Diana Hernandez Garcia joined the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) at UC Merced in August 2022 and serves as a Program Coordinator for several programs including UCDC. She earned a BS in Geology and MPA from CSU Bakersfield. During grad school, Diana had the opportunity to complete a summer internship with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and then a fall semester internship at the US Department of Agriculture in 2019 (both in Alexandria, VA). These internships sparked her passion for public service and reconciled her marred view of the federal government since she grew up undocumented. After becoming a US Citizen, she jumped on the opportunity to return to NSF as a Science Assistant in February 2020. Her favorite activity at NSF was leading the Summer Scholars Internship Program, where students from across the nation spend their summer at NSF completing mentor-guided projects. In searching for her next position, she wanted to work with a program that valued professional development and mentorship for students. She was incredibly happy to find a place like UC Merced’s UROC Office that focuses on undergraduate research and experiential learning opportunities. While she enjoyed her years in the DMV, she was excited to be closer to her family and serve students in the San Joaquin Valley.