Meet Amber McNeil!

Current Position: Resident Director

Hometown: Westampton, NJ

What motivates you to do the work you do? I love mentoring students. I had really wonderful mentors that didn't try to make decisions for me but instead exposed me to many different opportunities. I enjoy being able to do that with students at UCSB. I also love being a part of a like-minded team.

Why did you decide to join PWA? I find the community and especially the information helpful to me as a young professional. I have a few friends in PWA and they've had a very positive experience.

What are you loving right now ? Right now I'm loving long walks to the beach and binge watching Queen of the South.

Meet Viktoriya Babenko!

Current Position: 5th year PhD Candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience

Hometown: Sherman Oaks, California (Born in Ukraine)

What is your research about? Receptors for women’s sex hormones (which greatly fluctuate week-to-week) are located all throughout the body and brain. They affect our behavior, decision making and emotions. However, research on this influence of sex hormones in women is often overlooked and understudied because it is difficult to control for. In fact, much of what we know in behavioral neuroscience in animal models is performed strictly on males. My research aims to understand how these female sex hormones interact with our stress response - and how this relationship influences changes in our brain, body, and behavior.

Why did you decide to join PWA? I attended a virtual “Get to know PWA” mixer and instantly felt a great vibe with the leaders and members of the club. I felt that I was surrounded by like-minded women who were all there to form authentic connections and knew that this is something that I wanted to be a part of.

What are you loving right now? I am grateful that this extremely tough time of societal trauma, global anxiety, and isolation has pushed me to go out of my way to strengthen my connections with friends and family. Although separated by distance, it has brought my friends and I closer in communication and vulnerability. Right now, I’m loving taking time to focus on self improvement and fostering openness and honesty with myself, my loved ones, and even those who I am not yet familiar with.

María Sánchez González

Current Position: Program Coordinator for the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education (GGSE)

Hometown: Michoacán, Mexico

What do you enjoy most about working at UCSB?  I enjoy helping the students and being part of an amazing group of staff. I also enjoy how rewarding the job is working at GGSE. We also have a beautiful campus.

Why did you decide to join PWA? I was new to campus so when I found out that UCSB had an amazing association that empowers women and also serves the community, I knew I wanted to be part of PWA.

What are you loving right now? Although we are currently living a pandemic and social issues continue to arise we work together to make a difference in this country. Seeing people united to make a difference gives me hope for the future.

Follow her on Instagram! @taima.gonzalez

Elina Salminen

Current Position: Academic Coordinator for Mellon Engaging Humanities
Hometown: Tampere, Finland

What do you enjoy most about working at UCSB? A lot of things! I love that it's a collaborative and supportive work environment and there's a healthy work-life balance. I especially enjoy the fact that I get to work with many UCSB stakeholders: prospective students, undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff.

Why did you decide to join PWA? I'm new to California and UCSB, so I wanted to get to know people. I've already made a couple of lunch buddies through PWA events, so I'll call my plan a success!

What are you loving right now? Taking Humane Society shelter dogs out hiking. I don't get to do it often, but it's basically the best thing in the universe.