Undergraduate Mentors
HAVC mentors are available to share their valuable knowledge and experience with other HAVC students, to help them feel connected to the department and their peers. They can offer guidance on courses, faculty, areas of study, and ways to get involved. Mentors also serve as members of the Chair’s Student Advisory Board, and in this capacity have the opportunity to share their perspective and feedback with the department chair at quarterly meetings.
HAVC student representatives are also mentors, but go beyond that role by serving as an important channel of communication between the department and the HAVC student community. Student representatives manage our social media, facilitate student outreach, and help to develop and plan events.
Arabella Edler
Arabella is a fourth-year dual major in History of Art and Visual Culture with a Curation, Heritage, and Museums Concentration and Literature with a Creative Writing Concentration in Poetry. She is passionate about Archival and Museum Studies, African Architecture, Renaissance Classics, 18th Century British Literature, and Speculative Fiction. Arabella is currently a Tutor and Teaching Assistant for the UCSC Writing Department and taught the Stevenson Course “Self and Society” at UCSC. Additionally, she teaches poetry with the Santa Cruz Power in Poetry Project and is a Resident Assistant at Kresge College in the Writers House. She’s happy to assist with any questions regarding the HAVC major or concentration, experience with double majoring, or getting involved with the HAVC Department and Santa Cruz community.
Email: aedler@ucsc.edu
Kaitlin Hurd
Kaitlin is a third-year HAVC major from San Diego, CA. She is interested in Asian art, as well as bookmaking, sculpture, and textile. Social justice, feminism, and anti-imperialism are also important areas of study, as well as astronomy, music, and coding. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, making music, playing with her cats, and drinking large amounts of coffee! Reach out to her about anything (especially books and bookmaking)!
Email: kahurd@ucsc.edu
Mikayla Lorico
Mikayla is a fourth-year HAVC and Biotechnology double major, concentrating in Curation, Heritage, and Museums from Salinas, California. Her interests include transforming museum institutions, advocating for environmental and social justice through art, and integrating design in biotechnology. She aims to merge her knowledge in art and science to enhance the fluidity and sustainability of both biotechnological innovations and museums spaces. Recently, she spent a quarter in Rome to further her education of art and its impacts in Europe. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her friends, playing pickleball, and listening to music. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions regarding HAVC, studying abroad, juggling double majors, or anything else!
Email: mlorico@ucsc.edu
Matthew Martinez
Matthew (he/him) is a fifth-year History of Art and Visual Culture and Anthropology major at UC Santa Cruz. He is originally from Dallas, TX and moved to California to pursue his dreams. He enjoys all types of mediums of artistic expression and the nuances of culture. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the beautiful diversity that is unique to California and capturing it with film photography.
Email: mafimart@ucsc.edu
Grace Reynolds
Grace is a third-year student from Los Angeles, double majoring in Art and HAVC with a CHM concentration. She especially loves printmaking and is a huge fan of the artist Corita Kent, an activist and former teacher at Grace’s alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School. Grace hopes to explore a career in art conservation. Outside school, she loves crocheting, playing guitar, trying new foods, thrifting, and documenting her adventures. Feel free to reach out with any questions, about HAVC or not!
Grace is also a HAVC student representative!
Email: glreynol@ucsc.edu
Ava Rusch
Ava is a fourth-year History of Art and Visual Culture major from Claremont, CA with a completed concentration in Curation, Heritage, and Museum studies. Ava is the ‘24-‘25 CUIP intern for the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery. She has also worked with UCSC’s ArtsBridge program in youth art education. Ava’s academic interests surround education in art spaces, accessibility, and contemporary and modern art as it relates to social issues. Outside of school, Ava loves to spend time with friends, sew and make art, go to shows, collect CD’s, and enjoy art every day! Feel free to contact Ava via email or social media (@kbcoverstar) to talk about the HAVC program, classes, or just chat!
Email: arusch@ucsc.edu
Ella Villar
Ella is a fourth-year double major in HAVC and CRES (Critical Race and Ethnic Studies). She is studying in the Curation, Heritage, and Museum concentration of the HAVC major, hoping to work in curation or museum education post-graduation. Currently, Ella is working as an assistant editor of the journal, Pacific Arts, under the leadership of Professor Stacy Kamehiro. She has also spent Winter and Spring of 2024 in Rome to study abroad. She was able to live in the city center studying art, architecture, religious visual culture and other topics in art history, including studies in art crime. Outside of studying in McHenry, you can find her at the Merrill Pottery Co-op, 11th Hour Coffee, or just about anywhere around campus listening to music and reading. She is always happy to help you with any questions you may have about HAVC, internships, or studying abroad, so feel free to reach out for anything you may want to talk about.
Email: eljovill@ucsc.edu
Morgan Woodley
Morgan is a second-year HAVC major from Huntington Beach, California. She is interested in feminist art, specifically studying how female artists use their artwork to deconstruct gender roles and hierarchy. Outside of school, she loves reading, thrifting, and doing makeup on herself and on others. She would love any opportunity to talk about all things HAVC so feel free to reach out anytime!
Morgan is also a HAVC student representative!
Email: mwoodley@ucsc.edu
