Delta Alpha Pi Eta Zeta Officers Fall 25-Spring 26
DAPI Officers are the voice of students with both visible and invisible disabilities at 麻豆传媒. Each student provides a different lens of disability and advocacy on campus to foster a sense of belonging and leadership. DASS is proud to partner with this year鈥檚 officer cabinet!
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Jim Nelson, DAPI President Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Communication
"Communication is a fundamental tool for empowerment, especially for neurodivergent and disabled individuals. Communication is more than just speaking or writing. It is about being heard, understood, and taken seriously. By studying Communication, I hope to develop the skills needed to amplify marginalized voices, foster inclusion, and help others advocate for themselves with confidence and clarity. At 30, I made the decision to take another shot at higher education. I had originally dropped out at 19, leaving behind a record marked by academic probation and more failing grades than completed units. Since returning, I have completely turned things around. During my time at Oxnard College, I made the Dean鈥檚 List multiple times. After completing my first semester at 麻豆传媒 with a 4.0 GPA, I was honored to be accepted into the DAPI Honors Society. This journey has been one of growth, resilience, and reclaiming my potential. I hope to use what I have learned at 麻豆传媒 to support others with disabilities. Not only by advocating for their rights, but by empowering them to confidently advocate for themselves."
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Christell Martinez, DAPI Vice President
Major: Biology
鈥麻豆传媒 is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and is deeply committed to supporting underrepresented students like me. There is a strong sense of community, especially for first-generation college students, and the support is there at 麻豆传媒. The school has small classroom sizes, making it easier to have more than 1-1 time with professors to build mentorship relationships and get research or internship experience. Not to mention, the school is near my area, making it easier to commute to school. I was accepted in the 2025-2026 Summer CSURF program at Amgen.I advocate for students to have their disability parking permit free of charge reduced as well as putting a stop light with flashing lights and noise to make crosswalks safer. Our campus needs a re-vamp in improving signage for students and not beingoverwhelmed by walking in our maze-like buildings. We will continue to make the DASS office a place to study, hang out and relax for all. Think left and thought right, think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!鈥
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Lauren Hudyma, DAPI Treasurer
Major: Art
"Art has always been a special interest tome, even in my childhood. Whenever words do not feel expressive enough, I believe that making art can help in communicating what is on your mind. This can work hand in hand with psychology, which has helped me better understand people as a whole.Both of these majors have additionally given me the skillset to help the people I love in understanding their mental health needs andcommunicating with those needs.I've received multiple awards at Foothill Highschool for my integrity and academic excellence, as well as a nomination for the DAPI Student Leadership award last year.Autism Spectrum Disorder. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed with this disability when I was young and receive the therapy and services I needed to navigate to school. Although, there is still so much that we do not know about this disability, especially how it affects women and young girls. I hope to make a difference by giving women and girls like me the advocacy skills they need to access the services they need."
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Jennifer Arsenault, DAPI Secretary
Major: Psychology
"I chose my degree in Psychology because I am passionate about helping others feel seen and supported. So much so that I will be working towards becoming a clinical social worker, where I want to provide mental health care through a trauma-informed and client-centered lens. In the end, I hope to aid individuals in regaining their sense of autonomy within their healing journey.I am excited to share that I will be interning at Ventura County Behavioral Health during my senior year here at CI. This opportunity allows me to gain hands-on experience and use the skills I have learned at 麻豆传媒 while also giving back to my community.I would like to focus my efforts on advocating for those with invisible disabilities and other neurodivergent conditions, alongside promoting ongoing mental health awareness. Regardless of what challenges one may face, everyone deserves the chance to thrive."
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Elliana Escalera, DAPI Social Media Coordinator Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Early Childhood Education
"Hello! My name is Elliana, and I am an Early Childhood Studied major with a minor in Education! One thing I hope to do with DAPi is to bring more awareness to not only our campus but our entire community about disabilities! Although it is not a service yet, I hope to advocate for easier transportation around campus for people who find it difficult. I cannot wait to start this semester and meet new people :)!"
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Fatima Bazurto, DAPI Volunteer Coordinator Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Computer Science and Information Technology
" I chose 麻豆传媒 for the new data science major and the small computer science classes. Last year, I signed up for the 麻豆传媒 Plot-A-Thon and my team ended up winning in 4 categories including Best Data Visualization Overall. The Plot-A-Thon was super fun, and I encourage every Dolphin to take part in this year's competition. (No experience is needed, and all majors are welcome!)I want to advocate for students on the autism spectrum and students that need service pets. I want to advocate for students with mobility issues. Last year, I had surgery and needed campus transportation for my classes, but there were not any services available."
