Itcelia Segoviano is a proud mother, community builder, and education leader. She grew up in the Eastern Coachella Valley, raised by a single mother. As a first-generation college graduate, she earned her Bachelor’s in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley in 2019.

Itcelia currently serves as the Assistant Executive Director at Stiles Hall, where she leads college access and mentorship programs supporting students from underrepresented communities across California.

Her journey with Stiles Hall began as a volunteer and Program Coordinator during her time at Cal, driven by a deep passion for youth development and creating equitable opportunities.

Itcelia expanded Stiles Hall’s flagship Experience Berkeley program to her hometown in the Coachella Valley, starting with a cohort of 10 students, 7 of whom were admitted to UC Berkeley. In a community where 1 to 2 students from her high school typically gained admission, this was a turning point. She went on to mentor 20 additional students, 14 of whom were admitted to Cal, with others earning acceptance to Stanford, Harvard, and beyond.

She has also co-taught the Our Highest Potential course at Stiles Hall, mentoring first-year and transfer students as they navigated the demands of UC Berkeley. Knowing firsthand what it means to be overwhelmed, to be a student, a friend, and so much more to so many people, she has always kept an open door for her students, offering a space to be heard without judgment. That kind of support, she believes, is what helps students persist.

That work became the foundation of the Coming Home Project, an initiative she founded to continue mentoring and empowering students from the Coachella Valley. She also sits on the Board of Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service, serving as an ambassador and mentor to new fellows as they begin their journey into public service.

This fall, she will begin her Master’s in Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, continuing her lifelong commitment to opening doors for the next generation.

To find scholarships that match your goals, visit www.ioscholarships.com. Stay connected with us for updates and more inspiring content: Instagram: @ioscholarships

Guest LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/itcelia

Listen to more episodes here: IOScholarships Podcast #podcast #innovation #scholarships