Dr. Bryan Hubain

Associate Vice President, Student Development and Inclusion

Dr. Bryan Hubain hails from the Helen of the West Indies, Saint Lucia! He currently oversees the Women’s Resource Center, Veterans Success Center, LGBT Center, Financial Wellness Center, TRIO Programs, and Career & Professional Development Center.

His role with Basic Needs Collective is to provide strategic direction in collaboration with his colleagues for Basic Needs as a whole. He would like to find more ways of connecting with University of Utah students and find ways of supporting their success by creating access to University related services and resources. His research and practice mutually inform each other in hopes of dismantling systemic barriers that undermine the success of underrepresented students, and finding ways to promote the persistence and degree completion of underrepresented students in higher education.

Sarah Elizabeth Garza-Levitt

Associate Director, Basic Needs Collective

Sarah Elizabeth is a first-generation college student who earned an Associate of Science at Salt Lake Community College, a Bachelor, and a Masters of Social Work at the University of Utah. Since joining the U as a staff person in 2016, Sarah Elizabeth has been an active member of the campus community advocating for the importance of basic needs security as a key to success. Informed by her experience as a single working parent, taking many years to attain higher education, she believes basic needs such as the economic, food, and housing experience among students, staff, and faculty directly impact their health and well-being. In 2020 Sarah Elizabeth led efforts to found the health campus FEED U Pantry satellite in EHSEB, and partnered with University Hospital Nutrition Care Services on a food recovery project. Over 25,000 lbs. of food have been recovered and distributed through the pantry. Additionally, Sarah Elizabeth is pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Utah and is studying college student poverty and its impact on health, academic performance, and retention/completion outcomes.

Pearl Patel

Basic Needs Collective Intern

Pearl is a first-generation college student majoring in Information Systems and minoring in Business Analytics. Pearl graduated with her associate's degree at SLCC while in high school and has accumulated over 500 hours volunteering at various campus and community organizations. In her role with the Basic Needs Collective, Pearl oversees the UHealth EHSEB Feed U Pantry and provides basic needs programming support. In her free time, she loves volunteering, participating in fundraising events, spending time outdoors, trying new foods, and traveling. 

 

 

 

Jennifer Rodela

Basic Needs Collective Intern

Jennifer is a first-generation student who immigrated to the USA and graduated with honors from a JROTC highschool in Utah. She is now attending The University of Utah, Fall of 2022 being her first semester. She has engaged with the U programs and services, as of now, she is a part of The Basic Needs Collective. 

Her task is to support and provide other U of U students resources and services to ensure their success in a higher education. As an underrepresented student herself she understands the struggles and difficulties one can face, specially in a higher education environment. This is why she has joined The Basic Needs Collective, to provide connections to others and be a part of something that can help a great number of students. 

 

 

 

Jose Torres

AmeriCorps Service Member

Jose Torres is a first-generation college student with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. He spends a lot of time volunteering and doing research. In his free time, he enjoys going out and trying new food. 

He is the Basic Needs Americorp Member and is in charge of the Volunteer Ambassador Program for the Basic Needs Collective. He wants to help destigmatize basic needs and asking for help for students attending the U.

 

 

 

Elisa Diaz

AmeriCorps Service Member

Elisa is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She is involved in the University community and focuses on building connections with organizations on campus. Her volunteering focused on social justice issues has led her to the Basic Needs Collective. Elisa is a Basic Needs AmeriCorps Service Member, and her responsibilities concern the Pop-up Thrift Store and volunteer coordination. She hopes that through her work, she can make a positive impact by helping students get involved and engaged with our campus community.