Staff

Missy Soto

Deputy Director

Increasing access, equity, and inclusion is a passion that dates back to my undergraduate years. As a first-generation and community college transfer student, it was my exposure to caring mentors and participation in programs similar to the BSP that made a positive difference in my life. Now a professional, a high point of my work is the opportunity to pay it forward in service to supporting a community of amazing Biology Scholars Program undergraduate leaders.

I earned my B.S. in Biology (UC Davis), M.E.S.M in Environmental Science and Management (UC Santa Barbara), and Ph.D. in...

Brook Yu

Program Administrator

I knew that I wanted to work in education when I graduated from Cal as an English Major, but was not sure in what capacity. After graduating, I saved up and went backpacking for 6 months around Asia and then moved to Glasgow, Scotland. I started working higher education in Glasgow, and through moving around different positions, I discovered a love of working in programs that made access to higher education more equitable and fair for students from all backgrounds. I worked for programs that bridged the gap between college and university as well as conducting research within an admissions...

Emily King

Research & Internships Coordinator
When I began my research journey as a first-generation college student, mentors and student communities were essential for learning what research is, how to get involved, and then how to pursue my passion for science in graduate school. Since then, my mentorship philosophy has focused on including students who don’t know how to access the science community or feel excluded from it. There are many ways to be successful. My passion is to help students understand what options and paths are available to meet their goals. I earned my B.S. in Marine Science from CSU Monterey Bay and my Ph.D. in...

Leslie Yin

Data and Program Assistant

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020 with a degree in Conservation & Resource Studies and an Education minor. While at Cal, I was involved in Berkeley United Geographers and various teaching and mentorship roles in Berkeley and Oakland school districts. Most recently, I was the Geographic Information Systems intern at Coral Reef Alliance, finding and using data to make maps for their work in reef conservation sites around the world. I am excited to be back at Cal with BSP, whose mission I care deeply about, and I am dedicated to supporting equitable access to quality...