Hello! My name is Alissa Magorian, and I use she/hers pronouns. I came to UC Davis in 2012, working in Admissions and Enrollment Management until 2020, when I became an Undergraduate Advisor. I love connecting with scholars and supporting them in reaching their goals. I was a first-generation college student from a working-class family, and I remember feeling like I had to figure everything out on my own. I want you to know that you don’t have to do it all alone. As an advisor, I’m here to help you navigate the university, connect you to resources, and be a thought-partner as you explore opportunities.

I received my B.A. in English from University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, then earned my M.A. in English at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and am now (finally) finishing up my doctorate in Educational Leadership (the CANDEL program) at UC Davis. My journey has certainly been shaped by my various identities – first-gen college student and professional, white, cis-gender woman, queer, graduate student. We bring our whole selves in this space of higher education, and that is important. In addition to supporting students, I am passionate about advocating for policies and practices in higher education that enhance diversity and that foster belonging, inclusion, and equity.

Hobbies: gardening, hiking, reading. Some favorite authors include: Audre Lorde, Sarah Waters, Toni Morrison, Joy Harjo, Jeanette Winterson, bell hooks, Isabel Allende, Joyce Carol Oates, Rudolfo Anaya…