Meet Our Student Success Team

Meet Our Student Success Team

The Thrive Center has multiple staff members to support UA students on their college journey, and they are dedicated to the ongoing persistence and completion of students from the University of Arizona. Our Student Success Team serves as navigators assisting students in understanding and moving through the explicit and implicit expectations often needed to find success at a large four-year university. Our staff is available to you on a short-term or long-term bases. Feel free to schedule a meeting with one of our team members to discuss how to best serve you.

The team shown below is available to meet with all Wildcats seeking support navigating the University of Arizona, getting connected to the community (both on campus and in Tucson), and those interested in building their Wildcat network.

The staff below have expertise in supporting the following student groups:

  • Arizona Assurance recipients
  • First Cats (first-generation college students)
  • Immigrant and undocumented students, those with DACA, refugees, and those from mixed-status families
  • Pell Grant-eligible students and those from low-income households
  • First-year students who self-identify as students of color
  • Students on academic probation
  • Transfer students
Derwin Begay

DERWIN BEGAY | General

Derwin is available to meet with all UA students seeking support navigating the university and those interested in exploring strategies that will help them excel as an undergraduate. Open to all UA students, but Derwin's expertise is in working with first-generation college students and those who have been historically marginalized or minoritized in higher education.

 
Fred Huang

FRED HUANG | Financial

Fred specifically supports and works with students seeking financial wellness support. This includes reviewing how to pay for college, establishing a budget, understanding your financial aid package, and general conversations around how finances impact your college experience.

Rachel

RACHEL JUAREZ | Transfer

Rachel is available to meet with all UA transfer students seeking support navigating the university and those interested in exploring strategies that will help them excel as an undergraduate.

 
Jessica Martinez

JESSICA MARTINEZ | ISR

Jessica primarily meets with and supports student who immigrated to the U.S. and have an undocumented or DACA status, are refugees, those with an asylum or TPS status, and students from mixed-status families.
 
A male and female sitting at a table with a laptop

PEER MENTORING

Thrive Center and the Transfer Center employ over 30 peer mentors who regularly meet with students in all stages of their college journey. If you'd like to chat with a mentor regularly, you can sign-up for peer mentoring and get matched with someone who shares similar identities, major, or interests.