Position Title
Director
Kat (she/her/siya) is a Pinay scholar-practitioner with ancestral roots in the Philippines and across the broader Asian and Pacific diasporas. Raised across the Pacific and throughout California, her lived experiences continue to inform her work in higher education and student-serving initiatives.
She is a UC Davis alumna with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Asian American Studies and Sociology and holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Sacramento State University. Kat is a Doctoral Candidate pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) at the UC Davis School of Education. Her research examines how Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) contribute to institutional transformation and student success at large public research universities.
Kat directs the Asian and Pacific Islander Academic Retention Initiative (AandPI-ARI) at UC Davis, Lotus Mana Center, and chairs the campus AANAPISI Executive Council, which provides coordination and strategic guidance for campuswide AANAPISI efforts. She also represents UC Davis on the UC AANAPISI Advisory Board. Previously, she served as a campus educator focused on community-centered learning and worked in academic advising and counseling roles supporting undergraduate student pathways. She was one of the founding chairs of the award-winning “Developing Deeper Advising Relationships” professional development module, a key part of the UC Davis Advising Certificate Series.
Beyond campus, Kat is deeply engaged in regional and national efforts to support student advancement and institutional knowledge. She collaborates with organizations such as Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE), APIs Mobilize, API Advocates, Asian Resources Inc., To'utupu 'oe 'Otu Felenite Association (TOFA), Conference of Asian American Professionals (CAAPS), and serves on the Board of Directors for OCA-Sacramento as well as the Board of Advisors for Young Professionals Alliance (YPA).
Kat is a proud cat mom, lifelong Sailor Moon fan, and Disney enthusiast who finds joy in crafting and collecting plants (pre-pandemic). She’s happiest near the ocean, with ice cream, and loves connecting with others over stickers, snacks, or cozy creative projects.
Region in the diasporas I identify with: Philippines, Southeast Asia, Japan