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< Back Ken Fesler Associate Executive Director Ken (he/him/his) is an Economics and Political Science student at the University of California, Davis. He officially joined Our Time To Act in June 2020 and became Associate Executive Director in January 2021. As Associate Executive Director, Ken takes the lead on systems management and employee development, including interdepartmental policies, employee one-on-ones, and performance reviews. Prior to joining OTTA and while still in high school, Ken was a Shift Lead at a local tea shop, the most senior staff member on site trusted with running the store efficiently and without waste. Throughout this, he maintains his driven dedication to scholastic success - he was a high school valedictorian and is now a Regent Scholar and university honors student. After graduating, Ken seeks to find further employment close to his loving family in the San Francisco Bay Area. ken.fesler@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Samyak Jain Secretary Samyak Jain is majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He spends his free time dancing and spending time with his family. In his past few years being a Vice President with Our Time To Act, he has made countless priceless memories and connections and is looking forward to seeing what Our Time To Act will accomplish next. samyak.jain@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Leana Cortez Board Director Leana Cortez (she/her/hers) is a UC San Diego student studying Global Health and Sociocultural Anthropology. After beginning her activism journey in high school, Leana understands the need for youth power in the sociopolitical sphere. After spending years in the environmental advocacy realm, Leana joined Our Time To Act in October 2021 as Director of Advocacy. As Director, Leana has mobilized many youth for initiatives and projects relating to affordable housing, voting and civic engagement, and redistricting efforts. She has also worked alongside OTTA’s policy analyst, Aashika, to develop redistricting reform policy for the City of San Diego, which received high praise from city councilmembers. She now serves on OTTA's Board of Directors. Beyond her work in OTTA, Leana has aided in research relating to adolescent mental health with the Center for Global Mental Health, stem cell signaling with the Reya Lab at UCSD, and invasive plant species with a local nonprofit in San Diego. Leana hopes to pursue a PhD in Global Health and Medical Anthropology post-graduation. leana.cortez@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Janice Park President Janice is a current student at the University of California, Irvine studying Public Health Policy. Her primary mission in life is to fight for equity, particularly in the field of health and wellness. Janice initially became involved with Our Time To Act's pandemic response as the Student Response Initiative Regional Director of Health. As the former Executive Director for Students Against Period Poverty, she now works as a Senior Advisor for the nonprofit she co-founded, partnering with schools and shelters to make menstrual products accessible. She also works to educate people at community health fairs, reaching underserved populations through a combination of activism and volunteerism. janice.park@ourtimetoact.org

< Back McKayla Dasha Sarmiento AVEP Researcher McKayla is a Human Biology Student at the University of California San Diego. She joined Our Time To Act in September 2022 as an AVEP Researcher. As a researcher, McKayla is responsible for collecting and analyzing data on barriers to API voting. Before Our Time To Act, McKayla worked in her Associated Students’ Office of Local Affairs as the Marketing Director, where she helped with redistricting efforts. She eventually hopes to attend graduate or medical school in pursuit for a career in medicine or biomedical research. She plans to use her career and focus her work on uplifting and addressing the many issues minority populations face within the healthcare system. md.sarmiento@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Aidan Lin-Tostado Executive Director Aidan (he/him/his) is the Executive Director of Our Time To Act and a Political Science student at the University of California, San Diego. He co-founded Our Time To Act in 2018, which has risen as a powerful youth engagement, advocacy, and organizing nonprofit in the Bay Area and San Diego. As Executive Director, Aidan leads the staff team, change-making initiatives, development, and expansion. Outside of Our Time To Act, he serves on the new California State Youth Empowerment Commission advising the State Legislature and Governor. Aidan has received recognition for his work in the community, including the 2022 Community Service Award from San Diego Pride and the 2022 Bridge Builder of the Year from the API Leaders of the Year Awards. He also works under the Valuing Open and Inclusive Conversation and Engagement (VOICE) Grant from the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement conducting research and youth organization empowerment. He is looking forward to continuing to serve his communities in the nonprofit sector for the years to come. aidan.LT@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Nicholas Tappin Policy and Coalition Representative Nicholas (Nic) Tappin (he/him) is a Political Science student at the University of California San Diego. He has been a San Diego native his entire life, where in his free time he serves as the Legislative Director for the University of California