About Me & Fun Facts:
Welcome & Bienvenidxs to UC Santa Barbara!
My name is Jacqueline (Jacquie) Ovalle, and I am an Academic Achievement Counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). I am the eldest daughter of immigrants from Northern Mexico who inspired me to be the proud bilingual (English/Spanish) and bicultural individual I am today. I was born in East Los Angeles and raised in the Inland Empire.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis, where I served as a Resident Advisor for Chicanx/Latinx Student Housing, as a Health Counseling Assistant supporting migrant farmworker communities at Winters Healthcare Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, and as a Researcher focusing on the experiences of Chicanx/Latinx mothers participating in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
I also hold a Master of Science in College Student Counseling and Personnel Services from California Lutheran University, where I worked in programs that support first-generation, income-eligible college students, such as California Lutheran University’s Student Support Services (TRiO Program), Project CHESS (HSI Initiative), and UCSB’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
I have holistically served students at UCSB since 2016, and I absolutely love what I do! In my free time, I enjoy swimming, reading fiction, caring for my plantitas, and spending time with loved ones, including my husband and our sassy mini-dachshund named Kali.
Hometown: Beaumont, CA (Riverside County)
Education: M.S.College Student Counseling and Personnel Services, California Lutheran University & B.S. Clinical Nutrition, UC Davis
Interests & Specialties: First-generation college student experience, Latina/o/e students, S.T.E.M students, Transfer Students, Health & well-being, Mindfulness meditation, and providing holistic, student-centered counseling services.
Approach to working with students: My counseling and leadership approach is student-centered, strengths-based, and solution-oriented. I recognize the community cultural wealth our students bring to UCSB and ensure they connect to campus and community resources. I will always strive to work with empathy and corazón! Remember: You belong here!
Languages: Strong bilingual (Spanish - English) communication and translation skills.
Why I love working at EOP: I love working at EOP because I genuinely enjoy connecting with, serving, and advocating for our first-generation, income-eligible students at UCSB!
What I can do for students: As a passionate advocate for first-generation, income-eligible, and underrepresented communities, I aim to provide a kind, compassionate space where students feel seen, heard, and supported in any situation. I also strive to help our students feel empowered to explore and achieve their personal, academic, and career goals.