Residential Learning Communities at Santa Clara University - da Vinci

Staff

	Marie Bachechi Community Facilitator (CF), 1st Floor Hey da Vinci! I am a junior from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am a Biology and Psychology double major and an Art History minor. After I graduate I would like to go to medical school and become a surgeon! I love tennis, ping-pong, baking, exercising, coloring, volunteering, reading and pretty much anything besides sitting still. This is my second year as a CF so I am really excited to make some more great memories with you guys! Come visit me any time, day or night (I don't sleep very much…), because I love to meet new people. Got questions? Come find me! My door is always open.
	Mitchell Song Community Facilitator (CF), 2nd Floor Hi! My name is Mitchell Song and I am from San Jose, CA. This is my second year at SCU and I am excited to join the da Vinci community! I am a Political Science major and Sociology minor, and hope that one day I will be a lawyer. In my free time I enjoy longboarding, swimming, and eating. I love meeting new people and if you ever want to go for a ride or just learn how to longboard, come and find me! I can't wait to meet all of you!
	Cynthia Duran Community Facilitator (CF), 2nd Floor Hello everyone! My name is Cynthia Duran and I am a senior double major in English and Women's & Gender Studies. I am originally from Mexico, but I have grown up in the Bay Area since I was 3 years old. After I graduate, I would love to go to law school and become a lawyer or go to grad school for English so that I can eventually teach. I come from a huge family so I always enjoy company, especially if I can cook for them. Yes, I love to cook and dance, so when you come visit me, we can eat something I cooked or dance. I hope to get to know many of you so welcome and come by to the second floor!
	Maza Brady Community Facilitator (CF), 2nd Floor Well hello there! My name is Maza Brady and I can't wait to welcome everyone to our Italian family! I am from The Dalles, OR, but lived many years in a small town near Barquisimeto, Venezuela. I am currently a Junior and enjoying the great opportunities at SCU to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Personally I am a huge fan of musicals, small animals, nature, and duct tape! Seriously, I have 20-some-odd rolls of all different color duct tape and create such things as wallets, flowers, and what ever else I can think of. On top of these past times I enjoy singing for the Mission Church Choir, dancing, card games, and playing pick up matches of Frisbee or soccer. I love meeting new people so please come on by!
	Ramsey Fisher Community Facilitator (CF), 3rd Floor Hey, I'm Ramsey, and am super stoked to be a CF this year!I'm a sophomore currently triple majoring in history, political science, and economics, and have my eyes set on law school in the future. I was born and raised in Fremont, California just 30 or so minutes shy from here, so if you ever need ideas for fun things to do in the area I got you covered. When I am not working/studying I love hanging out with friends, mountain biking, playing hockey, going on crazy outdoor adventures with a near certainty of getting lost, talking vehemently about politics, watching movies of all genres except horror (yup, I'm a jumper), and above all sitting back with family and friends to talk about life.I love overcast chilly days between the months of October and March—after that bring on the California sunshine.When it comes to music, I play the drums, and guitar and am in love with bands like Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Vampire Weekend etc.Oh and BTDUBS, to say I am a "big" sharks fan would be a grave understatement—just come to my room and see for yourself.I have been a loyal fan since October 8, 1993 (that's my birthday, remember it J) and watch pretty much every game, so if you're ever in need of a hockey fix, don't be a stranger!I love life, ALL the people in it, and can't wait to get to know you, so please don't hesitate to come up and say hi—my door is always open!
	Peter Chester Community Facilitator (CF), 3rd Floor Hey! How's it going da Vinci? I am from Sacramento, California (916 represent!). I am a Junior Mechanical Engineering Major. I love playing sports, having deep conversations, relaxing with friends, building things (if you ever need help fixing your bike, hit me up) and doing anything outside! On campus I am involved in Core Christian Fellowship, enjoy hanging out in Benson, and love being out in the great California weather. This is my third year living in the da Vinci community and I have loved every minute of it! Please stop by my suite, 345, and say hi.
