In her first year of graduate school, one of Evelyn Mares’ classmates recognized her love for helping others and gave her a recommendation: “You should visit the Titan Dreamers Resource Center.”
Upon entering the space in the Pollak Library, Mares knew she was about to become part of something special. A Cal State Fullerton counseling graduate student, Mares has experienced the transformational power of community firsthand in CSUF’s TDRC, which champions advocacy and supports undocumented students as they work to earn their college degrees.
Throughout her time in the center, Mares has served as a mentor for undocumented students, providing them with academic, professional and personal support as they navigate higher education.
Now as a graduate student assistant in the center, Mares said her work with the TDRC has reinforced her passion for counseling and helping others.
She said the hands-on mentoring experience combined with her clinical training as part of the Ánimo Latinx Counseling concentration will help her achieve a career as a dual licensed counselor with her own private practice. The counseling concentration in the College of Health and Human Development equips graduate students with high-quality bilingual and bicultural clinical training to prepare them to work with Latinx and Spanish-speaking clients.
“Working at the TDRC, I realized how grounding these spaces are and how fostering a sense of belonging and identity exploration is key to student success,” said Mares. “When students feel seen and known in a space, it’s so powerful. I’m proud to be a part of that.”
Amplifying Students’ Voices
For 10 years, the Titan Dreamers Resource Center has empowered undocumented students as they work to achieve their college degrees. Launched in 2014 under former CSUF President and current CSU Chancellor Mildred García, CSUF’s Titan Dreamers Resource Center made history as the first center in the California State University system that was dedicated to supporting undocumented students.
“Ten years ago, Chancellor García listened to our students and had enough gumption to say ‘We are going to create the very first Titan Dreamers Center.’ She stood with students and supported them, so that we could be here today,” said Phenicia McCullough, vice president for human resources, diversity and inclusion, at the Oct. 17 celebration at the Golleher Alumni House.
The TDRC provides undocumented students with mentorship, opportunities for leadership and professional development, legal and financial support, and advising.
The celebration also acknowledged key achievements in the TDRC’s history, including the establishment of new scholarships for undocumented students; the launch of the UndocuMentorship Program for first-year and transfer students and Undocu Ally training for faculty and staff; and a $7 million grant from the California Department of Social Services to provide free legal immigration services on CSU campuses.
“This is an incredible milestone for the TDRC,” said Jenny Chung, coordinator of the Titan Dreamers Resource Center. “It takes a collective effort and compassion to support our undocumented students. We are stronger when we are united and our voices and experiences are amplified together.”