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. Perez-Sornia
D. is one of two Assistant Directors of the Cultural Centers, overseeing the Gender and Sexuality Center. Prior to working at the Cultural Centers, D. worked at their alma mater as a Program & Media Coordinator for Associated Students, and as a graduate student served as a Residential Operations Manager for Student Housing at USF.
D. holds a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis in microbiology from Humboldt State University, an M.A. in Higher Education from USF, and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education from USF. As a graduate, their research focuses on neoliberalism, critical theories, and queer pedagogy. As a professional, Dan's student affairs philosophy is grounded in community and coalition building to address systemic inequity at its roots.
Contact: djperezsornia@usfca.edu
Graduate Interns for the Cultural Centers
Nadine Bernardino
Graduate Student Coordinator for the Intercultural Cultural Center
Nadine is a second-semester international graduate student in the M.A. Professional Communications program. She earned her bachelor’s degree at De La Salle University-Manila and worked in the Philippine government during her gap years. She also serves as an ambassador for the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and is a staunch advocate of the Hope for Lupus Foundation in the Philippines. In her free time, she enjoys photography, watching movies, and simply exploring the bay area!
Yih Ren
Graduate Student Coordinator for the Gender & Sexuality Cultural Center
Yih, a doctoral candidate at USF, passionately delves into the captivating intersection of sexuality and culture in his research. He has published articles and book reviews in journals like the Journal of LGBT Youth, Journal of Multicultural Discourse, and the Journal of Sexuality and Language. Beyond academia, Yih embraces the artistry of slow cinema, and his favorite movies include <Autumn Sonata>, <The Wild Pear Tree>, and <Tropical Malady>. He is also a member of Yelp's elite community, sharing valuable insights about food and beyond.