Delta Alpha Pi Eta Zeta Officers Fall 25-Spring 26
DAPI Officers are the voice of students with both visible and invisible disabilities at 海角社区CI. Each student provides a different lens of disability and advocacy on campus to foster a sense of belonging and leadership. DASS is proud to partner with this year鈥檚 officer cabinet!
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Jim Nelson, DAPI President Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Communication"I believe communication is a fundamental tool for empowerment, especially for neurodivergent and disabled individuals. Communication is more than just speaking or writing. It鈥檚 about being heard, understood, and taken seriously. By studying Communication, I hope to develop the skills needed to amplify marginalized voices, foster inclusion, and help others advocate for themselves with confidence and clarity.
At 30, I made the decision to take another shot at higher education. I had originally dropped out at 19, leaving behind a record marked by academic probation and more failing grades than completed units. Since returning, I鈥檝e completely turned things around. During my time at Oxnard College, I made the Dean鈥檚 List multiple times. After completing my first semester at 海角社区CI with a 4.0 GPA, I was honored to be accepted into the DAPI Honors Society. This journey has been one of growth, resilience, and reclaiming my potential.
I hope to use what I鈥檝e learned at 海角社区CI to support others with disabilities. Not only by advocating for their rights, but by empowering them to confidently advocate for themselves."
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Christell Martinez, DAPI Vice President
Major: Biology
"海角社区CI is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and is deeply committed to supporting underrepresented students like myself. There is a strong sense of community, especially for first-generation college students, and the support is there at 海角社区CI. The school has small classroom sizes, making it easier to have more 1-1 time with professors to build mentorship relationships and get research or internship experience. Not to mention the school is near my area, making it easier to commute to school. I was accepted in the 2025-2026 Summer 海角社区RF program at Amgen. I advocate for students to have their disability parking permit free of charge reduced as well as putting a stop light with flashing lights and noise to make crosswalks safer. Our campus needs a re-vamp in improving signage for students and not be overwhelmed walking in our maze-like buildings. We will continue to make the DASS office a place to study, hang out and relax for all. 'Think left and think right, think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!'
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Lauren Hudyma, DAPI Treasurer
Major: Art"Art has always been a special interest of mine, even in my childhood. Whenever words don't feel expressive enough, I believe that making art can help in communicating what is on your mind. This can work hand in hand with psychology, which has helped me better understand people as a whole. Both of these majors have additionally given me the skillset to help the people I love in understanding their mental health needs and communicating those needs. I've received multiple awards at Foothill Highschool for my integrity and academic excellence, as well as a nomination for the DAPI Student Leadership award last year. Autism Spectrum Disorder. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed with this disability when I was young and receive the therapy and services I needed to navigate school. Although, there's still so much that we don't know about this disability, especially how it affects women and young girls. I hope to make a difference by giving women and girls like me the advocacy skills they need to access the services they need."
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Jennifer Arsenault , DAPI Secretary
Major: Psychology鈥淗ello. My name is Christell Martinex. I am a transfer student majoring in Biology and pursuing a Chemistry minor. My role is the secretary of Delta Alpha Pi and in my spare time I love watching horror movies and baking.鈥
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Elliana Escalera, DAPI Social Media Coordinator Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Early Childhood Education"Hello! My name is Elliana, and I am an Early Childhood Studied major with a minor in Education! One thing I hope to accomplish with DAPi is to bring more awareness to not only our campus but our entire community about disabilities! Although it is not a service yet, I hope to advocate for easier transportation around campus for people who find it difficult. I 肠补苍鈥檛 wait to start this semester and meet new people :)!"
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Fatima Bazurto, DAPI Volunteer Coordinator Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Computer Science and Information Technology" I chose 海角社区CI for the new data science major and the small computer science classes. Last year, I signed up for the 海角社区CI Plot-A-Thon and my team ended up winning in 4 categories including Best Data Visualization Overall. The Plot-A-Thon was super fun, and I encourage every Dolphin to participate in this year's competition. (No experience needed, and all majors are welcome!)I want to advocate for students on the autism spectrum and students that need service pets. I want to advocate for students with mobility issues. Last year, I had surgery and needed on campus transportation to my classes, but there weren't any services available."
