I always refer back to stiles hall as my first landing pad and community when I entered berkeley as a transfer student. Although places on campus could feel divided and elists, stiles was a family. I appreciate how Dave and Kenny immediately seen my strengths and asked me to be a part of the experience berkeley stiles summer program team. Stiles was a true safe space and where I met some of my longest college friendships

Meeting Ashea Fuller (former stiles hall student, mother and now has passed away from cancer). She was my mentee. Although I was younger than her, she was like a big sister and I remember my first phone call with her letting her know that I would be her advisor. Getting her through the process, working with her on her a essay, building a relationship with her where I was able to hear her deep story and affirm her life journey that brought her to berkeley, and seeing her accept the same well deserved regents and chancellor award was a catalyst to my love for advising. I still am a college advisor and I always think about how I met her and so many amazing people through stiles hall and Dave

Stiles impact on serving underrepresented students on campus is so unique and so needed. When you joined stiles, you don’t just get introduced to resources. Dave really always made sure to dive deep into the history of stiles after the prop 209 era. That was our initiation in a way. Everyone who was apart of stiles is genuinely connected to the mission. I was a first gen, low income, Black, adopted, students who’s parent was formally incarcerated and it felt like a true testing and energizing place that carried me through my challenging time at berkeley. I got my first job out of college through a connection from stiles and one of my bestfriends Enrique Marroquin is like a godfather to my son