CAP Team - Making Waves Foundation

Melissa Fries

Executive Director

“Melissa Fries is a leading expert in college access, preparation, and success for low-income and historically-underrepresented students. As the Executive Director of CAP—a program of Making Waves Foundation—Ms. Fries empowers more than 650 students to complete their college degrees in a timely manner with minimal debt. Ms. Fries has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and program development, including leadership roles at Stanford University, Menlo College, and San Francisco State University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Black Studies from UCSB and a Master’s Degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.”

Ivette Chavez

Director of Financial Services

“I was born and raised in East Los Angeles and I am the youngest of nine children. I am a first generation college graduate. I moved to the Bay Area in 2001 (Go Giants!) to attend college. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric with a concentration in Public Discourse. In 2014 I received my master’s degree from California State University, East Bay in Public Administration with a concentration in Policy Analysis and Organizational Management. I started my career at Making Waves Education Program, Richmond in 2005 as a finance intern with the business department. In 2009 I transitioned to the position as College Program Administrator and I am currently the Director of Financial Services. My passion for education and financial literacy is the driving force in my career.”

Ann Helfman

Director of Operations

“Born and raised in New Jersey, I moved to Massachusetts to attend college and stayed for 14 years before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2018. I earned an undergraduate degree in Government and Economics from Harvard College and a M.Ed. from Lesley University. I developed my passion for college access and success through my work in the greater Boston area as a Teaching Fellow at Citizen Schools, a College Counseling Intern at City on a Hill Charter Public High School, and a Senior Mentor and Resident Assistant at Crimson Summer Academy. In 2010, I joined Bottom Line, an organization that supports underrepresented students to and through college. I first served as a Senior College Counselor, working with a caseload of high school and college students, and went on to lead Bottom Line’s College Access Program in Massachusetts. Before coming to Making Waves, I was the New England College Access Director for Let’s Get Ready, leading their efforts to serve 1,100 high school students from 20 historically underserved communities across New England with near-peer mentoring, SAT prep, and college advising. I am excited to bring my leadership, program operations experience, and passion for the mission to the Making Waves College and Alumni Program.”

May Melehan

Director of Coaching Services

“I am Ms. Melehan! I began working at Making Waves Education Program in San Francisco as a tutor in 2003 and continued serving the organization until 2010. I attended the University of San Francisco and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Ethnic Studies. I obtained my Master’s degree in Sociology and Education with an emphasis on Educational Policy at Teachers College at Columbia University. Before rejoining Making Waves in 2013, I lived in Portland, Oregon and worked for an organization coaching thousands of students in colleges and universities all over the country. It was through these experiences I learned the value of coaching and its potential to support students to retain and graduate from college. I have a strong belief that education, specifically institutions of higher education, serve as spaces of opportunity and upward mobility leading to a greater world impact for all students. I am dedicated to helping students pave their educational pathways and reach their full academic potential while honoring their rich cultural backgrounds.”

Ana Calderon

Senior College Financial Services Coordinator

“I was born in Mexico, and came to the U.S. when I was three years old. The oldest of five children, I grew up in East Palo Alto, California. I am a first generation college student who, in 2001, was awarded a full scholarship to UC Berkeley as an Incentive Awards Scholar. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Child Development. I started working for Making Waves in 2006 as a financial aid intern in the business services department. In 2007 I transitioned to the position of Financial Aid Assistant, working under the direct supervision of the Financial Aid Coordinator. In 2011, I was given the opportunity to work with Ms. Chavez in the College Financial Services Department, and am currently the College Financial Services Coordinator. I believe that with hard work and determination anything is possible.”

Ayasha Tripp

College Coach

“My name is Ayasha Tripp, and I am a Bay Area Native. I like to tell people that my roots are planted in Pittsburg and my heart beats in Oakland because those are my two hometowns. Although the Bay Area is my first love, I have had the opportunity to call other places such as San Diego, Singapore, Chicago, and Wisconsin home as well. I received my B.S. in Film & New Media from San Diego State University, studied at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and completed my M.A. in Afro-American studies with an emphasis in Theatre & Education from the University of Wisconsin Madison. My experience varies: I’ve produced and directed full-length theatre productions and taught in classrooms working with every population to 4^th graders in Brooklyn to incarcerated individuals in Wisconsin. Essentially, my passion is rooted in education and performance arts & media. The classroom and the stage are areas in life where I believe communities can be transformed and empowered. I love to engage in artistic projects and educational work that will inspire, educate, and motivate mindful change in individuals and their communities. Prior to joining Making Waves CAP, I worked with organizations such College Track, UC Berkeley Upward Bound, and the University of San Francisco. I’m super excited to join the CAP program at Making Waves. Everyone on the team is coming from strong backgrounds with a great passion in wanting to support our students in every way possible. I look forward to directly working with the students and providing them a holistic coaching approach that will enable them to persist through college successfully and conquer their purpose in life.”

