Editorial Board

See http://urjournal.ucmerced.edu/node/11 for more information.

Monica Hernandez
Monica L. Hernandez is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Merced pursuing a Bachelor degree in Psychology and a minor in Writing. Originally from Southern California, Monica has come to appreciate and value the Central Valley for its culture and history. Although at first skeptic about the opportunities she may find in the central valley, Monica adapted and discovered optimism by finding various open doors for her to follow on campus. Outside of school and other responsibilities, she likes to spend her free time with friends and family, listening to music, singing, dancing, and exploring Merced on foot.

Maria Preciado
Maria Preciado is 3rd year student studying management with minor in writing. She comes from the small town of Arvin, California. She sings and plays guitar as a past time. She hopes to pursue the craft of writing and work for NBC studios one day to write for shows Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live. She enjoys a good laugh and wishes to part take in the creative process of writing humorous skits for the enjoyment for others. Her positive outlook in life only encourages her to dream big.

Kevin Cornejo
Kevin moved to Merced from Los Angeles for college in order to experience a different type of atmosphere. From the big city to the more rural town of Merced, he enjoys the environment and clean fresh air Merced has to offer, all while studying to receive his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering. He spends most of his time around computers, fixing, or just tweaking them, especially now since he started working in the IT department at UC Merced. He strives to obtain his degree and pursue a career working for a major web developing company such as Google, or something in the aerospace industry with Boeing, or Lockheed Martin.

Manuel Garcia
Manuel Garcia is a graduating senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Writing. He motivates fellow scholars to submit their work to this journal while informing them about the process of becoming published. Writing became his hobby when he began filmmaking at the age of 13. He enjoys the entire process of writing from coming up with an idea and putting it in words to proof reading and editing. Like all types of writing, whether it's screenplays or scientific research papers, revision and polishing is imperative to produce work worth publishing. That is why he became a UCM Undergraduate Research Journal editor.

Francisco Rodriguez
By the age of ten, Francisco Rodriguez was already a Power Ranger, police officer, fire fighter, bank robber, and arsonist, as well as established American spy, and a professional cuddie killer.

His life changed when he found the power in words, particularly in music, and began to write creatively, in sixth grade. This thrill seeker turn poet kept his physical activity by playing soccer and running track. Increasing his creative capacity, he picked up the acoustic guitar and learned to play.

Now, Francisco is a certified level 1 Tutor, in his last semester at UC Merced, earning a Bacholors Degree in English Literature, with a minor in writing. He hopes to write short stories as well as teaching writing in higher education. He is involved in St. Patrick's Catholic Church ministry playing guitar in the worship band and leading the high youth group, things he hopes to continue after graduation.

Kendall Wright
Kendall Wright is a 3rd year Political Science major and Writing minor at the University of California, Merced. His interest in public policy and the inner workings of the political system made his choice of majoring political science rather easy. Beyond academics, Wright serves as president of the Black Student Union at UC Merced and has been a founding member of the UC Merced Speech and Debate team. Outside of his time at UCM, he likes to spend it on the tennis courts or reading some good music revue. Wright hopes to go into A&R work for a reputable record label at some point in the future.