San Diego Associated Students Office of External Affairs. He also serves as a dedicated Board Member of the UC Student Association and as the Vice President of External Relations of the Pre-Law Coalition of UC San Diego. Nicholas has lobbied members of Congress and California state legislators on bills directly impacting students' housing, higher education accessibility, and food insecurity. Nicholas officially joined Our Time To Act in January of 2024 as the Policy and Coalition Representative. Outside of Our Time To Act, academics, and student government, Nicholas enjoys trying new restaurants and hanging out with friends. nicholas.tappin@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Muskaan Gupta Administration Intern Muskaan (she/her) is a sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, intending on studying Business Administration and Molecular and Cell Biology. She is passionate about health equity and hopes to pursue a career in which she may work to address it. She has a strong public health background and has been involved in Partners in Health Engage, through which she met with legislators to educate and convince them to support global health equity legislation. She also served as a Youth Advisory Council Alumni Member at FACES for the Future Coalition where she fought for representation of marginalized communities in healthcare professions and general accessibility to healthcare. In her free time, she loves to check out new coffee shops where she always gets her regular (an iced dirty chai latte and an almond croissant). She also enjoys doing calligraphy and paint-by-numbers but has recently been getting back into reading. Feel free to contact her and send her some coffee shop and/or book recommendations! muskaan.gupta@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Benjamin Wang AVEP Researcher Born and raised in Orange County, Benjamin Wang (he/him/his) is a proud Taiwanese-American and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Ben studies Political Science and Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego. A champion for education equity, Ben is a Supplemental Instruction Leader for the UC San Diego Academic Achievement Hub. In addition, Ben served as Recruitment Manager for STEMup4Youth, a nonprofit organization serving over 50000 students dedicated to bringing interactive science activities to underserved communities. Ben joined Our Time To Act in August of 2022 as a Voter Engagement Researcher, and is committed to increasing voter engagement for historically disenfranchised groups as well as speaking out for youth and student affairs. Ben is currently involved in an Our Time To Act initiative to study voter disengagement and apathy. Outside of his work, Ben is a distinguished violinist and pianist, a frequent gym-goer, an avid gamer, and a nationally recognized Naval JROTC cadet officer. In his free time, Ben enjoys volunteering at his local food bank and is a volunteer English tutor for non-native speakers. benjamin.wang@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Yvania Rubio Director of Organizing Yvania Rubio (she/her/ella) is a Political Science and Sociology student with a minor in Business at The University of California of San Diego. Raised in Tijuana, Ensenada, Los Angeles, and Southeast San Diego, she currently resides in La Jolla for her undergraduate studies. Ms. Rubio participates in youth empowerment and professional development through her positions as a Youth Commissioner for the city of San Diego, San Diego County Youth Sector leader, community volunteer through Youth Will nonprofit, as well as the Assistant Project Director for the Youth Voter Engagement Project with Our Time To Act. Ms. Rubio has also acquired a position as a paid intern position under the tutelage of a District Attorney with the Superior Court of San Diego County. Through which Ms. Rubio had the opportunity to observe judicial, criminal, and juvenile proceeding, her initiatives are driven with the intent of providing opportunities for youth to explore their strengths and tailor them to improve society in their own authentic way. Ms. Rubio also wishes to help youth like herself learn how to converse with people who have differing opinions and reach constructive consensus. yvania.rubio@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Ria Maheshwari Vice President Ria Maheshwari is a high school senior. Before becoming the Vice President of Our Time To Act, she served as the Outreach Specialist and within the Department of External Operations. As an aspiring lawyer, Ria combines her ambitions of argumentation and social justice as the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Captain and Board Member for the Speech and Debate Club at her high school and by being part of several community service clubs, such as the National Honor Society. Sports being a key passion of her life, you can always find Ria being active. For example, she travels across the United States to play competitive volleyball with her teammates at Mountain View Volleyball Club. ria.maheshwari@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Irene Wu Social Media Coordinator Irene Wu (she/her/hers) is a senior at San Marcos High School and fascinated with the intersection of youth activism and social media. She is active in API youth activism as the SD API Youth Network Co-Chair and is excited to be furthering Our Time To Act’s goals for empowered and passionate youth. Outside of OTTA, Irene adores reading and art, and is always looking for new book/movie/podcast recommendations. irene.wu@ourtimetoact.org