Sage Mentorship Project
UC Berkeley's Largest One-on-One Elementary School Mentoring Program
Executive Board
Leela Venkatesan
President
Major: Chemical Biology/MCB Neuro & GPP minor
Hometown: Bay Area, CA
Sage Experience: 7 semesters
Plans After College: Med School
Favorite Thing About Sage: I joined Sage during my first semester at Cal and have loved mentoring ever since! One of my favorite parts of Sage is learning from and being inspired by the mentees (and also connecting with fellow mentors!). One favorite memory from Sage was when my mentee dressed up in blue and told me I was the Lilo to her Stitch :)
Hobbies: I love ballet, playing the piano, and reading!
Karyme Peña
VP Membership
Major: Nutritional Sciences
Hometown: San Gabriel, CA
Sage Experience: 7 Semesters
Plans After College: Post-grad I plan to dive into the world of food and supplement innovation and development!
Favorite Thing about Sage: Sage has been a huge part of my time at Cal, I joined my first semester and it has been such a pleasure to take on leadership roles and help a club I love so much grow! My favorite thing about Sage is having the opportunity to give back to the underrepresented parts of the bay area community.
Some of my favorite things: I'm a big fan of live music, I love having concerts to look forward to. Aside from music I like to go on long drives getting to explore California!
Priscilla Chin
VP/Head Decal Facilitator
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology - Neurobiology
Sage Experience: 6 semesters
Plans After College: Medical School
Favorite Thing about Sage: I've loved being in Sage since my freshman year. Knowing that I can/get to make even a small impact on these kiddos makes me so happy and motivates me to keep doing what I do. My favorite thing about Sage is getting to see my mentees every week and getting a hug from them as soon as they see me :')
Some of my fabvorite things: Drinking matcha, baking cookies, hanging out with friends!
Mandy Huang
Managing Director
Major: Public Health
Sage Experience: 5th semester
Plans After College: Grad School
Favorite Thing about Sage: My experience in Sage has been really meaningful because I’ve been able to connect with students on a personal level and support them through both academic and life challenges. My favorite part about Sage is building those one-on-one relationships and seeing my mentees grow more confident over time.
Fun Fact About You: Favorite color is purple, drinking matcha, Love cats, favorite show is normal people, love to travel.
Neha Gottimukkala
VP Finance
Major: Political Economy
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Sage Experience: 4 semesters
Plans After College: Business and policy
Favorite Sage Memory: I love working with my mentee and playing kickball with her during recess.
Fun Fact About You: I have fallen off a banana boat!
Gabriela Perez
VP Communications & Outreach
Major: Integrative Biology
Hometown: East Los Angeles, CA
Sage Experience: 6 semesters
Plans After College: I plan on going to medical school!
Favorite Thing about Sage: I have really enjoyed being in SAGE. There’s nothing like making a difference in a child’s life and being able to see it. Spending time with the kids has been a very nice break from the school chaos. My favorite memory is when I mentored in a classroom of kindergartners and danced with them during their PE for the day.
Fun Fact About You: I can do latte art
School Directors
Justin Yu
Acorn Woodland
Major: Cognitive Science & Data Science
Sage Experience: 2nd Semester
Plans After College: Grad School
Favorite Thing About Sage: 1. Joining Sage has by far been the best decision I've made so far in college! The kids are all super fun to work with, and their energy and laughter is just infectious. It's so nice to get out of the college bubble for a bit and make a positive impact.
2. I love playing basketball and four square with the kids at lunch! Everyday is just pure fun getting to hang out and become friends with all the kids :)
Some of my favorite things: basketball, guitar, hiking, chronic christmas music enjoyer, moses moody mega fan
Marisol Ramirez
Fruitvale
Major: Sociology
Sage Experience: 2 semesters
Plans After College: I plan on getting my Masters of Social Work and begin working as a Social Worker
Favorite Thing about Sage: My favorite thing about Sage is getting to establish my presence in the classroom and becoming a familiar face for the students. I love being apart of the learning process and fostering their curiosity and love for learning.