	Cheska Concepcion Community Facilitator (CF), 3rd Floor Hey there! My name is Cheska Concepcion and I'm a Senior Communication major with minors in French and International Business. This is my third year as a Community Facilitator, and I am excited as ever! I get to work with a fabulous staff and hang out with residents! Oh how I love that moment when my residents recognize me not only as a CF, but also as their friend. Here in da Vinci there is hardly a typical day what with all the fun events (usually with lots of free food!), Italian culture programs, and all the amazing people you will meet throughout the year. It's a great privilege to serve as your 3rd floor long hall CF. Welcome home to da Vinci!
	Anthony Balistreri Community Facilitator (CF), 4th Floor Hi everyone! My name is Anthony Balistreri and I am the fourth floor long hall CF. This is my second year as a CF and I'm very excited to meet all of da Vinci's new residents and show them what it's like to be a part of our community! I will have many events throughout the year that celebrate Italian culture so get ready to eat some great food. Hopefully you will learn to love da Vinci as much as I do! If you see me around the building make sure to say hi!
	Alexandria Casares Community Facilitator (CF), 4th Floor Hello there da Vinci! My name is Alex Casares. I am a junior Civil Engineering major. I am from Stockton, California. I love to be be active. I generally run, but I am up for any kind of physical activity especially when it's outside as I love the outdoors. I enjoy baking and I have a weakness for all things chocolate. I like meeting new people and striking up conversation, so come by at any time. I look forward to a great year!
	Matt Smouse Assistant Resident Director (ARD) Yo! Welcome to da Vinci! My name is Matt. I'll be your Assistant Resident Director this year. I'm a senior Finance and Music Composition major. I love traveling, watching all sports, meeting new people, playing music, and going to shows. I also make the best chocolate chip cookies you've never had. We have some awesome ideas for this year, and we can't wait for you to be a part of them! If you see me around, don't hesitate to say hello!
	Kathy Orange Resident Director (RD) I was born and raised in Orange County and moved to Oregon and Iowa to receive my undergraduate (Pacific University) and graduate (Iowa State University) degrees. I then spent two years working with international programs at North Carolina State University and then another three years after as a Resident Director back in Oregon at Pacific University. I have lived in beautiful Casa Italiana with my dog, Maybe, for the last 4 years and most of my free time is spent hanging out with my husband, Adam, whom I married this summer, so you may still see my name as "Kathy Gordon" as my email address or in directories as I transition over to "Kathy Orange" in the next year. Most importantly, I have a killer sweet tooth and will try to keep my office- across from the mailboxes- stocked with candy, so please visit to grab a few pieces (otherwise I may eat it all!).
	David Tauck Faculty Director (FD) I moved into Casa Italiana the morning that the new part of our building opened in 2003; two years later I became the Faculty Director of the da Vinci RLC. As a biology professor I routinely teach Human Physiology and Nutrition, as well as a course for non-science majors called Fitness Physiology. In the fall, Kathy Gordon and I offer members of our community a 1 unit, Pass/Fail elective called da Vinci 101 to promote our themes of Italian culture, science and technology by showing and discussing popular movies. I hold a BA in biology from Middlebury, a PhD in physiology from Duke and completed post-doctoral fellowships in anesthesia at Stanford and in neuroscience at Harvard. Most recently, just for kicks, I earned an MA in Spanish at Middlebury. I travel whenever possible; I've seen grizzly bears and wolves in Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park, penguins and condors at the southern tip of South America, koalas and wallabies on Kangaroo Island off the southern coast of Australia, eagles in the Republic of Georgia (north of Iran between Azerbaijan and the Black Sea) and pigeons on Piazza San Marco in Venice.
	Lin Duangnapa Resident Minister (RM) Hi! My name is Lin Duangnapa and I am super stoked to join the da Vinci community this year. This will be my second year as Resident Minister and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone, having a good time, and providing a welcoming and rich experience for you all. A little bit about myself- I was born in Bangkok, Thailand and grew up in Southern California in a little beach town called El Segundo. In my undergraduate years at UC Santa Barbara I studied Psychology and Education. I continued to pursue my passion for helping others here at Santa Clara University as I am finishing up my Masters in Counseling Psychology. I love working with people, but also loovveee animals. I have a puppy named Abby, she is a German Shepherd. She is pretty awesome and is always happy to meet new people. We love to play in the park, go for walks on campus, and of course Abby always loves a belly rub! Come by and say hi!!!