Meet the Programming team here at the Dashew Center! Find out more about the great team members who plan and host our events and programs.
Professional Staff
Jenna A. Bustamante (she/her), Assistant Director of Programs
Hello! My professional career in higher education began in 2011, but my time at UCLA started in 2013 when I began my degree in the Masters in Student Affairs program. After obtaining my M.Ed. I moved on to working at other institutions, mostly in the field of international education. I rejoined UCLA in August 2021 in my role at Dashew Center. I value the connections that I'm able to make through my work; with the students and scholars at our events, with the student staff and leaders I support, and with the colleagues across campus that I collaborate with!
Hobbies: All things bookish. I enjoy a physical book, digital book, audio book, or all formats at once. My fave genres are romance, memoir, and horror. I'm a major fan of horror movies and spooky stuff in general and Spooky Season lasts all year long for me. I love music and concerts. Some faves include Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, BTS, Hozier, Harry Styles, and The Eagles. Cute stuff is my weakness - Disney, Sanrio, Miffy - I love it all.
Where do you call home? Santa Ana, CA (OC)
Student Staff
Gracie Dixon (she/her/hers), Programming Assistant
Hi!! I'm Gracie Dixon and I am so happy to be a part of the Programming team for another year! I am a 3rd year Communications and Political Science Double Major at UCLA and I absolutely love it here. I am a big reader, I love to travel, and I am so excited to continue to gain knowledge and experiences while working here at the Dashew Center!
Hobbies: Reading, acting, traveling, and spending time with friends and family!
Where do you call home? Clovis, California
Jamie Hayduk-Jones (he/him), Programming Assistant
Hey there! My name is Jamie Hayduk-Jones, and I am from both the Bay Area, CA and New York City. I enjoy cooking and testing out new recipes, exploring new outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends. I am beyond thrilled to be a part of this team again this year, and I look forward to connecting with new international students & scholars on their academic adventures here at UCLA.
Hobbies: Cooking, picking up new arts & crafts, exploring new hikes and outdoor activities, spending time with friends and family
Where do you call home? Pacifica, CA
Avelia Mira (she/hers), Programming Assistant
Hi everyone! My name is Avelia Mira, and I'm a second-generation Filipina. Some things I think are fun about me is that I've taken classes at 10+ community colleges in a variety of subjects and I wrote the most upvoted ""free stuff"" Reddit post on UCLA (search up ""free stuff at UCLA"").
As a programming assistant, I've been working on Global Siblings and helping with events for the Dashew Center! I also help manage the Dashew Center website.
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and loved ones :)
Where do you call home? Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley
Evla Sim Saka (she/her/hers), Programming Assistant
I’m from Istanbul (where Europe and Asia beautifully meet), so I’ve always loved learning about and connecting cultures! In my free time, you will usually find me exploring LA, sipping on good coffee or matcha, and enjoying art. I love listening to people's stories, connecting over shared experiences, and creating a space that feels like home. As a Student Programming Assistant, I'm super excited to build community and get to know all of our amazing international students!
Hobbies: travelling, going to the movies, exploring local coffee shops, decorating
Where do you call home? Istanbul, Turkiye
Eli Tracey (she/her/hers), Programming Assistant
Hi! I’m Elisiana, a second-year in Molecular Biology, and I am happy to be apart of the Programming Team again this year. I have a deep appreciation for the outdoors and animals, and I love capturing moments through photography and drawings. As a Student Programming Assistant, I am excited to support and learn more about the global community of UCLA.
Hobbies: painting & drawing charcoal portraits, photography, being in nature
Where do you call home? Monterey, CA
Isabel Veit (she/her/hers), Programming Assistant
Hi, I'm Isabel, a senior double majoring in maths and global studies. I'm an international student from Brazil and China and am now starting to call LA home as well! I love to stay active, play Ultimate and volleyball, and learn new languages. As a Student Programming Assistant, I’m most excited to help create fun, welcoming events that bring the international community together and (hopefully) work on some of my language skills on the way!
Hobbies: Ultimate, volleyball, café hopping, surfing, hiking, bullet journaling!
Where do you call home? Porto Alegre, Brazil + Guangzhou, China