UC Berkeley Social Welfare undergraduate student Marlenne Perez (BASW '26) has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service, the Mather Good Citizen Award, for her work supporting underrepresented and nontraditional student communities on campus and across California.
Perez serves as a facilitator for NAVCAL, a student led program that supports underrepresented students at UC Berkeley. In this role, she works with a cohort of more than 45 nontraditional students, leading weekly discussions and helping create an inclusive environment for community building and skill development. Her work includes supporting scholarship applications, strengthening communication skills, and helping students navigate the university.
Through her involvement with campus communities such as NAVCAL and the Peter E. Haas Public Service Leaders program, Perez has focused on expanding access to opportunities and building networks for students from nontraditional backgrounds.
In collaboration with the Public Service Center, Perez also founded RootED, a program designed to support students across California in the college application process. The initiative pairs prospective students with UC Berkeley undergraduates who are trained to provide feedback on personal statements for UC applications. Perez led the program’s development, including outreach to participants and mentors, coordination with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and developing materials to show the program’s value.
She plans to continue supporting students from nontraditional backgrounds and working to improve access to higher education.