Meet the Staff
Director of the Cultural Centers
Erin Echols
Erin Echols is the Director of the University of San Francisco's Cultural Centers, which include the Intercultural Center and Gender and Sexuality Center. Prior to coming to USF, Erin served at California Polytechnic State University for eight years, most recently as the Assistant Director of the Dean of Students Office for the Cross Cultural Centers. Additionally, Erin worked at Colby-Sawyer College for five years as the Assistant Director of Campus Activities and Orientation Program Coordinator.
Her educational background includes an MA in Educational Leadership from California Polytechnic State University, an MFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and a BS from the University of New Haven.
Erin has focused on increasing the retention and persistence of underrepresented students at colleges and universities through programming and research. A highlight of her work in this area was a research study specific to the retention of LGBTQIA students.
As a passionate student affairs professional, Erin’s interests include social justice programming, strategic planning, assessment, collaboration development, marketing, and fiscal planning. Her professional organization and community involvement has included founding and chairing the Pride Faculty Staff Association at Cal Poly and serving on the executive board of the California Council of Cultural Centers in Higher Education. At Cal Poly, Erin was proud to receive the Chandler Award for excellence in Student Affairs.
Contact Erin: eechols@usfca.edu
Assistant Director for the Cultural Centers
ANn Le
Ann Le serves as one of the two Assistant Directors for the Cultural Centers, directly supporting the Intercultural Center. Previously, Ann had served as the Graduate Student Coordinator of the Intercultural Center and as a Housing and Residential Life Program Coordinator at the San Francisco Art Institute.
She holds a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of San Francisco and bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine. Ann’s graduate research focused on Vietnamese college student success rooted in community connection, which heavily influences how she centers community and belonging in the her work at the Cultural Centers. She believes community building, critical reflection, and meaning-making are at the crux of solidarity and social justice. Ann enjoys painting, reading webcomics, and attending live music shows in her free time.
Contact Ann: ale32@usfca.edu
Assistant Director for the Cultural Centers
D. Gris Perez-Sornia
D. (they/she) is one of two Assistant Directors of the Cultural Centers, and leads the Gender and Sexuality Center and related campus resources and services. D. began their work as a professional after being the first openly trans member of a sorority at their alma mater.
D. holds a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis in Microbiology, an M.A. in Higher Education & Student Affairs, and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education from USF. Their research focuses on neoliberalism and queer theory. As a professional, D.'s student affairs philosophy is grounded in community and coalition building to address systemic inequity at its roots.
Contact: djperezsornia@usfca.edu