Meet the Team

Douglas (Doug) first joined the staff in 2008, as the coordinator for the Civic Engagement internship course. He became an assistant director with the Center in 2012. He has been involved in community engagement work for over 20 years.

At the Center, Doug works directly with faculty and community partners to develop community-engaged courses for undergraduates. He has developed and directs UCLA’s Collaboratory initiative, the Astin Community Engaged Scholars and the Changemaker Scholars programs. He also facilitates the Center’s Engaged Pedagogy Workshop series and course development for the Chancellor’s Award for Engaged Scholars initiative, and is currently developing a place-based initiative related to youth empowerment in west L.A. He serves as the Campus Champion for the center’s Jumpstart program. Doug teaches courses for the Community Engagement & Social Change minor, and is an adjunct instructor for Labor Studies.

Prior to working for the Center, Doug was a research analyst with the UCLA Center for Community Partnerships and the Higher Education Research Institute. Before coming to UCLA, he was a program director for the Consensus Organizing Institute in San Diego, and taught community-engaged courses at UC San Diego and the University of San Diego. Dr. Barrera has published scholarly articles on student development through service learning and the development of community-campus partnerships. He is co-author of the Council of Europe publication, Advancing Democratic Practice: A Self-Assessment Guide for Higher Education, and the Higher Education Research Institute’s publication, First in My Family: A Profile of First-Generation College Students at Four-Year Institutions Since 1971. He serves on the editorial board for Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice, and was previously a member of the program board of directors for a social service agency in Pacoima, CA. Doug received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Education from the University of California Los Angeles, and an M.A. and B.A. in History from San Diego State University.

Bemmy brings with her experience as a practitioner in the environmental and international development field. She earned her Ph.D. in Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where a central focus of her urban social-ecological research was community engagement.

At the Center, Bemmy is responsible for advancing community-engaged scholarship institutionally. This encompasses working closely with departments to develop Community Engagement Frameworks, including community-engaged teaching and research and facilitating socially innovative ways to enable sustained and reciprocal partnerships. She provides leadership in removing structural barriers, creating incentives and expanding resources for engaged teaching and research. Bemmy also oversees the Center’s environmental, sustainability and international development efforts.

Bemmy was a Senior Pedagogical Fellow at UCI’s Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation, where she developed and led campus-wide pedagogical workshops. She was a UCI Engage Fellow, contributing to the campus community engagement hub. Before pursuing her Ph.D., Bemmy was the Manager of the Food Security Initiative at Conservation International in Washington D.C, where she played a leadership role in the collaborative development of the institution’s food security strategy. At USAID in Azerbaijan, Bemmy was a Project Management Specialist for public health and environmental policy projects. Bemmy earned a Master in Environmental Science and Public Affairs from Indiana University and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of San Diego. Her publications encompass civic ecology, campus-community environmental partnerships, green infrastructure in cities, and social ecology of the Anthropocene.

Mary Keipp has been the Program Director of the Community Youth Programs (previously the UCLA Community Based Learning Program) since 1989. During these past 33 years under Mary’s direction, the program has grown from a single $100,000 youth workforce program to over 10 extramurally funded youth programs, with contracts totally $3.5 million. The Community Youth Programs work directly with underserved adolescents and young adults, providing a variety of youth workforce development activities that strengthen the educational attainment and career readiness for approximately 700 youth annually. The program operates two youth centers: one in West LA and one in the Pico Union area. The other major area of Community Youth Programs endeavors is providing traditional afterschool programming to young people at six LAUSD high schools and one elementary school. Mary’s current tenure at UCLA is her “second time around” with the University, having first been employed from 1963 to 1968, as a Program Assistant initially fort he Institute of Government and Public Affairs and then the UCLA Overseas Programs Office. In the 21 years between her two UCLA engagements, Mary worked for Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Northridge in workforce and school related programs. Those years also found Mary volunteering in a host of school committees and community organizations, primarily focused on youth development and civil rights initiatives. These included the LAUSD Citizens Advisory Committee on Student Integration, the Martin Luther King Legacy Association, LACER, Communities in Schools Advisory Committee and YPICS Charter School Board of Trustees.

Clearly Mary’s passion for youth has guided her work and community activities for many years, but she has found time for her other loves. These include her nine adult grandchildren and of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Valeria is from Los Angeles, CA, and received her B.A. in Labor Studies and Chicanx/Central American Studies from UCLA. Throughout her time at UCLA, she worked closely with social justice organizations providing legal service support, advocacy, and community outreach to working-class communities in Los Angeles. Valeria participated in the 2021-2022 Astin Community-Engaged Scholars program, a participatory research program that collaborates with undergraduate, graduate, and community members, examining the intersections of labor and the dismantling of systems of incarceration through community-engaged research. Valeria is excited to continue expanding community-engaged research and increasing student engagement in the community.

Maritza advises undergraduates on the Community Engagement and Social Change (CESC) minor. Maritza is an academic counselor within the College of Letters and Science. Before coming to UCLA, she was an academic counselor at California State University, Los Angeles. Prior to that, she worked at the Financial Aid Office at Los Angeles Pierce College and various offices at California State University Northridge such as Student Outreach and Recruitment, Matador Involvement Center, and Career Center.

As a first-generation college student, she believes that every student can succeed with the right support and guidance. She is passionate about helping students achieve their personal and academic goals. Maritza earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Masters of Science in Counseling, with an emphasis in College Counseling and Student Services from California State University Northridge (CSUN).

