Hello! My name is Grace Ong and I am a fourth year Applied and Computational Math major with a Concentration in Finance. I was previously an Academic Engagement Intern for two years before becoming Director this year. My goal and hope for our commission this year is to enable students to foster connections with alumni, faculty, and on-campus resources in order to expand their professional network. Specifically, a goal of mine is to focus more on underrepresented areas such as the arts and humanities fields and to collaborate more with student organizations. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to collaborate with Academic Engagement!

Hi! My name is Vanya Arora, and I’m a Computer Science major at UCI. I currently serve as an intern for the Academic Resource Commission under the Office of the Academic Affairs Vice President and am actively involved in organizations such as TEDxUCIrvine, Women in Computer Science (WICS), and the ICS Student Council. My passion lies in combining technology, leadership, and creativity to create meaningful opportunities for students. This year, I hope to contribute to initiatives that promote academic accessibility, resource awareness, and student engagement across campus. Through my work with ASUCI, I aim to help students feel more connected to the academic and professional resources available to them while fostering a culture of collaboration and support at UCI.

Hello my name is Claire and I’m a first-year at UCI! I’m from Irvine, CA and my major is currently undeclared. I will be serving on ASUCI’s Academic Engagement Commission as an Academic Engagement Intern, and I’m super excited to help out with event planning and collaborating with UCI’s many academic programs. For the upcoming year, I hope to assist the commission in increasing attendance at academic workshops and mixers with faculty members. I’m also excited to learn more about UCI’s academic programs such as the Writing Center, SOAR, and UROP!

Vibhas Ippili is a third-year transfer student majoring in Psychology (B.S.) at the University of California, Irvine, serving as an Academic Engagement Intern under the AAVP Commission. He’s passionate about helping students discover meaningful academic opportunities and fostering a sense of connection within the UCI community. With an interest in cognitive science and mental health advocacy, Vibhas aims to support initiatives that make academic engagement more accessible and rewarding. Outside of ASUCI, he runs a YouTube channel where he edits and produces creative video projects, creates artwork, and volunteers with National Alzheimer’s Buddies. He also works in the ER department at Kaiser Permanente, where he enjoys learning from real-world healthcare experiences and meeting people from all walks of life.

Hi, my name is Isabelle Ng, and I am a first-year student majoring in Education Sciences here at UCI. This year, I am serving as an intern within the Academic Engagement Commission, where I hope to help create opportunities for students to feel more supported in their academic journeys. My goals include strengthening connections between students and campus resources, promoting events that encourage engagement, and uplifting the student experience. I am excited to collaborate with my peers in ASUCI and contribute fresh ideas that will have a positive impact on our campus community.

I am Aleyna Pala, a second-year Business Economics major and Spanish minor. I was born in Istanbul, Turkey but moved to San Diego when I was in middle school. This year I’m an Academic Engagement Intern under ASUCI! I am excited to work with everyone in my team to organize professional events showcasing the abundance of academic resources and opportunities offered at UCI. I am also excited to meet all of the wonderful people keeping this committee alive, to learn from all of them, and to grow my professional skills. One of my main goals is to focus on departments and majors that don’t get as much support and resources such as the majors in the Humanities.