Education
B.A., Environmental Studies & Legal Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
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About Riri
Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising: February 2024
How did you get here?
I started out as an Environmental Studies department Peer Advisor at UC Santa Cruz, where I got the chance to support fellow students investing their academic careers toward environmental change. From my role as an Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Advisor at UC Santa Cruz to becoming an Academic Counselor at San Francisco State University, I am excited to continue supporting students through UC Berkeley’s L&S advising team.
As someone who emigrated from Japan at a young age, I made it here because of the mentors, advisers, and peers who supported my academic path and personal growth as a first-generation college student. I am determined to help students navigate their own journeys, find their intrinsic strengths, and create academic goals and plans that realize their unique aspirations.
What is your advising philosophy?
My approach to advising is strengths-based, appreciative, and collaborative, with lots of fun moments in between! Whenever you meet with me, my goal is to make sure your sense of belonging to campus grows each time. Your academic, personal, and career goals are important to me and I'm excited to work together on that journey with you.
What advice do you have?
Remember that you are not just a student! Maybe you are a friend, an employee, a parent, a caretaker, an athlete, a hobbyist, and/or many other things! We all wear different hats and it's tough to manage it all while being a student, especially when they are all equally important.
But you aren't doing this alone! Your advisors, professors, peers, and support system are here to help you prioritize yourself, what is most important to you, and continue to take care of yourself as you pursue your academic aspirations. We are here to remind you how far you have come, help you push through tough times, and celebrate all of your accomplishments.
A little bit more about me...
As a Generation 1.5, I leaned into my family's Japanese food recipes to feel closer to my cultural heritage, especially in college! I appreciate how food nourishes us, brings up memories, feelings of belonging, and emotional ties.
This is my way of saying that I love all things food! You can find me wandering around the aisles of different grocery stores, stuffing my face with too much food, and cooking for people I love!