Ariana serves as one of the School Site Coordinators for the Community Youth Programs providing services at Alexander Hamilton High School in the West Los Angeles Area. Ariana’s major responsibilities include daily support throughout the school day for students, providing after school programming and building a strong community of young people whom are actively engaged in productive activities.

Ariana is committed to developing well-rounded students by enhancing their involvement of activities outside of the classroom and fostering a responsibility to contribute positively to his/her community. She is passionate about youth self-development and their awareness as they become young adults. Ariana earned her Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies and Masters of Arts in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Community Engagement from California State University, Long Beach. You can find her hiking all throughout LA County and enjoying outdoor fun with her fur animals!

Nefthaly Gutierrez has been a Site Coordinator for over six years at RFK UCLA Community School in Koreatown.  She works closely with the school community to ensure the after-school program supports students learning beyond the regular school day.  She is proud to have a strong support from school staff, faculty and families that she attributes to the successful of the program. Nefthaly is grateful to work with our youngest grade band and she plans on doing so for many years to come. She loves being able to motivate and encourage students to strive to do their best, and be better students and community members.

MaryAnn Szyskowski has been with UCLA for twenty-years; first working for the Workforce Investment Act program and since 2008 has been housed at University High School Charter as the School Site Coordinator for UCLA After School Programs. Additionally, Ms. Szyskowski is the advisor for the Peer Mediation program at University High School Charter which trains high school student in conflict resolution. In her spare time, Ms. Szyskowski volunteers with a local dog rescue and has fostered and adopted many rescue dogs over the last fifteen years.

Destiny Torres is the Site Coordinator for UCLA After School Programs at Sotomayor Arts and Science Magnet School. Before UCLA, Destiny worked four years in the after-school setting and two years in the social services field with foster youth. As a proud alumna of UCLA, Destiny earned her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in education. Destiny is passionate about working with K-12 and empowering her students in the expanded learning field.

Carolyn began her tenure at UCLA in 1989. She began as receptionist for the Community-Based Learning Program and Field Studies. Throughout her 33 years, she has held different positions from receptionist to Case Manager to her current role as Information Management Specialist.She keeps staff updated on where we are in enrollments by providing bi-weekly tracking reports and reminders of what is needed for our files.She assists Case Managers with follow-up activities after our youth have exited the program for 12 months.Carolyn has been able to absorb the programmatic changes over the years and has been able to transition from the JobTraining Partnership Act (JTPA) to theWorkforce Investment Act(WIA), to our current Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Program (WIOA). She has acquired a wealth of knowledge and expertise on CalJOBS, which is the State of California’s system for participant tracking, and federal and state reporting.She regularly attends trainings to keep abreast of the updates and changes made to the system. Carolyn is passionate about helping youth find their voice, direction, and resources to become successful self-sufficient adults. Carolyn enjoys cooking, crocheting, and listening to all genres of music.

David Herrera has worked in non-profit organization and Educational Programs for over 20+ years. His activism was nourished at the University of San Francisco where the Jesuit philosophy of service rooted in justice and love for others was introduced. He started his career at Bienestar Human Services where he worked alongside his community helping the LGBTQ+ youth In East Los Angeles by providing targeted programs to bring awareness, prevention and stigma reduction around HIV/AIDS. He was then introduced to the Community Based Learning team by a researcher Dr. Ayala who had mentored him while serving as a board member for APLA Health agency representing Queer Latino/a youth for the City of Los Angeles. While at CBL David was able to work with diverse organizations all over the City of Los Angeles from the Harbor to the Valley and everywhere in between. He helped with resources for youth to gain knowledge in the world of work and financial literacy. He was then placed in the Beyond the Bell Program where he provided after school programming for at one point three South Los Angeles High Schools gaining a true understanding of service to others. Eventually continuing his Jesuit Education by attending Loyola Marymount University achieving his Master’s in Business.Now he looks forward to continue his service alongside the community in need of resources and support.During the Pandemic he focused on trainings around inclusion and diversity and implemented that knowledge to better serve his community and students. On the weekends you can find him enjoying a musical or concert when he is not playing tennis or creating art. David credits his great network of loving friends for reminding him every day that his work matters and is having a positive impact in our community.

Ana Peña has worked for the department’s Youth Workforce Programs for 21 years. Ana is a hardworking and reliable case manager with strong ability to identify clients’ needs. She provides services to disadvantage youth ages 14 –24 ,offering educational and work readiness training .She case manages up to 100 youth every school year. Ana is highly organized, proactive, and has a team-oriented mentality. When she isn’t case managing youth, you can find her camping with family or crafting.

Carlos Pena has worked for UCLA and its Community Based Learning Program since 2012. In his role as Youth Program Coordinator, Carlos helps manage the unit’s WIOA, SYEP, and LA Rise programs. Through these programs, Carlos is able to assist underserved and at-risk youth groups within Los Angeles with educational counseling, workforce preparation, mentoring, and other supportive services. Carlos maintains strong working relationship with local high schools, the various UCLA Afterschool programs, and community organizations such as The Rightway Foundation. He specializes in working with high school seniors, foster youth, and other students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Finally, Carlos works very closely with Human Resources to ensure that all of the program’s hirings are processed efficiently. Carlos personally hires approximately150 student workers every fiscal year.

Carlos is a first-generation college student and proud Bruin, having graduated fromUCLA in 2014 with a degree in Political Science, and minors in both Education and Afro-American Studies. He recently earned his Master’s degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Grand Canyon University. Outside of work, Carlos enjoys hiking and attending live sporting events.