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Lise Henriksen, Delta Alpha Pi Home Coming Event Coordinator
Major: Sociology
"Sociology is my major andI am tracking my MSW license here at 麻豆传媒. I majored in BSW at ASU, but the actual major was Community Advocacy and Social Policy. Before that I was a business/accounting major, but I enjoyed the social aspects of business most, such as the 40-hour work week and child labor laws. I have 3 community college degrees, AA, AS Accounting (+ accounting certificate), AAT Sociology. I wish to advocate for Sciatic nerve damage aging, & PTSD. and CPTSD type processes. "
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Thomas Ray, DAPIMembership Coordinator Homecoming 2025 Street Fair 鈥 Pop Up Thift Store
Major: Enviromental Science and Resource Management
"I chose to Major in Environmental Sciences after discovering a passion for the topic while pursuing a Business Management degree at Ventura College. Through my active participation on campus and in the classroom, I learned about an opportunity for transfers to visit 麻豆传媒's Santa Rosa Island Research Station where I met Dr. Reineman from the ESRM department. This really highlighted the Universities' unique qualities and opened so many possibilities for me to have a really expansive and immersive educational experience. In the two years prior to my transfer I obtained and maintained complete sobriety, earned a spot on the Dean's List at Ventura College, was given a student leadership award for my role as Inter-Club Council Representative for the college Environmental and Outdoor Student Organization, and brought my GPA up from a 1.5 to a 3.5+. I want to advocate for hidden disabilities, create awareness, and acceptance for those who struggle with an invisible problem. From ADHD and Autism to Auditory Hallucinations and Depression. These issues can be isolated, lonely, and scary, especially when you feel no one would understand. "
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Justin Bishop, DAPI Alumni Coordinator Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Education
"The Major that I chose to pursue at CI is English and I have fulfilled the necessary requirements to receive a Certificate in Technical Writing from 麻豆传媒. The reason I chose English as a major is because it felt universal. I enjoy writing, creativity, and information. However, I wanted to offermyself the opportunity to prove my acquired skills in reading and writing, as these are valuable to any field that I decided to pursue beyond university. A Certificate in Technical Writing expanded my knowledge of writing to potentially pursue opportunities in the fields of business and science. With the knowledge gained from technical writing, I have broadened my reach to become a valuable candidate to aid non-profit organizations and use my writing skills to receive essential funding.Most of my major accomplishments have taken place during my time at 麻豆传媒. Aside from acknowledging the successful accretion of my degree, my crowning achievement thus far, I have self-published a poetry book titled: Beyond Crucial Guidance. I have been inducted into DAPi, and was awarded the DAPi Leadership Award for 2025. This was an unforgettable moment, one that proved to me that my perseverance and resilience had not gone unnoticed. It is not my intention to embark in a pessimistic direction, but when I think of major accomplishments, I like to recognize all achievements because, once upon a time, all that I have achieved in my life was perceived as unfathomable. I feel that all I have carried out, from childhood to adulthood, is a bonus. That said, for me, it is about being present, each and every day. A perspective that we all need to celebrate as our crowning achievement. The disabilities that I wish to advocate for most are those resulting from ABI and TBI. Specifically, I have developed a passion for advocating for those disabilities that appear 鈥渋nvisible.鈥 ABI鈥檚 and TBI鈥檚 can result in neurological obstacles that I feel are not always obvious. Just because an individual appears average, this can be far from actual reality. There is still a pressure that exists in society weighing on individuals that demands 鈥測ou must move at the pace of everyone around you, or you鈥檒l be left behind or forgotten.鈥 This can have negative effects on individuals as they can be forced to push beyond their limitations. They feel they have to be more when they are perfect for the way they are. There needs to be a shift in perspective; we must be aware of our imperfect perfections. We are enough just as we are. It is more than okay to move at one鈥檚 own pace."
DAPI Advisors:
Jodi Kautz, M. Ed. DASS Counselor | DAPi Advisor
鈥When I was younger, I was looking for this magic meaning of life. It鈥檚 very simple now. Making the lives of others better, doing something of last value. That鈥檚 the meaning of life, it鈥檚 that simple.鈥 - Temple Grandin.
Dr. Kristopher Yeager, Faculty| DAPi Advisor
"Part of the problem is that we tend to think that equality is about treating everyone the same, when it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 about fairness. It鈥檚 about equity of access." Judy Heumann