UCGPC is a non-profit organization that advocates for graduate and professional students at University of California.
10 campuses,
1 UC system.
UCGPC bridges each UC to stakeholders, decision-makers, and organizations:
UC Office of the President, UC Systemwide Committees, Grad Caucus in DC, National Association of Graduate and Professional Students, Federal and State Legislators and more.
Programs
UCGPC programming encourages the participation of graduate and professional students in key decision-making spaces for graduate education in the University of California.
Apply to the Student Advocates to the Regents (StARs) Program
Learn more about our Advocacy Days: Day on the Hill and Sacramento
Grad Summit 2023
Missed us? Fret not. Catch the livestream on YouTube.
Be a StAR!
Student Advocates to the Regents voice graduate student issues at the UC Board of Regents meetings. Contact us to learn more about the program: info@ucgpc.org.
Learn more about the StARs program here.
Get to know the past StARs.
Past Student Advocates to the Regents hailed from UC Davis and UC San Diego and talked about what matters to graduate students at their campuses.
March 2025 StARs
Kalani Phillips, UC Irvine
PhD Student in Public Health
Issue: Implement SB 1491 and Expand Confidential Support Services for Survivors
Nicolette Lecy, UC Merced
PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Humanities
Issue: Pregnant and Students with dependants
Executive Officers
The officers of the council are elected and appointed annually by ex officio council members. Each officer has an integral role in representing and leading the UCGPC in multiple spaces.
President
Ryan Manriquez, a second-year Master of Public Policy student at UC Berkeley, has served as UCGPC President since Summer 2023. He aims to prioritize graduate and professional student conditions and opportunities throughout the UC system and believes in the value they bring to UC's core missions. Ryan's collaborative approach to advocacy involves working with campus leaders, UCSA, and Council of Presidents to amplify student voices to UC administration and state and federal legislators. He is committed to centering the voices of historically underrepresented communities in UC advocacy. Connect with him at president@ucgpc501c3.org to learn more.
Chair
Naomi Hammonds is from Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated from the UCLA Honors College with a degree in Psychobiology with minors in cognitive science, entrepreneurship, and African-American Studies in 2024. This academic year she is obtaining her Master's of Public Health in Community Health Sciences, while she applies for medical school. In UCGPC, she serves as the Council Chair.
Over the last four years, Naomi has been involved in a wide variety of student organizations and programs at UCLA. As the Undergraduate Students Association Council Student Body President, she advocated alongside her peers to enhance the experiences, and ultimately undergraduate success through the betterment of diversity, inclusivity, equity, collaboration, and retention efforts. Outside of student government, she served as one of the few undergraduate TAs in the Life Science Department and worked to increase equity in the classroom through the Learning Assistant Program and as a College Corps Fellow. In relation, as a McNair Research Scholar, Bunche Fellow, and Psychology Departmental Honors Scholar, she researched the sense of belonging of Black undergraduates in STEM and non-STEM spaces.
She is excited for this upcoming academic year and looks forward to the advocacy and work ahead. Connect with Naomi at chair@ucgpc501c3.org.
Treasurer
Mohit Saraswat, is a third-year Ph.D. student researching at Livermore national lab. His home campus is Merced and has close ties to all UC campuses. He has held leadership roles advocating for international student affairs and graduate student needs in more than one out of state schools. He brings diverse experience to UCGPC with exceptional skills in budget management and advocacy. In addition to the Treasurer at UCGPC, he also volunteers to serve as the graduate representative for Student health advisory committee and affordable transport work group. Connect with him at treasurer@ucgpc501c3.org.
Spring 2025 Legislative Intern
Marshal Caro’s positionality is shaped by his diverse background in management consulting and student leadership, which informs his approach to policy advocacy. His experiences as a representative for the MPA program and delegate on UC Berkeley’s Graduate Assembly have honed his ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and advocate for graduate student needs.
Marshal brings strong skills in policy analysis, event planning, stakeholder engagement, and legislative advocacy. His experience in management consulting has equipped him with the ability to conduct comprehensive assessments and provide strategic recommendations.
