhD. | Licensed Psychologist

Diana Peña (she/her/they/them), earned her PhD as a first-generation college student from the University of Oregon’s Counseling Psychology program. Diana coordinates the mental health program for undocumented students at UC Berkeley’s Undocumented Student Program, providing counseling support to students and consultation to the campus at large. As a licensed psychologist, her areas of focus include undocumented student mental health, resilience among queer and trans people of color, spirituality, and Latinx psychology. Diana stands on the shoulders of her Mexican immigrant parents and is committed to advocating for health equity for all undocumented communities.

Fun Fact: Diana is a bilingual English/Spanish therapist, and is very comfortable with the use of ‘Spanglish’ in therapy.

Bianca Barrios, PhD. | Licensed Psychologist

Bianca Barrios earned her PhD as a first-generation college student form Washington State University’s Counseling Psychology program. Bianca grew up in Los Angeles County with a mixed status extended family. As a licensed psychologist, her areas of focus include students of color and undocumented/immigrant student college adjustment and persistence, Latinx mental health, LGBTQ affirmative therapy, and women’s concerns. She possesses an unwavering commitment to social justice and advocacy. When working with students she aims to co-create a space built on trust and compassion where students can feel comfortable bringing in all parts of themselves to begin the process of exploration, learning, and healing.

Fun Fact: Bianca loves nature and outdoor adventures. She recently hiked 48 miles on a 4-day backpacking trip in Havasupai.

Immigration Legal Support

(Provided in collaboration with the East Bay Community Law Center)

Janely Mendoza | Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Immigration Practice

Theo Cuison | Co-director, Immigration Practice

Ramon Becerra Alcantar | Paralegal & DOJ Accredited Legal Representative, Immigration Practice

Rebecca Romero | Paralegal & DOJ Accredited Legal Representative, Immigration Practice