Brian Villa

Operations Coordinator

“My name is Brian Villa and I will most likely be the first person to greet you when you come through the door to CAP! I was born in San Jose, CA and grew up in Hayward, CA. I attended the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2014, after which I worked as a management consultant for a year. Although my background is in business, I have always pursued my interest in education by working with students. I remain passionate about working with students from my previous opportunities helping high school seniors with college personal statements and developing their financial literacy skills. I decided to test this passion in Brazil where I taught English for two years. I view my role at CAP as a culmination of these experiences and am very excited to be part of an organization that works to help students be successful in college and beyond!”

Christina Lambert

Coaching Services Manager

“Hello all! My name is Christina Lambert, and I started working with the College and Alumni Program in June 2019. I am originally from the East Coast (Connecticut, specifically) and graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. I went on to study a Master’s program in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Colorado State University and then moved back to Boston to work at Northeastern University and Bunker Hill Community College. I believe that college is an incredible time to learn more about yourself and to discover all that you could achieve, and because of this my career has been focused on college access and equity in higher education. I’m excited to be working with Wave-Makers as you all discover different opportunities and adventures at your schools. I am also excited to discover more about the Bay Area, including hearing any restaurant recommendations you might have… (seriously I would love recommendations). I’m looking forward to getting to know you better!”

Courtney Arguello

Lead Career and Alumni Coach

“My name is Courtney Arguello and I am CAP’s Lead Career & Alumni Coach. In my new role, I will continue to support and coach graduating seniors each year, as well as, work with alumni to accomplish their post-college goals. Prior to working at CAP (in this new role and as a College Coach), my previous experience includes additional knowledge of graduate school admissions and career readiness. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and after attending two years at the College of Marin, I transferred and graduated with a BA in Sociology from UC San Diego. Upon graduation, I pursued an MA in Sport Management, where I graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2013. I began my career working in higher education at UC Irvine, where I spent two years as an Academic & Life Skills Coordinator for student-athletes. In 2014, I returned home to the Bay Area and began working in graduate school administration at my alma mater, USF. While there, I spent three years supporting graduate students through the admissions, matriculation, and graduation processes. I value the importance of building relationships to better understand how I can support Wave-Makers in their own personal and professional development journeys and look forward to continue thinking about ways we can enhance and utilize our growing CAP network. ”

David Ochoa

College Financial Services Coordinator

“My name is David Ochoa, and I am a College Financial Services Coordinator for Making Waves Foundation's College and Alumni Program. I am a first-generation college graduate! In 2011, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California. In 2017, obtained my Master’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College as well. As a college student I was able to help lead the High Potential Summer Bridge Program for first generation college students at Saint Mary’s. After graduating from college, I began my career with ITT Tech as a Financial Aid Coordinator. And in 2013 I had the privilege of joining Saint Mary’s as a Financial Aid Counselor. Through my work I developed a passion for assisting college bound students with their financial aid as well as financial literacy. My goal is to make education affordable for all and educate students on the resources that are available. I join the Making Waves team excited to forge new relationships with the students and help assist them in reaching their goals. I believe through financial literacy and helping students and their families seek, obtain, and make the best use of all financial resources, students can make a successful transition to and through college.”

Felicia Tripp

College Coach

“Hello Making Waves students! My name is Felicia Tripp, and I’m a College Coach with the College and Alumni Program. I am originally from Detroit, Michigan but have been in the Bay Area for over 17 years. I consider both places to be home: Motown and The Bay. My desire to empower students through education drives me to seek out different ways to support students and continue my own learning. Prior to joining Making Waves, I worked as an advisor for medical and pre-health students and as a general counselor in community college. Currently, I study mindfulness, movement, and expressive arts. I completed my Master’s degree in College and Career Counseling at San Francisco State University. Before coming to the Bay Area, I completed a Master’s degree in Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish at the University of Michigan. While working with students in high school, college, and graduate school, I have seen how helping students tap into their own strengths and creativity fuels their growth in both school and career. My advising approach is based on the belief that helping students draw upon their minds, hearts, and bodies to identify their strengths and make decisions has a positive impact on their personal and professional lives. I’m excited to partner with Wave-Makers on their paths to success!”

