Meet the Staff

Ciarra Powell (she/her/hers)

 Civic Engagement & Inclusion Intern

Ciarra is a Senior majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Legal Studies. She says that working with CCEI allows her to create a safe and supportive environment for those who should be free to love who they are and can embrace themselves happily. She describes that growing up with an observant mindset, she has noticed many obstacles within historically underrepresented communities and seen the world filled with injustices.

Upon graduation, Ciarra wants to use her knowledge of the world around her to attend law school, where she aspires to become a District Attorney to bring justice to everyone, but especially to those who never get to have a say on their passions and goals. As a woman of color, she wants to inspire others who may fear the hatred of our world and shine a light on their darkness by advocating for them to use their voice to help build a positive community. 

She is dedicated to connecting with others, which will allow me to grow more knowledge, skills, and empathy within cultural engagement. She is excited to have the opportunity to further her learning in uplifting and educating individuals who feel unnoticed and yearn for support. For fun, her hobbies include baking, binge-watching shows, watching sports, and spending time with family. 

Giovanni Aguirre (he/him/his)

 Civic Engagement and Inclusion Intern

Giovanni Aguirre (Gio) is majoring in both Economics and Computer Science. He enjoys giving everyone the chance to feel welcomed on campus regardless of their background or physical appearance. Working at the CCEI allows him to undertake this goal by working face-to-face with a wide variety of students. As a first-gen student of color, he hopes to bring light to issues that underrepresented minorities face when attending college for the first time. 

Not to mention, Gio is also incredibly passionate about local government and social issues. He has experience working with different organizations such as Ventura County Air Pollution Control and the City of Thousand Oaks Sustainability. He also has multiple research projects under his belt regarding wealth inequality among marginalized people groups. After undergrad, he hopes to attend grad school or law school to continue making an impact in the public sector. 

For fun, Gio likes outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and taking walks around campus. He also enjoys reading, watching Netflix, and listening to music.

Yasmine Gomez (sher/her/hers)

 Civic Engagement & Inclusion Intern

Yasmine is a junior double majoring in Criminology & Criminal Justice and Biology. She has a minor in Pre-Law and is a part of the University Honors Program. As she continues to explore these fields, one thing is certain: she will center voices of underrepresented/marginalized communities and be an advocate for justice. She hopes that during her time here on campus, she helps to foster a welcoming and supportive community on campus for all students. Working at the CCEI provides an amazing opportunity to do just that. By working with students and community members that is shaped by advocacy and service to create a campus atmosphere of belonging and support. Some of her hobbies include scrapbooking, going to the movies, solving puzzles, and reading. She loves sushi, listening to Crime Junkie, and watching Marvel movies

Jonathan Leon (He/Him)

 Student Engagement Coordinator: Civic Engagement & Inclusion
 jcleon@CalLutheran.edu
 805-493-3277