Alumni Spotlights feature outstanding UC Santa Barbara alumni succeeding in their careers, proud of their Gaucho heritage.
Nominate your fellow Gauchos for the Alumni Spotlight series!
Ana Guerrero ‘20 took her first step into higher education when she enrolled in Santa Barbara City College after graduating high school. Upon transferring to UC Berkeley as a Sociology major, Ana knew she didn’t want to stop there. She returned to her hometown and completed the Education PhD program at UC Santa Barbara, leaving with a passion to help other first-generation students navigate the world of higher education.
A graduate of both the UC Santa Barbara Economics master’s program and the MBA program at Harvard Business School, Liz Montaño’s expertise in consulting, venture capital, and entrepreneurship has spanned 15 years.
Cori Close ‘93 is the current UCLA Women’s Basketball Head Coach. Her love for the sport began as a child growing up in a competitive, athletic family. Upon arriving at UCSB as a freshman, Cori dove head first into the program and never looked back. Now, having coached at UCSB, UCLA, and Florida State, she is able to reflect fondly on her time as both a player and a coach.
When Lisa Wojcik ‘05 found herself unsure of her career path in visual merchandising, she decided it was time to take a leap of faith. Leaning into a lifelong passion for baking, Lisa started her confectionary nut company, Black Bow Sweets.
Jason Afriat ‘20 arrived at UCSB as a transfer student, but it didn’t take long for him to make lifelong connections. By joining the rowing team and various cultural organizations, Jason learned to appreciate his college years by living in the moment with his friends and teammates. After graduating, this young entrepreneur went on to start two companies aligning with his passions for fitness and storytelling.
Luther Richmond ‘07 serves an important role within UCSB’s Educational Opportunity Program, as a counselor and coordinator for various student centers. After obtaining a B.A. in Communication at UCSB, Luther continued on to receive a Master’s in Counselor Education from San Jose State. Only then did he return to his hometown of Santa Barbara to help guide the next generation of Gauchos.
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