Meet the Summer Bridge Professional Staff

Bel Geronimo

Pronouns: she/her/siya

Summer Programs Manager – OASIS

• Originally from San Diego, California's Paradise Hills area; at OASIS since 2016; Summer Bridge 2010 Alumni

• B.A. Human Development

• Thrilled to be part of a program that has contributed a great amount to my personal success and retention at UC San Diego.

Andre Thompson

Pronouns: he/him/his

Summer Bridge Assistant Coordinator – OASIS

• Originally from Shelby, NC ; at OASIS since 2018, Summer Bridge 2013 Alum
• B.A. Political Science, Minor African American Studies 
• Passionate about supporting students' self-empowerment and connecting them to resources in a supportive community.

Vanessa Keodara

Pronouns: she/her/her(s)

Summer Programs Assistant – OASIS

• Originally from San Diego, California; at OASIS since 2022; Summer Bridge 2017 Alumni
• B.S Cognitive Science with Specialization in Design and Interaction, Double Minor in Communications and Design
• Excited to support and be a part of a program that has helped me grow during my undergrad years.

Donnet Montanez

Pronouns: he/him/his

Summer Programs Assistant – OASIS

• Originally from Ventura, California; at OASIS since 2020; TRIO SSSP 2018 Alumni
• B.A International Studies - Sociology
• Looking forward to connecting with new incoming students, and helping them navigate UC San Diego holistically.

Martha Montoya

Pronouns: she/her/her(s)

Summer Bridge Program Support Specialist - OASIS

• Originally from San Diego, California; at OASIS since 2023; Summer Bridge 2018 Alumni; CASP 2018 Alumni
• B.S Human Developmental Sciences & Minor in Global Health
• I am enthusiastic about helping and providing guidance to new students as they find their way at UC San Diego. Additionally, I am happy to contribute to the program that supported me during my undergraduate years & professional career. 

Maricruz Macz-De La Torre

Pronouns: she/her/her(s)/ella

• Originally from Mexico City but grew up mostly in Los Angeles, California, recently joined UC San Diego in March of 2022.
• B.S. and M.S. in Molecular Biology and Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach
• Committed to helping students reach academic and professional success by providing student-centered programming and mentorship.

Marie Schier

Pronouns: she/her/her(s)

Associate Director for Supplemental Instruction and Content Tutoring

• Originally from San Diego, CA; at UC San Diego since winter 2021; developing peer mentoring and academic success programs for over 6 years.
• M.S. Higher Education and Student Affairs, Baylor University
• Passionate about creating programming that fosters a caring, equitable, and supportive community for all students in their academic journey.

Robbie Lyons

Pronouns: he/him/his

• Previously a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for BioPsych and a Peer Mentor at CSUSM. Proud first-generation student who found empowerment through his college experience.
• Passionate about the value that SI brings in terms of academic and social integration, and the benefit it offers on academic, personal, and professional levels. A firm believer that learning is always worthwhile but learning together is truly remarkable, as all individuals bring unique perspectives and experiences that contribute to the process of collaboration and understanding

Portia Tseckares Restuccia

pronouns: she/her/hers

Assistant Supplemental Instruction Coordinator

• Originally from New York City, NY and Boston, MA, and have been in San Diego since 2019
• B.S. in Applied Mathematics and B.A. in Political Science International Relations from UC San Diego
• Passionate about student success and helping with everyone's educational journey through peer education.

Julia Garcia-Medina

Pronouns: she/her/her(s)

Content Tutor Coordinator – Academic Achievement Services, Teaching + Learning Commons (TLC)

• Originally from La Puente, California; at Teaching + Learning Commons since 2022.
• B.S. in Environmental Chemistry with Minors in Education and Sociology.
• I found immense support from Summer Bridge and OASIS staff during my time as a UC San Diego student. I am eager to provide support to foster the success of Summer Bridge students by providing academic and critical thinking skill development support.

Ysabel Jaimes

Pronouns: she/her/her(s)

Math Academic Support Coordinator – Academic Achievement Services, Teaching + Learning Commons (TLC)

• Originally from San Diego, California; recently joined UC San Diego in January of 2024 
• B.A. in Liberal Studies, M.A.T. in Mathematics Education, Bilingual Authorized Teaching Credential 
• Firm believer in journeying alongside students educational pathways to provide guidance and equitable access

Dr. Christine "Chrissy" Sharp

Pronouns: she/her/ella

Director – Writing Hub, Teaching + Learning Commons (TLC)

• B.A. in Literature and History from Claremont McKenna College and Ph.D. from UC Riverside, where she specialized in eighteenth-century British literature, medical discourse, and the Gothic.
• As a Latina and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Sharp learned early on about the value of a university education as a pathway to life-long success and fulfillment. She is committed to closing opportunity gaps for all of our students at UC San Diego and to promoting social justice in our shared learning and work spaces.
• Drawing upon her twenty years teaching writing and literature courses and ten years as a writing program director, Dr. Sharp encourages students to communicate effectively and authentically in different settings by incorporating their voices into their creations: from papers to personal statements, from presentations to web pages, from films to lab reports, the broad ecosystem of writing and its related skills provides us all with opportunities to express our ideas, to be heard, and to belong.

Dr. Maruth Figueroa

Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Retention & Success (Co-chair)

Dr. David Ruiter

Faculty Director, Teaching + Learning Commons (Co-chair)

Rocco Fragomeni

Director, Summer Planning

Bel Geronimo

Summer Programs Manager, OASIS

Dr. Christina Medina-Ramirez

Director, OASIS

Maricruz Macz-De La Torre

Director, Supplemental Instruction & Content Tutoring, Teaching + Learning Commons

Dr. Josephine Relaford-Doyle

Education Specialist, Teaching + Learning Commons

Dr. Christine "Chrissy" Sharp

Director, Writing Hub, Teaching + Learning Commons