Marshal’s work focuses on enhancing graduate student outcomes through policy advocacy, with a keen interest in improving support services and community engagement within the UC system. He is leading the Advocacy Days Conferences in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., by setting up meetings and identifying key legislation beneficial for graduate and professional students.
Executive Director
As the Executive Director, Patriccia directs and controls all of UCGPC’s business operations and ensures its success through strategic planning, cost-based thinking, and a creative vision. Patriccia is the sole full-time staff at UCGPC.
Patriccia Ordonez-Kim (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Riverside’s School of Education. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, Northridge. She served as the Interim President and Vice President of External Affairs of the Graduate Student Association at the University of California, Riverside from 2021-2022 and was an invited guest in Bill Gate’s inaugural session of Gates Notes Deep Dive on May 2021.
Inaugural Policy Fellow
Josiah Beharry’s positionality is deeply rooted in his experiences as the first in his family to pursue a Ph.D. His background informs his commitment to advocating for policies that support marginalized graduate students. As Patricia Hill Collins notes, positionality involves acknowledging how social positions and power dynamics shape identities and access, which Josiah embodies through his leadership roles and advocacy work.
Josiah brings expertise in policy analysis, advocacy, research, and community engagement. His experience as a Student Regent and Policy Advisor on the UC Title IX Student Advisory Board has provided him with a deep understanding of structural challenges within the UC system.
Josiah’s work centers on equity-driven policy solutions, particularly addressing systemic barriers faced by marginalized graduate students. His research explores the intersection of trauma and education, with a commitment to creating inclusive academic environments. He is focusing on issues such as basic needs, parenting students, and mentorship standards.
2022-2023 Board Committees
The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, create any number of committees, each consisting of two or more directors, and only of directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board (each, a “Board Committee”). Appointments to any Board Committee shall be by a majority vote of the directors then in office. Board Committees may be given all the authority of the Board, except [certain decisions]. (Article IV, Section 1)
Board Committee on Conferences
Board Committee on Budget and Fundraising
Board Committee on Bylaws and Legal Compliance
2022-2023 Advisory Committeess
The Board of Directors may establish one or more advisory committees to the Board (“Advisory Committees”). The members of any Advisory Committee may consist of directors or non-directors and may be appointed as the Board of Directors determines. On matters requiring Board authority, Advisory Committees may not make decisions on behalf of this corporation, but shall be restricted to making recommendations to the Board of Directors or Board Committees, and implementing Board of Directors or Board Committee decisions and policies under the supervision and control of the Board of Directors or Board Committee. (Article IV, Section 2)
Advisory Committee on Mentorship Experience: design survey, collect data, present and/or publish findings, collaborate with relevant stakeholders, and conduct general outreach regarding graduate student mentorship
Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health: maintain stream of communication with and attend SMHOC UCOP meetings, in addition to maintaining partnership with Engaging the Academy Taskforce, increase access to long-term mental healthcare, formulate and recommend accessible, safe, and protective rather than reactive approaches to student mental health.
Advisory Committee on Basic Needs, Housing, and Healthcare: collaborate with UCOP Basic Needs committee, outreach to legislation and UCOP, CalFresh education/advocacy, secure direct services/basic needs grants, research an
Advisory Committee on Civic Engagement, Sustainability, and Legislative Advocacy: legislative research and analysis for elections and advocacy days. Organize Sacramento Advocacy Day and Day on the Hill. Voter education and registration. Systemwide policy education. Draft resolutions in support or against issues. Research UC sustainability efforts. Engage with systemwide sustainability committees. Outreach to campus sustainability groups.
UCGPC Alumni Advisory Committee
Subscribe
Sign up to receive updates, newsletters, or learn more about opportunities for involvement.
We use cookies to improve your experience and to help us understand how you use our site. Please refer to our cookie notice and privacy statement for more information regarding cookies and other third-party tracking that may be enabled.
UCGPC
981 Mission Street, #31, San Francisco, CA 94103
support@ucgpc.org
© 2025 UCGPC
