Commons

Tonantzin Oseguera
Assistant Dean of Students

E-mail tonantzin.oseguera@ucr.edu
Tonantzin is a native of Mexico City but considers Southern California her hometown. Tonantzin completed her Bachelor’s in Science (1999) in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State then completed her Masters of Education (2001) at the University of Vermont. Tonantzin previously worked at Chapman University and Portland State University. Tonantzin has more than eight years experience in the field of Higher Education and is a proud and long time member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), has served as Region VI Latino/a Knowledge Community Representative, National Co-Chair of the Latino/a Knowledge Community, NUFP Board Member, and 2008 National Conference Program Selection Committee, and most recently on Region VI Professional Development Committee.
Major responsibilities: Oversight and direction of Student Life, Campus Activities, and specific collaborative campus Vitality efforts such as Highlander Welcome and Homecoming.
Fun Fact: “My Favorite book? That’s a tough one; I am an avid reader and have many favorite books. Among my top 10 are Reason For Hope by Jane Goodall; Bless Mi Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya; American Bee: The National Spelling and the Culture of Word Nerds, by James Maguire; and Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Currently I am reading Fiasco: the American Military Adventure in Iraq by Thomas Ricks, and The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein.

Diane LeGree, Director of Student Life

E-mail: diane.legree@ucr.edu
Diane joined the Student Life staff in July 2004 as the Coordinator for Student Orientation & Involvement. Diane is originally from OH, but moved to CA at the early age of 5. She grew up in Stockton, in Northern CA. She attended UC Davis, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. It was her undergrad experiences at UC Davis that sparked her interest in working in Student Affairs. She went on to earn a Master’s of Education in Student Personnel Administration from Western Washington University. Prior to working at UCR, Diane worked at two other CA Universities where some of her responsibilities included coordinating a First Year Experience program, University outreach, advising students and student groups, coordinating classes, and campus wide programming. She is a member of the American College Personnel Association and the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators.
Major responsibilities: Assist with Bear Facts Orientation and Coordinate Bear Facts Family Orientation; Assist with Campus Activities (i.e. Block Party and the Annual Homecoming Office Decorating Contest); Maintain the Student Life Leadership Library; Emerging Leaders Program; UCR First Year Experience Programming.

Joseph Martinez
Coordinator for Student Organizations

E-mail: joseph.martinez@ucr.edu
Joseph came to Student Life in December of 2005. He grew up in the Inland Empire and received his BA in Political Science (Prelaw) from The University of La Verne. At ULV he was involved in many
organizations and was a founding father of the CA Rho Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. The day after graduation he left for Israel and did archeological work with Duke University. After returning home he headed to Stockton California. As a graduate student in Organization Communication at University of the Pacific he started his career in Residence Life and Student Development. While at UOP he advised the group awarded as Organization of the Year and was recognized as the Advisor of the Year. Since then he has had many opportunities to work with student leaders, student organizations, and professionals in student affairs. He has worked professionally at The University of Judaism, Loyola Marymount University, University California Santa Cruz, and Occidental College.
Advisor for the following Student Organization clusters:
Arts and Expression, Recreational, and Service
Major Responsibilities: Provide vision and direction for the Student Organization Leadership Advising and Resources Team. Coordinating the registration process for Student Organization and Officer Transitions. Encourage student involvement on campus through student organization and leadership programs. Assist with Campus Activities (i.e. Block Party and the Annual Homecoming Bonfire, Tailgate, and Highlander Games).

Stephenie Petrilla, Student Organization Advisor
for Fraternities and Sororities

E-mail: stephenie.petrilla@ucr.edu
Stephenie joined the Student Life staff in October 2008 as the Student Organizations Advisor for Fraternities and Sororities. She has spent most of her time in Southern California, raised in Orange County and receiving her BA in Communication Studies from The University of San Diego. While in college, she devoted many hours to various student organizations including Kappa Kappa Gamma and Associated Students. After graduation, she pursued a job in the fashion industry while still holding on to her fraternal ties as an advisor for Kappa at UCI.
Stephenie began working on her Masters in Communication Studies at San Jose State University and pursued a renewed interested in Student Affairs by accepting a position in Residential Education at Stanford University. Her love of Southern California and her devotion to the Fraternity and Sorority community is what led her to UC Riverside. Stephenie is a member of the Association of Fraternity Advisors.
Major Responsibilities: Advising fraternities and sororities, support the Student Organization Leadership, Advising and Resources (SOLAR) program, assist with coordinating registration and officer transitions, working with Student Life staff to coordinate leadership initiatives, and working on campus-wide programmatic efforts.

