Kandice Johnson is a native of Washington, D.C., hailing from the Brentwood neighborhood. She graduated from Benjamin Banneker High School, one of the city's top institutions, before pursuing her higher education in New York City. Kandice earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she developed a strong passion for higher education and student engagement.

During her time at FIT, Kandice played a key role in supporting the inaugural year of the Social Justice Center, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing student life, particularly for individuals from diverse backgrounds. In addition to her work in higher education, Kandice is a professional artist and has published several children’s books, showcasing her creative talents and dedication to her craft. Whether it’s her artistic or professional pursuits, Kandice is determined to uplift diverse communities in all aspects of her life.

Deonte is originally from Philadelphia, PA but grew up in a military family so he has lived in a lot of different places. He moved to Florida to receive his B.S. in Biology from Jacksonville University where he started his journey in Student Affairs as an R.A. and a Student Assistant for Recreation and Wellness. After receiving his M.S. in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Miami, he relocated to Washington D.C. to continue working in Student Affairs.

Prior to joining UCDC, he was a Community Coordinator at George Washington University where he oversaw one of the residence halls, handled administrative tasks, supervised student staff, prepared a budget for activities both for the building and the neighborhood, and hosted events to foster an inclusive community for residents. Along with this, he also assisted with Professional Staff recruitment as well as helped oversee the Faculty in Residence (FiR) program at the University. He hopes to grow FiR programs across more colleges and universities to help bridge academic/faculty affairs with student affairs and even become a Faculty in Residence in the future.

In his free time, he loves to cook, travel, binge movies and shows, listen to music, and play with his dog Kora. He also loves to explore DC and hopes he never has to leave because he feels he has truly found a home and community in this city.

Debbie is a southern native from the Palmetto State. She earned her BA in Government and Sociology from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC before moving to Bloomington, IN to get her MS in Education at Indiana University. Debbie has worked in the UC system (UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego) for almost nine years and had the privilege of participating in an unforgettable trip around the world with Semester at Sea.

Even though Howie – her 8-pound Chihuahua – is already giving her side-eye about winter, Debbie is excited to be back home on the east coast!

Danielle is a proud California native, growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attending UC San Diego for her BA in Economics and BA in Political Science. She moved to the east coast to earn her MA in Global Development Economics from Boston University. Prior to joining the UCDC team, she worked at the World Bank in the Poverty and Equity Global Practice. In her free time, she enjoys baking, traveling, exploring the food scene in DC, and spending time with friends and family.

Marc Sandalow has been at UCDC since 2011. He teaches the Media and Washington Focus seminars, and oversees the center’s Monday night forums. He was previously UC Merced’s Washington director. Marc spent 21 years at the San Francisco Chronicle, where he served as Washington Bureau Chief, covered city halls in Martinez, Berkeley, and San Francisco, earthquakes, World Series (including an earthquake at a World Series), the impeachment of a president, a contested presidential election, and the 2001 terrorist attacks. He is the author of "Madam Speaker; Nancy Pelosi's Life, Times and Rise to Power,'' and co-author of "Ballparks: A Panoramic History.'' He can be heard daily on KCBS-radio in San Francisco and appears regularly as a political analyst on Hearst television stations.

Sabrin Said currently serves as the Administrator of Academic Services at UCDC, supporting the curricular side of the academic program. She assists students and instructors as they navigate courses, enrollment, grades, and everything in between.  She is a California native and a proud product of its public education system.  As an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Sabrin discovered her passion for education.  After receiving her bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies she became the director of an educational access project that worked to ensure that the underrepresented populations of Los Angeles had access to institutions of higher education.  Sabrin later returned UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies for her master’s in Social Science and Comparative Education.  After completing her degree, she spent the following three years in the classroom at a small start-up high school in the Bay Area.  She now lives and enjoys everything that the DMV has to offer.

Drew was born and raised in Northern California.  She attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she received a B.S. in Kinesiology.  Following graduation, Drew worked in Career Services at Cal Poly.  In her role, she worked closely with employers through her efforts as a Career Fair Coordinator.  She then earned her Master of Education in Counselor Education (Student Affairs) from Clemson University. At Clemson, she supported new student academic programs as well as volunteered as a graduate career advisor.  Drew returned to California after receiving her MEd to work with new student and supporter programs at San Jose State University.  In her free time, Drew is an avid Bay Area sports fan, loves to be active and travel.

Marlee was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and attended the University of California, Irvine where she majored in history. Participating in UCDC in Spring 2017 and interning at the Supreme Court of the US, Marlee is excited to be living and working in DC again. She enjoys spending her free time reading, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends and family.

Dione is a Birmingham, Alabama native, and she relocated to D.C. in 2018 to continue her work in higher education. She received her bachelor’s degree from Ashford University and a graduate certification in Leadership and Management from the University of Maryland.  In her spare time, Dione loves to travel and spend time with her family and friends.

Jacob brings over a decade of experience in higher education that includes academic & career advising, teaching, designing & delivering experiential education programs, research, and directing nonpartisan efforts to empower college students to vote in local, state, and national elections. Additionally, he has interned and worked on several campaigns, interned at the U.S. Department of Education, and most recently worked at American University as an instructor and advisor.

Jacob is an alumnus of Iowa State University (’11), where he received his BA in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies and then earned a MA in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University (’13). Jacob is a PhD candidate in Higher Education at the University of Arizona’s Center for the Study of Higher Education, and his research focuses on the adoption and sustainability of nonpartisan student voting initiatives on college and university campuses.

He and his partner live in the Park View neighborhood of Washington, DC, with their two pups. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, exploring DC restaurants, sharing DC’s vibrant history and culture with visiting friends and family, trivia, and living in the new golden age of television. Jacob is also the founder and an executive board member of Missouri Courage Scholarship, a nonprofit organization which acknowledges, affirms, and rewards the courage of college-bound high school seniors working to enhance the lives of LGBTQ+ people and advance social justice.