Summer 2021 Student Affairs Coordinator
Deanna Gallegos
Hi there! My name is Deanna Gallegos (she/her), and I am the Pre-College Summer Student Affairs Coordinator. I am originally from California and am currently pursuing a masters in higher education and student affairs here at the University of Connecticut. I have been working with the professional staff throughout the year to prepare for the program sessions, and I couldn’t be happier with the summer staff of Community Managers we have selected to work with you. You can learn more about each of them below. These are the folks who will be your main point of contact throughout the program, so getting to know a little about them before you start class is a great idea. We are so excited to see you this summer!
Community Managers
Katie Nguyen
Hi! My name is Katie Nguyen and I will be a junior this upcoming fall! I am a Speech Language and Hearing Sciences Major with hopes of becoming a speech language pathologist. I love to travel, hike, and meet new people! A fun fact about me is that I was born in Vietnam and bilingual. I am so excited to be part of the Pre-College program this year and looking forward to meeting you all soon!
Sydney Guerrera
Hi everyone!!! My name is Sydney Guerrera and this summer I'm going to be a Community Manager - I'm so excited! I'm a rising senior here at UConn pursuing a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with minors in both Psychological Sciences and English. A few of my favorite things are meeting new people, stepping out of my comfort zone, mental health advocacy, yoga, painting, and road trips! My favorite memory at UConn is a combination of everything I have been involved in and all of the incredible people I have met through being here - I am so grateful for the support system I have. A fun fact about me is that I loveee iced coffee (Dunkin' over Starbucks!) and a lifelong dream of mine is to start a podcast (let me know if you have ideas)! I can't wait to meet everyone and to have an amazing summer!!!
Hailey Kobza
My name is Hailey Kobza and I will be a Community Manager this summer. I am a second-year graduate student in UConn's Counselor Education program. I am studying to become a school counselor. My hobbies include running, cooking, and traveling. I have completed 2 Boston Marathons and will be running the Chicago Marathon this fall. My favorite fruit is pineapple and I have traveled to 4 different continents. I look forward to joining the Pre-College Summer team and having an amazing summer!
Aidan Caron
Hey all! My name is Aidan Caron from Ellington, CT, and I will be a Community Manager this Summer! I'm a rising sophomore undergraduate at UConn double majoring in Political Science (Pre-Law) and Geographic Information Science with a Minor in Jazz Studies. I love all things music whether it's playing, listening, writing -- you name it (I play jazz saxophone, piano, drums, trumpet, and more!). You'll also find me scooping ice cream at my local ice cream barn, playing disc golf, or hanging out with friends! My favorite experience at UConn has been my involvement with the UConn Marching Band. A fun fact about me is that I make balloon sculptures. I'm thrilled to be joining the PCS staff this year!
Alex Santiago
My name is Alexander (Alex) Santiago, and I will be a community manager this summer! I am a rising senior at UConn majoring in Psychological Sciences with a Latino Studies minor. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and watching sports - big Boston teams guy. A fun fact about me is that I collect vintage vinyl records! I am very excited to be apart of the Pre-College Summer staff and look forward to having a great summer!
Vanessa Esquivel
My name is Vanessa Esquivel, and I will be a Community Manager this summer! Currently, I am a first-year student in the Human Development and Family Sciences PhD program. A fun fact about me is that I have rewatched the entire show of Grey's Anatomy about five times (I just ever get tired of it)! I love trying new places to eat, and even made a spreadsheet of restaurants with pros and cons. I also love going to Mexico every summer, and spending time with my family and friends. I am so excited to be part of your Pre-College Summer experience, cant wait to meet you!
Sarah Nelson
My name is Sarah Nelson and I am thrilled to be a Community Manager this summer! I am a 2021 graduate of UConn, with a degree in mathematics from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a degree in computer science from the School of Engineering. I have spent the past three years working as an Honors Guide for Peer Success and it ignited my passion for working with and helping other students. As a student, I was also involved in a service organization called Honors Across State Borders, where I participated and lead local service trips, as well as alternative spring break trips. Something fun about me is that I love to support the UConn basketball teams, from both Gampel and my living room, when necessary (thanks pandemic). I can't wait for this summer and I am so excited to be a part of the Pre-College Summer team this year!
Julianna Iacovelli
Hey! My name is Julianna Iacovelli and I'm going to be a Community Manager this summer. I am a rising senior studying English and English Secondary Education in the Neag School of Education i/BM program. I love comedy, theatre, movies, reading, and traveling. My favorite spot on campus is the library, I also work there at the Writing Center! A fun fact about me is that I have a 2 year-old cat named Dorian Gray. I'm super excited to start working with you!