Meet the Team

Meet Our Team

The UCR College Corps team aims to support the success of the Fellows in our program. Our team collaborates with on-campus organizations and local off-campus non-profit organizations to ensure that Fellows are offered meaningful opportunities to make a difference in our community. Through their year of service, Fellows will grow in their ability to bridge divides, solve problems, and build more equitable communities.

Bushra Abdelaziz, Assistant Director of Education

Bushra is a dedicated educator and community advocate with a diverse background in teaching and student support. She is a UCR alumna who earned Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Liberal Studies, and then continued on to attend UCR’s Graduate School of Education to earn a Master’s in Education and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Bushra’s career in education began in her undergraduate years, with contributions as a UECC AmeriCorps member, serving at a nearby elementary school, and through her time as a Peer Educator with the CHASS F1RST program, supporting first year students with their transition from high school to higher education. Her passion for fostering student success continued after graduate school, as she worked as a Reading Intervention Specialist within the Redlands Unified School District, followed by a rewarding tenure as a fourth-grade teacher in a general education setting. Bushra is thrilled to return to UCR with College Corps. In this role, she is excited to engage with students who are eager to serve the community and contribute to meaningful change. Outside of work, Bushra enjoys spending time outdoors, quality time with her family, and reading.

Email: bushra.abdelaziz@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-0154

Sharamae Brown, Assistant Director of Education

Sharamae is a proud UCR alumna, having received both her Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s degree in Education from UCR. Sharamae started her career in teaching but quickly switched to investing in the realm of student services after witnessing the need for more specialized support for underserved students. She assisted UECC AmeriCorps at UC Riverside in providing professional development to tutors, and worked for a non-profit organization to design and implement robotics and music curriculum for elementary school students. Sharamae has worked with all grade levels from K - 12 through teaching, tutoring, and enrichment programs, and is currently enjoying her work in the university setting. Outside of teaching others, Sharamae is working on teaching herself Tagalog, one of her mother’s native languages, and relearning how to play the piano.

Email: sharamae.brown@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-6228

Jessica Estrada, Assistant Director of Education

Jessica Estrada is a current graduate student at Princeton Seminary in the Master of Theology, Justice, and Public Life program. She is set to graduate in May of 2025. Additionally, she holds a Master of Business Management (M.B.M.) with an emphasis in Organizational Science from Azusa Pacific University (19’) and a Bachelor of Art in Business Management from Vanguard University (’08). Jessica has worked in higher education for over 16 years and she desires to serve students and the community through the work she does within higher education. Last year, Jessica was one of only 100 digital creators selected for the NASA Artemis I Social program which granted her the opportunity to see the Artemis I rocket and partner with NASA’s social media team to provide media coverage. Jessica firmly believes that representation matters, thus, she immerses herself where she can gain opportunities as a minority woman in hopes of inspiring others along the way. In her spare time, Jessica creates lo-fi music and loves to spend time in nature and with family.

Email: jessica.estrada@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-2510

Reyna Rodarte, Assistant Director of Climate Action

Reyna is a passionate student affairs professional that has experience working in K-12 Education and Higher Education. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside and later obtained her master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs from the University of Redlands. She has experience helping, mentoring, and advising students from first-generation and underserved backgrounds with their academic and career goals to support student success as well as holistic intellectual and personal growth. She is passionate about student success, equity, lifelong learning, and social justice. Reyna aspires to empower students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to achieve their goals. Outside of work, Reyna enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and cooking

Email: reyna.rodarte@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-2514

Destinee Taylor, Assistant Director of Food Insecurity

Destinee is a proud alum of the California State University system, having earned a bachelor’s degree in Literature and Writing Studies at CSU San Marcos and a master’s degree in Higher Education at CSU Fullerton. Destinee's interest in higher education/student affairs stems from two things: the desire to see more minoritized and first-generation students from low-income backgrounds and underserved populations achieve success and enjoy better qualities of life, and the belief that education is a gateway to freedom and success. She plans to pursue future career opportunities in college student services as well as community wellness relations. Outside of professional goals, Destinee's personal interests are traveling, reading, watching action movies, and listening to music.

Email: destinee.taylor@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-5305

Bryan Medina, Fellow Retention Specialist

Bryan is a proud UCR alum, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in English. Prior to coming to UCR's College Corps team, Bryan worked in the environmental non-profit sector to activate and rally Eastside neighborhood community members around urban forestry initiatives to provide shade and advocate for climate resilience. As a first-generation college graduate, Bryan's passion lies in student development and mentorship and is excited to give back to the Highlander community by connecting with UCR students with service learning in the College Corps program. Outside of work, Bryan loves listening to music, caring for his aquariums, and playing racing and adventure video games.

Email: bryan.medina1@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-8105

Diego Mora, Fellow Engagement Specialist

Diego Mora is a dedicated professional with a strong passion for student engagement, community service, and environmental sustainability. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Redlands and has since devoted his career to fostering meaningful connections between students and service opportunities. Diego began his professional journey with California Climate Action Corps, serving as a Fellow at UCR’s Office of Sustainability, where he leveraged his expertise to lead community-driven climate action initiatives. In this role, he successfully mobilized thousands of UCR students and community members through impactful volunteer efforts and educational programs designed to enhance sustainability on campus and in the surrounding community. With a specialization in student engagement, Diego excels at creating inclusive and accessible spaces that empower individuals to take action. His ability to develop and implement dynamic service programs has made a lasting impact, and he is eager to bring his skills and experience to the UCR College Corps community. Beyond his professional work, Diego is passionate about music, with over a decade of experience playing guitar. He is also an avid dog lover and is always eager to talk about his Doberman, Apollo.

Email: diego.mora@ucr.edu

Phone: (951) 827-7286