Some of my favorite things: rollerskating, reading, crocheting, watching movies
fruitvale@sagementorship.org
Katia Rodriguez
Sankofa
Major: Psychology & Human Rights minor
Sage Experience: 5 semesters!
Plans after college: I plan applying to law school
Favorite Thing About Sage:One of my favorite memories with Sage was teaching my 1st grade mentee how to add using a number line. Later, I saw her showing another student the same method, and it was rewarding to see how much of an impact a math lesson could make.
Hanging with friends, binge watch shows, chill with my dog
Ashlyn Swanson
Emerson
Major: Legal Studies, Ethnic Studies & Spanish minors
Sage Experience: 3 semesters!
Plans after college: I plan applying to law school
Favorite Thing About Sage:I love Sage because it has allowed me to be part of the high spirits found in elementary school classrooms. My favorite memory was when I got to see my mentee perform at the talent show.
Hobbies: golf, pickelball, baking sourdough
James Bowers
Fairmont
Major: Environmental Science, Political Science, Econ
Sage Experience: 2 semesters!
Plans after college: Go to business school and pursue a career in sustainable business.
Favorite Thing About Sage:Sage has been a really impactful and meaningful experience for me. My favorite memory is mentoring during lunch and recess last semester.
Some of my favorite things: I like to play soccer, pickle ball, hike, and hang out with my friends and family.
Finance, Marketing, & Social Team
Adamary Larios
VP Social
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Sage Experience: 5th semester
Favorite Sage Memory: My favorite moments are when mentees realize you truly do care about them. I had mentees not think I remembered their names and were shocked when I did. Afterward they would be so open to me. Even if they got upset and wouldn't talk to anyone else, they managed to open up to me.
Hobbies: Reading, baking, rollerskating.
Maddy Esses
Finance Director
Major: Media Studies & Spanish
Sage Experience: 3rd semester
Favorite Thing about Sage: It has been such an amazing experience to work with these kids and see their growth throughout the semester. Also watching their positive outlook on life reminds me take a step back and appreciate the small things.
Hobbies: Horseback riding, hiking, yoga
David Cho
DeCal Facilitator
Major: Econ & Music minor
Sage Experience: 1st Semester
Plans After College: Finance (wealth management)
Favorite Sage Memory: Waiting to make some great memories!
Hobbies/Favorites: Concerts, Cooking, Eating out
Hilary Wong
VP Social Media
Major: Urban Studies, Society & Environment
Hometown: Covina, CA
Sage Experience: 5 Semesters
Plans After College: I plan on working on sustainability and non-profits!
Favorite Sage Memory: I love SAGE because it gives me a reprieve from school and the intensity of being constantly stressed. Interacting with mentees is the highlight of every week and their carefree, joyful nature is infectious!
Fun Fact About You: I'm a black belt in Taekwondo
Narine Vanetsyan
DeCal Facilitator
Major: Philosophy major and Clinical & Counseling Psychology minor
Sage Experience: 1st semester
Plans After College: Law School
Favorite Sage Memory: Waiting to make some great memories!
Hobbies/Favorites: shopping. hiking, exercising
Founder
Alejandro Velez
With the realization that there was a great need for a mentorship program that grounded itself in forging powerful, long-lasting relationships with the youth in the greater Berkeley and Oakland community, Alejandro founded Sage in 2008. Alejandro began Sage with a vision of creating a program in which UC Berkeley mentors could be paired up with an elementary student and serve not only as teachers but also as friends and role models. To this day Alejandro is very close to his mentee, Cleveland.
Since his graduation, he has gone on to have a very successful career driven by the same entrepreneurial spirit to find ways to better the world around him. Alejandro now serves as the co-founder of Back to the Roots, an Oakland-based business that sells mushroom kits and AquaFarm fish tanks to retailers nationwide. Since co-founding BTTR, Alejandro has even been named as one of Inc.’s 30 Under 30, Poder's 2010 Influential Hispanics Under 40, Forbes’ 30 Under 30, CNN’s 10 Next Entrepreneur’s to Watch, and been recognized by President Obama!