We are thrilled to introduce you to our team!
Becki Baker
Director of Pre-College Programs
pronouns: she/her/hers
Becki has worked in youth programming for over 20 years. She holds degrees in History and Political Science from University of Missouri-Columbia and Art History from University of Missouri-St. Louis as well as a certificate in Marketing from WashU. Becki has also completed the College Advising Program through Teachers College at Columbia University. Becki spent ten summers working for Camp Highlander in Mills River, North Carolina, five of which were as program director for summer and year-round educational programming before joining WashU in 2010. Becki is an active member in the American Camp Association and Association for Pre-College Program Directors. Becki is an advocate for college access. She is dedicated to providing personalized advising experiences to ensure students are prepared for college success.
Becki grew up in St. Charles, Missouri where she now lives with her husband and 4 year-old daughter. She is an avid baker and enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors. She loves documentaries and is a voracious reader of biographies, memoirs, and historical fiction, though most of her reading these days is spent on pre-school favorites like The Little Blue Truck, Grumpy Monkey, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Jakyla Willis
Program Supervisor
pronouns: she/her/hers
Jakyla is an alumna of WashU who currently works in healthcare. At WashU, Jakyla majored in African and African American Studies and enjoyed taking psychology classes, both fields of study she is passionate about. She was a Trio scholar and served three years on Harambee Christian Ministries Executive Team. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and watching television shows or movies which she also loves discussing. For future career plans, Jakyla wants to attend physicians assistant school and eventually continue working with children. She hopes to use her degree and experience to help children in marginalized communities. This will be Jakyla's second summer with our programs.
Emille Taylor
Program Supervisor
pronouns: she/her/hers
Emille is a graduate of WashU, where she studied American Culture Studies, Educational Studies, and Mathematics. Emille spent her summers working for educational non-profit organizations in Memphis and Atlanta; these organizations were geared toward civic engagement and educational equity for historically marginalized groups. At WashU, she served as a WashU Student Associate (WUSA), resident advisor (RA), and an executive board member for WUQUEENS and the Black Senior Alliance. She was also employed at the Campus YMCA, The Learning Center, and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. In her free time, you can find her watching reality TV, eating with friends, or listening to Megan Thee Stallion. Emille hopes to pursue a higher degree in Mathematics Education with the long-term goal of becoming an educator and increasing Black students’ comfortability in Math and other STEM classrooms.
Ale Uriostegui
Program Supervisor
pronouns: she/her/hers
Ale is a graduate of WashU, where she double-majored in Latin American Studies and Spanish with a minor in Spanish. She is a first-generation college student whose parents are immigrants from Mexico. During her time at WashU, she was a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow in which she explored two main projects related to Latin American literature and social movements. In her free time, she enjoys playing Latin pop songs on the piano, reading anarchist literature, and having philosophical discussions about hope for social change. Ale plans to obtain her Ph.D. in Latin American Studies with aspirations to become a professor and a community activist.
Samara Wilson
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Samara is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences double majoring in Economics and American Culture Studies, with a minor in Business of Entertainment. She originally hails from Trinidad and Tobago. On campus, she is involved with STRIVE for College Mentors and Partners in East St. Louis, as well as working as a student tour guide and ambassador for the admissions office. She loves going to concerts and plays around the St. Louis area, and is an avid reader in her free time.
Michael Nguyen
Program Assistant
pronouns: he/him/his
Michael is a junior studying Psychology with a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures. He is from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and began attending a boarding school in St. Louis, Missouri, in 9th grade. He is the co-president of WashU's Japanese Peer Network, a cultural organization dedicated to raising awareness of and displaying many aspects of Japanese culture to the Washu community. He is also the social chair of the Vietnamese Student Association, which promotes the valuable aspects of Vietnamese culture. He played soccer, basketball, and tennis in high school before being sidelined by injury for several years. He loves his blue shark slippers, food reviews and true crime shows, and his plushies collection. He also works out, watches anime, and studies pediatric neurology in cancer treatment for his research lab. Michael's ambition is to become a neurosurgeon and to establish hospitals and facilities in Vietnam that provide free health treatment to the unprivileged.
Renata Shen
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Renata is a senior at WashU, pursuing a double major on Economics and Biology, along with a minor in Religious Studies, on the premed track. She serves as the co-president of Quill and Scalpel, WashU's Medical Humanities club. Additionally, Renata is on executive board of Heart for the Unhoused 501(3)(c), treasurer for the MedX Public Health Group, and is works as a Peer-Lead-Team Learning Leader for the Chemistry Department. Outside of school/work, Renata enjoys trail running and impromptu singing.
Aria Sline
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Aria is a junior and cheerleader at WashU. She is a Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Psychology major with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in Legal Studies. In her free time she likes to play piano, do her nails, go to the gym, and read. She also has a podcast and a live talk show, where she can be found discussing topic pertaining to intersectional feminism and social equity. She has one Pomeranian puppy and a twin brother and older sister. This will be Aria's second summer with our programs. Feel free to reach out and chat anytime!
Ben Ell
Program Assistant
pronouns: he/him/his
Ben is a junior at WashU. He is a student in the interdisciplinary Beyond Boundaries Program and will be double majoring in economics & strategy and finance in the Olin Business School with a minor in biology. Outside of class, Ben is the Development Manager for WashU Campus Life, an intern at Hill Investment Group, and a Danforth University Center Student Assistant. In his free time, Ben enjoys reading, playing tennis, listening to new music, and playing minesweeper. After graduating, Ben hopes to work in corporate finance or wealth management. This will be Ben's second summer with our programs.
Roses Wong
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Roses is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. She is from Tucson, Arizona and was a student in WashU's Engineering Pre-College Program when she was in high school and is excited to assist this year. She is part of Deneb STARS and is a Trio Scholar. She currently works at the Chabad House on campus preparing food for the Shabbat meals. In her free time, Roses likes to cook, play video games, read, build puzzles, watch sitcoms, and forage.
Xenaira Arguedas
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Xenaira is a junior double majoring in Genomics and Computational Biology and German, with the hopes of becoming a genetic counselor. She has been the technical instructor of the Latin social dance team, WUFuego, for the past year and is a part of the Uncle Joe's Peer Counseling organization on campus. As a St. Louis native, she is excited to spend time reading, and taking walks in Forest Park over the summer and possibly learning to roller skate!
Jai-Laan Blackmon
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Jai-Laan is a junior at WashU. She is currently majoring in Anthropology with a minor in African American Studies. Jai-Laan is interested in becoming a Healthcare Administrator one day so she can contribute to the healthcare field in a positive way that would allow her to give back to the same marginalized communities that she comes from. She is originally from Los Angeles which is where she calls home; however, these past two years Saint Louis has become her home away from home. In 2019, she was a part the High School Summer Scholars Program that allowed her to study on campus for an 8-week period and get accustomed to WashU life. She gained so many experiences through the Summer Scholars pre-college program that allowed her to solidify this amazing school as my choice. Some of her hobbies consist of dancing, outdoor hiking, and poetry.
Sophia Miller
Program Assistant
pronouns: she/her/hers
Sophia is a senior majoring in Religious Studies and Chemistry and she is from Houston, Texas. Sophia works as a General Chemistry Lab mentor during the school year and is a part of the interfaith fellows group, where she and other peers participate in interfaith dialogue. In her free time, she loves baking, watercolor, trying new restaurants, and watching TV. She also enjoys hanging out with family, especially with her new baby cousin!
