Research, Assessment and Evaluation

Feliz Quinones is the Assistant Director of AAP Research, Assessment and Evaluation, where she coordinates the management, development, and administration of AAP-wide survey efforts and assessment projects. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her Ph.D. and M.A. in Education, with a concentration in Human Development and Psychology, from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Prior to joining RAE, Feliz was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley’s Institute of Human Development and taught research methods at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She brings extensive research, mentoring, and teaching experience to the RAE team.

Camille Smith is a Ph.D. student in Higher Education and Organizational Change at UCLA. As a budding research, assessment and evaluation professional, she seeks to supply research and data for informed decision-making on college campuses. She applies psychological theory to advocate for student success, social justice in higher education and the empowerment of underrepresented minorities on college campuses. She comes to UCLA from the University of Michigan where she completed her master’s degree in Higher Education Institutional Research. She obtained her bachelor’s in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from USC.

Carlos Torres is a first-year transfer student (Junior) majoring in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Chicano Studies. He is from the Ventura County area where he was born and raised, and is a proud transfer student from Moorpark College. In addition to his involvement on campus as a RAE Undergraduate Research Assistant, he is a member of Mecha and Salsa Society. He is also the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Leader in Residence for UCLA for the 2023-2024 academic year, so if you have any questions about the services, internships, scholarships, and programs offered by HACU, please don’t hesitate to reach out! His educational goals include graduating from UCLA and pursuing a master’s degree in counseling or education, preferably working within the community college system. In his free time, he enjoys napping, escaping to the astral plane, listening to music, trying different foods, traveling, watching movies, spending time with close friends and family, and playing Chess.

William Benson (He, Him, His) is a passionate first-generation second-year transfer student, currently pursuing a major in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies. Originally from Los Angeles, William is a proud transfer student from Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC). William is actively engaged in various extracurricular activities on campus. He serves as a Research Assistant with the RAE team, contributing his skills and dedication to the advancement of research initiatives within his field of study. He became involved in AAP through the Summer Transfer Program. Furthermore, William plays a crucial role as a peer advisor for the Center for Community College Partnerships. Within this capacity he oversees the LASC cohort, offering guidance and support to fellow transfer students as they navigate their academic journey at a four-year university. Additionally, William is a proud participant in the Bunche Fellows Program, where he continues to expand his academic horizons and contribute to scholarly discourse as an undergraduate student.

Kira Imazu is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Education Studies. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, she is a proud transfer from Moorpark College. On UCLA’s campus, she spends her time organizing community service projects in Westwood through Mortar Board Senior Honor Society and pursuing her passion for psychology through Psi Chi - International Honor Society. As an RA, she is interested in educational psychology and specifically how organizations like AAP can best empower students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to succeed in their time at college. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, journaling, and sharing a good meal with friends.

Erika Pesca (they/them) is a first-generation second-year transfer student majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Art History. They transferred from Fullerton College in 2022 after completing their A.A. in Philosophy. They first got involved in AAP through the Transfer Summer Program where they got acquainted with the plethora of resources available such as the peer learning sessions, graduate mentoring program, and retention services.

Lucero Sanchez is a senior majoring in Geography and International Development Studies, and minoring in Geospatial Information Systems and Urban Studies. She is from Lima, Peru. At UCLA, she is currently conducting a research project on the experiences of mobility of UCLA LGBTQIA+ international students in Los Angeles. She also works at the College Academic Counseling Department as a Peer Counselor. In the future, she would like to attend graduate school and get a degree in Urban Planning. In her free time, she likes to read and style herself.