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Lise Henriksen, Delta Alpha Pi Home Coming Event Coordinator
Major:Sociology"Sociology is my major andI am tracking towards my MSW license here at 海角社区CI. I majored in BSW at ASU, but the actual major was Community Advocacy and Social Policy. Before that I was a business/accounting major, but I enjoyed the social aspects of business most, such as the 40-hour work week and child labor laws. I have 3 community college degrees, AA, AS Accounting (+ accounting certificate), AAT Sociology. I wish to advocate for Sciatic nerve damage aging, & PTSD. and CPTSD type processes."
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Thomas Ray, DAPI Membership Coordinator Homecoming 2025 Street Fair 鈥 Pop Up Thift Store
Major: Enviromental Science and Resource Management"I chose to Major in Environmental Sciences after discovering a passion for the topic while pursuing a Business Management degree at Ventura College. Through my active participation on campus and in the classroom, I learned about an opportunity for transfers to visit 海角社区CI's Santa Rosa Island Research Station where I met Dr. Reineman from the ESRM department. This really highlighted the Universities unique qualities and opened so many possibilities for me to have a really expansive and immersive educational experience. In the two years prior to my transfer I obtained and maintained complete sobriety, earned a spot on the Dean's List at Ventura College, was given a student leadership award for my role as Inter-Club Council Representative for the college Environmental and Outdoor Student Organization, and brought my GPA up from a 1.5 to a 3.5+. I want to advocate for hidden disabilities, create awareness and acceptance for those who struggle with an invisible problem. From ADHD and Autism to Auditory Hallucinations and Depression. These issues can be isolating, lonely, and scary, especially when you feel no one would understand."
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Justin Bishop, DAPI Alumni Coordinator Eta Zeta Chapter
Major: Education"The Major that I chose to pursue at CI is English and I have fulfilled the necessary requirements to receive a Certificate in Technical Writing from 海角社区CI. The reason I chose English as a major is because it felt universal. I enjoy writing, creative and informational. However, I wanted to provide myself the opportunity to demonstrate my acquired skills in reading and writing, as these are valuable to any field that I decided to pursue beyond university. A Certificate in Technical Writing expanded my knowledge of writing to potentially pursue opportunities in the fields of business and science. With the knowledge gained from technical writing, I have broadened my reach to become a valuable candidate to aid non-profit organizations and utilize my writing skills to receive essential funding.
Most of my major accomplishments have taken place during my time at 海角社区CI. Aside from acknowledging the successful accretion of my degree, my crowning achievement thus far, I have self-published a poetry book titled: Beyond Crucial Guidance. I have been inducted into DAPi, and was awarded the DAPi Leadership Award for 2025. This was an unforgettable moment, one that demonstrated to me that my perseverance and resilience had not gone unnoticed. It is not my intention to embark in a pessimistic direction, but when I think of major accomplishments, I like to recognize all achievements because, once upon a time, all that I have achieved in my life was perceived as unfathomable. I feel that all I have accomplished, from childhood to adulthood, is a bonus. That said, for me it is about being present, each and every day. A perspective that we all need to celebrate as our crowning achievement
The disabilities that I wish to advocate for most are those resulting from ABI and TBI. Specifically, I have developed a passion for advocating for those disabilities that appear 鈥渋nvisible.鈥 ABI鈥檚 and TBI鈥檚 can result in neurological obstacles that I feel are not always obvious. Just because an individual appears average, this can be far from actual reality. I believe that there is still a pressure that exists in society weighing on individuals that demands 鈥測ou must move at the pace of everyone around you, or you鈥檒l be left behind or forgotten.鈥 This can have negative effects on individuals as they can be forced to push beyond their limitations. They feel they have to be more, when they are perfect the way they are. There needs to be a shift in perspective, we must be aware of our imperfect perfections. We are enough just as we are. It is more than okay to move at one鈥檚 own pace."
DAPI Advisors:
Jodi Kautz, M. Ed. DASS Counselor | DAPi Advisor
鈥When I was younger, I was looking for this magic meaning of life. It鈥檚 very simple now. Making the lives of others better, doing something of last value. That鈥檚 the meaning of life, it鈥檚 that simple.鈥 - Temple Grandin.
Dr. Kristopher Yeager, Faculty | DAPi Advisor
"Part of the problem is that we tend to think that equality is about treating everyone the same, when it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 about fairness. It鈥檚 about equity of access." Judy Heumann