Rachel Murphy,
Student Organization Advisor

E-mail: rachel.murphy@ucr.edu
Rachel joined the Student Life staff in January 2009 as the Student Organizations Advisor. Rachel was born into a military family where she spent the first 5 years of her life in various states. At the early age of 6 she and her family settled down and made a life in California where she has resided ever since. Rachel grew up in Palmdale, located in Southern CA. She attended California State University, Northridge, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies with a Minor in Pan African Studies, and continued on to earn a Masters in Public Administration- Non Profit Management. While at CSUN she was apart of numerous organizations that were continuously recognized by the university as Outstanding Organization and Outstanding Program for the academic year. During her tenure she was awarded Officer of the Year for her organization by the University. With her experiences and involvement in Student Life at CSUN sparked an enthusiasm to work in Student Affairs. Rachel is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Century City Alumnae Chapter as well as a member of the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators were she currently serves as the Region IV Regional Representative for the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Knowledge Community.
Advisor for the following Student Organization clusters:
Academic/Professional/Honors Organizations and Cultural
Major Responsibilities: Advising student organizations, working with Student Life staff to coordinate leadership initiatives, working on campus-wide programmatic efforts, and otherwise assisting with daily operations.

Scott Silverman,
Coordinator for First Year Programs

E-mail: scott.silverman@ucr.edu
Scott grew up in Banning, CA, and came to UCR as a first-year student in 1997. He received two degrees in Environmental Science at UCR (B.S. '01, M.S. '04). He was heavily involved in campus life, including a number of student organizations, the University Honors Program and the Associated Students of UCR. He also worked for Student Life previously as a graduate intern for student organizations. Currently Scott is pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Southern California, where he is conducting research on the effects of online social networks (such as Facebook and Myspace) on college students. Scott is currently a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and the American College Personnel Association.
Major Responsibilities: Develop and coordinate the First Year Success Series; support the Bear Facts Orientation Program; train and supervise the registration staff for Orientation; plan and facilitate the Bear Tracks Transition program for Transfer students; assist in the planning and coordination of campus-wide activities.

Ellen Whitehead,
Coordinator First Year and Orientation Programs

E-mail: ellen.whitehead@ucr.edu
Ellen joined the Student Life staff in February of 2006. Ellen is from Redlands, CA and attended Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) as an undergraduate student. As a student leader at CSUSB, she was an orientation leader, on the planning committee for New Student Orientation, and a programmer for the Student Union Program Board. These experiences shaped Ellen’s interest to work professionally in Student Affairs. After graduation Ellen worked at an Outdoor Science School in the San Bernardino Mountains, teaching and leading experiential/environmental outdoor activities for fifth and sixth grade students. Ellen attended Azusa Pacific University and obtained her Masters of Education emphasis in College Student Affairs. During graduate school, Ellen worked in Housing and Residential Life at CSUSB for two years. After graduating from APU, Ellen continued to work in Residential Life at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for three years. Ellen is a member of the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators.
Major Responsibilities: Bear Facts and First Year Success Series.

Adam Daniels,
Student Organization and Orientation Advisor

E-mail: adam.daniels@ucr.edu
Adam joined the Student Life staff in 2007, coming to us from the lovely state of Oregon where he graduated from Pacific University with a Bachelor's in Creative Writing. Adam then completed his
Master's of Education at Azusa Pacific University and began working here at UC Riverside as a graduate student and has since been hired on a full-time professional staff member.
Advisor for the following Student Organization clusters:
Graduate Student Associations, Political/Action, and Spiritual/Religious/Atheist
Major Responsibilities: Assist with Bear Facts Orientation, assist with campus-wide programs, advise student organizations, supervise Student Organization Advising Peers.

Jennifer Ferrante,
Budget, Personnel and Program Assistant

E-mail: Jennifer.Ferrante@ucr.edu
Jennifer Came to UCR, student life April of 2007. She was originally from Dayton, OH and relocated to Southern California in 1991. She is currently attending Riverside Community College part-time and planning to transfer to UC Riverside to further her education.

Major Responsibilities: Administrative support, budgets, payroll and supervision of Student Life front desk student employees.