Meet the Staff
Internship opportunities for the People of Color Sustainability Collective are offered for the academic year. Interns work collaboratively with other campus Resource Centers, and specifically with the AIRC Team. PoCSC student interns learn about and engage with environmental issues while gaining leadership, facilitation, event planning, project management, and research skills. If you have any questions about internship opportunities, please contact us at pocsc@ucsc.edu.
AIRC and PoCSC Director, Angel Riotutar
Angel Riotutar-Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation joins us as the Director of the American Indian Resource Center, located on the 3rd Floor of the Bay Tree Bookstore in the Ethnic Resource Centers. She is of mixed descent: American Indian, Filipino, Portuguese and European. A 2nd generation Santa Cruz Native, Angel spent time in West Virginia, Virginia and Louisiana. She has attended the local schools: Cabrillo College, Gavilan College earning her A.A. degree and as a first generation graduate to receive her B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. While attending UCSC, she was a student intern for the AIRC.
Angel brings with her an extensive background, working primarily in and with the American Indian community. She volunteered for various Native Organizations as a Board Chairperson, Board Member and organizer of traditional ceremonies. She has worked in the surrounding counties of Santa Clara, San Benito, and San Mateo including more recently Southern California in the San Diego area. Angel began volunteering with the Santa Cruz Indian Council with her family, who were the founders of the organization for 15 years and finally held the position of Chairperson. She has volunteered for the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, the Costanoan Research Institute and has supported other various American Indian organizations. She focused in Human Services as Program Manager, Case Manager and Site Manager in State and Native TANF programs. As a Program Manager, she implemented culturally specific programming for families, individuals and youth. She finds motivation and strength in the ability to advocate and support our community.
Angel is very honored to come back to UCSC AIRC, and would like to utilize all available resources, community members, faculty, and staff to support and encourage all students. She is very excited for the Native American Opportunity Program and is looking forward to creating more opportunities, programming and ensuring Native visibility on campus.
Assistant Director of Sustainability, Equity and Co-Curricular Programs
ileana is a life-long Central Coast resident. Before joining UCSC, she worked in the region's nonprofit sector. She has held various leadership positions working in environmental conservation, education, social and economic justice. She integrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice approaches into sustainability and environmentalism. She received her BA in Communication from UC Santa Barbara and dual-masters' degrees from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Environmental Policy and Business Administration. She loves learning new languages, exploring diverse cultures, and reading outdoors. When not serving the community, you'll find her spending time with family and friends.
Graduate Student Specialist, Tracy Liu
My name is Tracy. I am from China but call California my second home now, having been charmed by its surprisingly cold beaches and amazing redwood forests. I am a PhD student in the Environmental Studies department. My research focuses on overseas oil workers and indigenous communities in Ecuador, and I’m excited to work for PoCSC and get involved in on-campus initiatives. In my free time, I like reading, dancing, tidepooling, and hiking.
Co-Lead PoCSC Intern, Christopher Mathura
Hi! My name is Chris I was born in Mexico but raised in Oakland. I identify as Mexican/Indo-Guyanese. As an intern at the PoCSC, I hope I can educate people on social environmental issues that affect people around the world and its connection to capitalism. I am a huge advocate for delicious home cooked meals. If you love good food, I love making new friends.
Co-Lead PoCSC Intern, Jasmin Toledo
Student Intern, Amanda Moreno
Hello! My name is Amanda Moreno (she/her), and I am a Chicana born and raised in the East Los Angeles area with roots in Puebla, Mexico. I’m a third year student here at UC Santa Cruz, and I’m currently double majoring in Latin American & Latino Studies as well as Environmental Studies. I am so excited to be a new intern with the People of Color Sustainability Collective, and I look forward to creating spaces where BIPOC students can find community and celebrate our unique connections to the land. That being said, I love working with kids, sitting and exploring in nature, Japanese food, and fruit!
