Saludos! My name is Yeni Castaneto, my pronouns are she/they/ella, and I love to make connections outside of work. I enjoy meeting passionate people and connecting them with others with the same passion.

I am a product of fight and determination as a first-generation Mexican-American. My lived experiences have shaped me in such a way to fight for change. It led me to volunteer with the business resource group BUILD for over two years, and through career advancements and hard work, it has led me here. I owe Dr. Karen Johnson and Megan Matthews for believing in my skills, experience, and passion to appoint me as the office's Senior Administrative Assistant. My family, community, and peers drive me to persist and show up!

I am one of the few that stay in the background. My responsibilities lie in email correspondence for the teams, leaders, and community organizations that work with us and scheduling the connecting meetings. There are projects that I am coordinating and managing as well, ensuring deadlines are being met. I ensure that staff and guests have everything they need to ensure their day flows, barring VPN issues.

For this work, there is no day off. I am an active collective voice amongst the business resource groups, and our allies hold us accountable daily. This applies to the work in the office as well.  I am holding myself accountable by engaging more and providing a safe conversational space for those who want to engage in learning more, those who want to help, and those who do not believe anything is wrong. I have been complicit in upholding systemic racism by not speaking up, and now, no more. So much harm is being done within our systems that it is time for change.

For resources to be available and distributed fairly and justly, prioritizing those with greater need,  without burdens.  For our natural resources to be conserved. For accessibility to be at the forefront of ideas and not an afterthought. For education to be available and accessible to all that desire it, without barriers.