Nine & John R. Lewis Advising
Nine & JRL Advising Team
The College Nine and John R. Lewis advising team is here to guide students from day one at UCSC through graduation. Our advisors are available to answer questions about scheduling classes, degree requirements, qualifying for a major, academic support and enrichment opportunities, and more. We invite you to reach out to us anytime, and we will assist you however we can. We are here for you!
⚠️ Service Alerts
October 6th to October 10th: Peer advisors are in-training and our in-person office is closed. We appreciate your understanding and ask that you use the options listed below to connect with an advisor.
How to Connect with an Advisor
Email is often the fastest way to get help for quick questions. Include your full name, student ID, and any forms as PDF attachments. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
Email: ninejrladvising@ucsc.edu
Zoom Drop-In
Fall 2025 Hours (Sept. 25 to Dec. 11): Monday through Thursday from 1pm-3pm PST.
Link: https://bit.ly/ninejrladvising
Meeting ID: 934 5632 3811
Passcode: ninejrl
Telephone Passcode: 4288514
Important notes: Due to security and safety reasons, students must be logged into their UCSC Zoom account to enter the Zoom. The last student is seen 15 minutes before the end of Drop-in.
Appointments
You can schedule in-person or Zoom appointments through Slug Success at least 24 hours in advance.
If you do not have access to your UCSC email, please email ninejrladvising@ucsc.edu to schedule an appointment with an advisor directly.
Peer Advisors & Advising Calendar
Peer advisors can support with general GE checks, general enrollment support (how to enroll, swap or edit a class), and sharing campus resources. Peer advisors are available in-person during our open hours and virtually. Use your UCSC email to add 9jrlcpa@ucsc.edu on Google Chat.
See the advising calendar below for chat hours and other advising events!
Our Location
Our office is located on the second floor of Social Sciences 1, Room 206. Please note that our advisors maintain a hybrid work schedule (in-person and remote). Please view our Service Alerts and Peer Advisors & Advising Calendar sections above for up to date information about our office open hours.
Meet Your Advisors
Adrian Campos Arenas
Assistant Director of Colleges Advising
Pronouns: he/él
About:
I am a first-generation college graduate that reached graduation with the support of my family and community. My parents who immigrated from México always encouraged me to pursue education and I am grateful that they trusted me in choosing my area of study. Even though I did not go to medical school, I use the skills that I developed during my undergraduate degree and professional experiences to support students navigate and understand complex academic policies and procedures. My advising philosophy is centered around supporting students in navigating higher education institutions, being an advocate, supporting students in having meaningful educational experiences and collaborating with students in reaching their educational goals. Outside of work hours, you can find me participating in community theater, singing karaoke, discovering new music and spending time with friends/family/loved ones.
Education: B.S., Human Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Chelsea Hamnes
Academic Advisor
Pronouns: she/they
About:
A proud Alumna banana slug from the South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), I was a transfer student from West Valley College to UC Santa Cruz and graduated with honors in 2016 earning my BA in Psychology and a minor in Education. I first found my love for advising helping my friends make academic plans at WVC and then as a Peer Advisor for the Psychology & Cognitive Science department here at UCSC. These experiences led me to pursue the Leadership and Social change program at De Anza College and then SFSU for their Masters in Counseling program for College and Career Counseling.
Click here to read more about me!
I like to take a holistic and person-centered advising approach when engaging with students. My goal is to support you all in achieving your academic, career, and personal goals, as well as hopefully empowering you all to be the author of your story and an agent of positive change in the world.
When I’m not helping students, I enjoy spending my idle time watching anime, movies, and shows under the comfort of a weighted blanket and a cuddly cat, playing games like Pokémon or Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, cheering on my favorite Grand Sumo rikishi during honbasho and the San Jose Sharks during Hockey season, or going out to enjoy some tasty sips and bites.
Education:
A.A.T. Psychology, West Valley College
B.A. Psychology, UC Santa Cruz with a Minor in Education
M.S. Counseling: College and Career, San Francisco State University
Claudia Torres
Academic Advisor
Pronouns: she/her/they/them
About:
I graduated in ‘21 from UCSC as a first-gen college grad and Oakes affiliate (ooaaaakess!) with my B.A.’s in Psychology and Sociology. During my time at the university, I held multiple roles within Student Affairs that ranged from student life and housing, peer academic advising and mentorship, retention and outreach efforts, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Click here to read more about me!
As an advisor, I practice a holistic strengths-based approach that requires active listening and creating safe spaces in which students feel seen, heard, valued, equipped, and empowered to use their wealth of knowledge and resiliency to continue being active agents of their life. Our intersecting identities and histories impact how we experience and navigate the world around us. Hence, I firmly believe that prioritizing the fulfillment of basic needs alongside addressing personal, educational, and professional challenges a student may encounter, can significantly enhance a student’s well-being and ability to thrive at the university. I view advising as a collaborative effort and aim to work alongside students to identify the appropriate tools and resources needed to navigate complex university policies and practices.
As I reflect on my experiences within higher education, I hope to continue to learn and grow as an advocate so I am better able to help cultivate both safe and welcoming spaces that emphasize retention and acknowledge the multidimensional identities that many UCSC students possess. Through my work, I hope to be able to help foster a campus community that is inclusive of all student populations, empowering them to pursue their personal and professional goals and aspirations at the university and beyond. Fun fact: In my free time, I really enjoy experimenting with new recipes, binge watching dramas and documentaries, picking up a good book, and propagating new plants!
Education:
B.A., Psychology, UC Santa Cruz
B.A., Sociology, UC Santa Cruz
Gloria Salazar
Academic Advisor
Pronouns: she/her/ella
About:
I am a fellow Banana Slug and John R. Lewis College alumna who loves all things nature, animals and food. Stop by for answers to your advising questions or to chat about pets, plants, or yummy recipes! Read my Personal Philosophy of Advising here!
Education:
B.A., Latin American and Latino Studies/Sociology, UC Santa Cruz
M.A., Counseling and Guidance, San Jose State University
Tansel Pope
Academic Advisor
Pronouns: he/him
About:
My advising philosophy is informed by my studies and personal experiences. As an undergrad studying linguistics, I dived deep into the intersections between the fields of linguistics and education; I was particularly struck by the many ways that linguistic discrimination contributes to the marginalization of students. After graduating, I decided to pursue advising to do my part to support communities like the one I grew up in. Prior to coming to UCSC in 2022, I advised students at the high school level; I’ve supported students in my hometown of Vallejo as well as students in San Francisco and the East Bay.
In my free time, you can find me watching sports, especially the Giants, Raiders, and Warriors. When my teams aren’t playing, I love diving into my other interests, such as linguistics and Pokémon.
Education:
B.A., Linguistics, University of California, Riverside
B.A., Global Studies, University of California, Riverside
Not sure where to start?
Send us a quick email with your name and student ID, and let us know you’d like help. We’ll guide you from there.