MY STORY
Tess is a STEM equity advocate and scholar proudly rooted in California's Central Valley. A first-generation college graduate and Chicana in STEM, her journey began at College of the Sequoias before she went on to earn a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Santa Cruz and an M.S. in Chemistry from CSU Fresno. That path — navigating systems not always designed with her in mind — is the foundation of everything she does today.
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Now pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Social Justice, Tess' research centers on the lived experiences of underrepresented communities in STEM higher education. Her scholarship and her practice are inseparable: the questions she asks in her research are the same ones that drive her work with students, institutions, and organizations every day.
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As Director of the MESA Program at College of the Sequoias — the very program where she was once a student — Tess leads equity-centered programming that empowers first-generation and historically underserved STEM scholars in the region that shaped her. Beyond MESA, she consults with educational institutions and community organizations to build equitable systems, design professional development frameworks, and create the structural conditions for diverse students to succeed in STEM.
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Tess also works directly with students as a
college advisor, specializing in college access, application strategy, and STEM program navigation. Whether supporting a first-generation student mapping out their transfer pathway, a high schooler crafting their college essays, or a returning adult learner stepping back into higher education, she meets every student where they are. Whatever the starting point, her commitment is the same: helping students find the programs and environments where they can truly thrive.