Jason Pender

College Coach

“Hey Wave-Makers, my name is Jason Pender, and I’m a coach in the College and Alumni Program. I started in the Community College system and eventually received my Bachelor's in Communication from Humboldt State University. I’ve also completed my Master’s degree in Higher Education at Loyola University Chicago. I was born in San Jose and have lived in northern and southern California, Phoenix, and Chicago. I’ve worked for 10 years in student housing and student conduct offices. I’ve also taught leadership courses and hosted workshops for graduate students. During my time in student affairs, I’ve also led and participated in numerous social justice advocacy projects (trainings, demonstrations, policy changes, etc.). In the past, I’ve been fortunate enough to volunteer my time to be a mentor and coach. I have helped many students address issues found in pursuing higher education and reaching their individual goals. Now, I am really excited to join Making Waves as a College Coach because I will be able to focus all of my energy on working with you! As a College Coach, I hope that we both learn from each other. I want to learn about you, your goals in life, and how you plan to achieve those goals. My hope is that you learn some of the skills and information I’ve picked up along my journey in my life, educational experience, and my career. It is also my hope to make sure you complete all the tasks required of the CAP program and get the most out of your experience as a Wave-Maker!”

Jenny Smith

College Financial Services Coordinator

“My name is Jenny Smith, and I am a College Financial Services Coordinator for Making Wave Foundation’s College and Alumni Program. In 2014, I graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelors Degree in English. While not a California native, I moved to the Bay Area to work as a Teaching Fellow with Citizen Schools in Oakland, helping run an after-school program for middle school students. From there, I had the privilege of working at uAspire as a College Affordability Advisor, supporting students and families through the financial aid process. My passion for supporting students and families is what led me to join the CAP team in June 2019. I truly believe that through access to financial resources and building financial aid literacy skills, students can persist to and through college.”

Jess Sloan

Data & Evaluation Associate

“My name is Jess Sloan, and I am thrilled to be CAP's Data & Evaluation Associate! I was born and raised in San Diego and moved to Seattle, Washington in 2014 to attend college. I graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2018 with a B.A. in Global Development Studies and Reconciliation Studies. After doing four years of youth development, advocacy, and restorative justice work in Seattle public schools as a college student, I started to explore careers that incorporated my education, community organizing, youth justice, and policy experience. As I explored, it became clear to me that I was ready to challenge myself and explore a career path that combined my passion for youth work, education, policy, and data. Shortly after graduation, I decided to move to the Bay Area and start my career in college access and success work as the Access Data Associate for East Bay College Fund in Oakland. In that role, I built, launched, and oversaw the processing of our scholarship applications, managed and improved data systems and processes, analyzed data around program efficacy, and served as one of the organization's Salesforce Administrators. I am so excited to bring my data experience and passion for college access and college success into my work every day at Making Waves College & Alumni Program!”

Dr. Kristina Wright

Coaching Services Manager

“Greetings, Making Waves Community!  I am Kristina Wright (Kelly), College Coach in the College and Alumni Program.  Being a Bay Area native, I am rooted in this community and enjoy working with its youth.  My Making Waves career began as a tutor back in 2002 when I was just a senior in high school.  I fell in love with the mission of the organization and the Wave-Makers, and over the years have committed myself to partnering with them to achieve their goals.  San Francisco State University is where I completed my undergraduate studies and obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. I completed my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at California State University, East Bay and earned my EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership at USC.  I strongly believe it is my calling to fight for educational equity and Making Waves has given me that opportunity.”

Lauren Fong

Administrative Associate

“A Bay Area native, I attended the University of Toronto in Canada, where I majored in zoology and biological anthropology. After graduating I wanted to travel, so I joined the Peace Corps and taught business development and language skills to ecotourism operators in a small village in Senegal, West Africa, for over two years. I saw firsthand how tourism can be a driving force for development and returned to Toronto to get a second degree in hospitality management at George Brown College. While there, I worked as a peer mentor and tutor to first-year students. After a decade of management in the hospitality sector, during which time I spearheaded sustainability and community development programs, I longed to give back even more. I’m excited to bring my outsider knowledge and leadership experience to an organization supporting students in their own academic journeys!”

Naomi Lansing

College Coach

“My name is Naomi Lansing and I am a College Coach for the College and Alumni Program at Making Waves. My passion for student success began while I was a student at MassBay Community College and found a part-time job on campus. This led to other opportunities within the college, where I fell in love with… helping students to navigate and enjoy campus life. I continued working at MassBay Community College even after transferring to Framingham State University, where I studied Sociology. My education and experience working on campus helped me see the need for student assistance. I completed my Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Bay Path University, and my program helped me to better understand the college system and the individual students I served. I moved to the Bay Area in December 2016 to be a College Coach and am so excited to use all that I have learned to help Wave-Makers.”

