Daisy Cardenas (she/her/ella)serves as the Student Success Program Coordinator for the HOPE Program and Avanzando Initiative- Health Sciences. With over 4 years of experience at Santa Rosa Junior College's HOPE Program, Daisy initially joined as a Student Success Specialist in 2019.
Daisy grew up in Richmond, CA and is the eldest of five children. After completing high school, Daisy pursued her education at College of Marin, where she credits the PUENTE program for enabling her to continue her studies and transfer. At Sonoma State University, Daisy recognized the significance of establishing connections within the community and became involved with the EOP program. In 2018, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Sonoma State University.
Daisy's educational journey continued as she obtained her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco in 2022, making her the first person in her immediate and extended family to achieve a Master's degree. Being the eldest daughter of hard-working immigrant parents and a first-generation and low-income college student, Daisy takes immense pride in her accomplishments. Her personal experience navigating higher education has ignited a passion for assisting others on a similar path. Within SRJC HOPE, Daisy finds great fulfillment in working with a diverse range of students and witnessing the transformative opportunities that higher education offers to individuals of various backgrounds. She firmly believes that the program's success stems from the collaborative efforts of students who foster a sense of community, the amazing staff, mentors, and community supporters who believe in their mission.
Daisy's career history encompasses a range of non-profit organizations, including Latino Service Providers, Latino Health Forum, Mi Futuro in Healthcare, and facilitating groups at the Juvenile Hall. Additionally, she serves as a board member for the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County and works providing bilingual and bicultural mental health services to systems impacted folks within our community. Drawing from her
professional background, Daisy adopts a holistic approach when supporting students, recognizing that barriers extend beyond the educational sphere. Collaborating with the HOPE team and students, HOPE develops programs that acknowledge and amplify student voices, aiming to address these multifaceted obstacles.