Meet the members of the Economics Undergraduate Student Services advising team!
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING TEAM
Michelle Fong
Director of Student Services
Education: Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Organizational Studies from UC Davis.
Started at Cal: I started my employment at UC Berkeley in January 2017 as the Scheduling Coordinator in History, and I joined Department of Economics in 2018 as the Undergraduate Advisor/Scheduler. From 2019 to 2021, I moved to a new role (still with Econ) as the Assistant Director of Course Management and Graduate Advisor, and oversaw the course logistics and ASE hiring/training. Prior to Berkeley, I worked nine years at the School of Medicine UCSF as a Curriculum Analyst. Now as the Director of Student Services (still with Econ), I'm excited to work with the student services community even closer. With over 15 years of experience working in higher education, my goal is to provide high quality service to students to help them achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals.
Favorite food spot near campus: Aki's Japanese Restaurant (and I always order the same item, Taiwanese pork chop noodle!)
Carlos Garcia
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Student Services
Education: B.A. in Philosophy from UC Berkeley; M.A. in Philosophy from San Francisco State University
Started at Cal: I transferred to Berkeley in spring 2014 and have lived in the area ever since. I was a manager in the Berkeley Student Co-ops and have worked on campus since September 2019. I enjoy discussing philosophical topics such as ethics and moral psychology, specifically as portrayed through media like movies, video games, and TV shows. My goal as an advisor is to offer support, resources, and encouragement to our students. My hope is that students feel well-supported as they pursue their academic goals.
Favorite food spot near campus: Artichoke Basille's Pizza
Mildred Flores
Undergraduate Advisor
Education: B.A. in History and Practice of Art from UC Berkeley
Started at Cal: My history at UC Berkeley is a long one. I first began my journey as an undergraduate student, starting in 2005. I returned to the university in 2012 as a program coordinator at the Academic Talent Developement Program (ATDP), a K-12 summer program offered through UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education. After 10 years at ATDP I transitioned to my current role as an Economics major advisor. I'm very excited to work with students directly and be a resource for them during their time at Cal.
Favorite food spot near campus: Sliver Pizza
Ashley Vera
Undergraduate Advisor
Education: B.A. in Social Welfare and Legal Studies from UC Berkeley; M.A in Education from National University
Started at Cal: I started working at Cal back in my undergrad years as an admin assistant at Lawrence Hall of Science and as a Resident Assistant in Unit 2. After graduating, I returned to my hometown of Richmond, CA to teach freshman English at my former high school, LPS. I taught for 3 years, then decided I wanted to work in higher-ed. That brought me to the amazing Economics department Summer of 2022 as an undergraduate advisor. I am excited to be a resource to students and support them in their college journey :)
Favorite food spot near campus: Gypsy's
Trinh Nguyen
Undergraduate Advisor
Education: B.A. in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley; M.A. in Counseling & Guidance from San Jose State University
Started at Cal: My journey started at Cal in 2018, where I transferred to UC Berkeley from Laney College as a first-generation college student. During my time as an undergrad, I became a Peer Advisor for the Re-entry Sudent Program, where I assisted older students in navigating campus resources. After receiving my B.A. in 2020, I returned back to campus as an Academic Achievement Counselor for the Re-entry Student Program. After 2 years of the role, I transitioned to the Department of Economics as an Undergraduate Advisor. My time here in the department has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am excited to best assist Economics students in their academic journey here at Cal. In my spare time, I like to work-out, spend time with friends and family, and explore different ethnic cuisines as I am a big time foodie.
Favorite food spot near campus: Banh Mi & Roll Factory
Favorite food spot near campus: Banh Mi & Roll Factory
Dinko Lakic
Undergraduate Advisor
Education: B.S. in Business Administration from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Started at Cal: I also started working at Cal as an undergraduate student. I served as a CalSO Summer Orientation Leader (GBO) and fell in love with the Berkeley campus and its vibrant community. After graduating from Berkeley Haas I have worked for 22 years for the Haas School of Business. I joined the Economics team in April of 2023.
Favorite food spot near campus: Thai Basil