Ralph Nubla

Senior College Financial Services Coordinator

“I am Ralph Nubla, a College Financial Services Coordinator for Making Waves. I graduated from California State University, Sacramento in the spring of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and have been working for Making Waves since July of 2011. I was born in the Bay Area and spent a majority of my life here, but I also lived in the Philippines for about 4 years while I was an adolescent. My experiences in the Philippines shaped my perspective and passion for helping people. During my time there, I witnessed and learned, at an early age, that opportunities for people are not always easy to come by and, sometimes, people just need a helping hand. When my family and I moved back to the United States, I started developing an interest in music, so I joined several music programs to supplement my academic education. While I was in high school and college, I instructed and worked with several drum line and music programs around the Bay Area. I was also a leader in my church’s youth group in my later college years. The combination of these experiences molded my passion for helping and mentoring youth. When I heard about Making Waves and its mission, I immediately thought that it would be a great place to work towards the things that I am passionate about while using the skills and knowledge I learned in college.”

Paola Cadena

College Coach

“My name is Paola Flores Cadena, and I am a College Coach for CAP. I was born In Mexico, and my family immigrated to the U.S. before I was a year old. I am a first-generation college graduate. In 2011, I graduated with my bachelor's degree in Sociology from San Francisco State University and returned in 2015 for graduate school to earn a degree in Education with a concentration on Equity and Social Justice. As a first-generation college student, I understand the importance of an education and the direct impact it can have in our communities. My life passion is to support students in their education and beyond, to ensure a better life for themselves and our community”

Richard Rose

College Coach

“Hello Making Waves students! My name is Richard Rose and I’m a College Coach with the College & Alumni Program. I’m new to the Bay Area, having moved here with my wife in 2015. Prior to joining Making Waves I completed my Master’s degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University. Before entering graduate school I worked as an academic advisor and advising manager, with students from all across the United States, and I’ve seen first-hand education’s ability to positively impact students’ lives. My advising approach is based on the belief that helping students identify and cultivate their strengths will prepare them for life’s challenges. I’m excited about the opportunities to help Wave-Makers succeed.”

Rosie Simpson

College Coach

“Welcome, I am Ms. Simpson, College Coach in the College and Alumni Program for the Making Waves Foundation. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, spending most of my youth in Oakland. I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science at Chico State. Following graduation, I took a brave step and moved over 3,000 miles away to Rochester, New York, where I earned my Master of Science in Educational Administration. I am a first-generation college student, TRIO & EOP alumni, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I was able to attend college and graduate because of educational access and retention programs and recognize the role they have in a student’s success. I strongly believe that education is the tool to end generational poverty, and though the path may be difficult, it is WORTH IT! I am honored to do the work I do and am excited to have the opportunity to coach Wave-Makers through their college experience and beyond!”

Ryan Grady

College Coach

“I’m Ryan Grady, a College Coach at Making Waves. My career started in 2004 when I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was accepted to join Teach for America. At 22, I moved to a small, rural town in Arkansas where I taught high school math. After three years of teaching, I moved back to Wisconsin to earn my Master’s in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis. I moved to Texas in 2009 and became the founding fifth grade math teacher at a successful charter school, KIPP-Austin. My tour of the country was not over and I moved yet again. In 2010, I began working at Making Waves in San Francisco as an Outreach Advocate and then High School Program Administrative Coordinator. While I was working at Making Waves, I went back to school to earn my life-coach certification. In 2013, I was hired by the Making Waves College and Alumni Program as a College Coach. I am incredibly grateful to have a career where I am inspired daily by the students and colleagues with whom I work.”

Victoria Kupu

College Financial Services Coordinator

“My name is Victoria Kupu, and I am a College Financial Services Coordinator for CAP. I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I am a first-generation college graduate. In 2015, I graduated with my bachelor’s in English with a concentration in Literature and Political, Legal, Economic Analysis with a concentration in Economics from Mills College. While at Mills College, I found my passion in education. There, I worked with the Mills Summer Bridge Program for low-income, first-generation college students. In addition, I was a Resident Assistant and tutor, in which I assisted students in navigating financial aid, academics, and the transition to living on campus. During this time, I became aware of the need to educate students about financial aid. Therefore, once I graduated from college, I become a Financial Aid Representative at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. My passion for education and desire to help others through their college career is what led me to Making Waves, and in October of 2018, I joined the CAP Financial Services Department. I look forward to partnering with Wave Makers to succeed in college as they build their personal bridge to success. “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”- B.B. King”