Gabby Gutierrez-Serrano
Executive Director
Gabby Gutierrez-Serrano is the Executive Director of the Yardi Scholars for Environmental Justice Program. Gabby teaches the specialized Yardi EJ courses, provides comprehensive mentorship and academic guidance to Yardi Scholars throughout their time at UCSB, and coordinates program activities.
Originally from the Bay Area, Gabby is a first-generation college graduate who began her journey at UCSB as an undergraduate where she received her B.A. in Chicana/o Studies with a minor in Educational Studies. She went on to pursue her M.A. and Ph.D. at UCSB's Gevirtz Graduate School of Education where she examined the educational experiences of Latinx first-generation college students. Her research specifically focused on understanding the motivational factors influencing Latina first-generation undergraduates majoring in STEM to persist to degree completion and aspire to STEM careers.
Before joining the Yardi Scholars Program, she served as the Program Director of the Promoting Opportunity and Equity in Learning (PROPEL) Program in the Division of Social Sciences and Program Coordinator for the Promise Scholars Program, both at UC Santa Barbara. In these roles, she provided high-touch advising and wraparound support to students predominantly from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds. Through these comprehensive approaches, she supported students from their time entering the university, helping them navigate all aspects of university life, including financial aid, academic advising, course selection, undergraduate research and internship opportunities, and post-graduation readiness.