Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hometown: Yakima, WA

Focus: Urban Planning, Community Engagement, Social Justice, and Community Resiliency

Bio: Brenda is a junior in CEP, and a first-generation Chicana student from Yakima, WA. She is minoring in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies (GWSS) as well as Education, Learning and Societies (ELS). She is a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority and plays the sousaphone in the Husky Marching Band. Brenda is passionate about people and their relationship with the built environment, specifically the intersection of identities and how we can be more equitable. She is also interested in integrating and preserving culture in the built environment and exploring the role culture plays in creating resilient communities. Brenda enjoys being a plant mom outside of the classroom, hammocking under the sun, and doodling in her bullet journal.

Favorite place in Seattle? The Olympic Sculpture Park at night!

Why did you choose CEP? I chose CEP because I envision a more sustainable, equitable, culturally inclusive future, and CEP does too. CEP provides me with several unique opportunities to build my own education, participate in running the major, and create close relationships between our cohorts. This gives me real exposure to collective decision-making, building inclusive spaces, and showing me how to take better initiative on my passions. I waited an extra year just to be apart of this program because I think it fits my goals and interests so well. I know that at the end of this program, I will have acquired all the skills and frameworks necessary to make positive change.

Hobbies: I make art and like learning new ways to craft.

Favorite thing to do over quarantine? Going on long nature walks and scream singing in the car with my roommates. (-:

Favorite Movies: Hidden Figures and Uptown Girls

Favorite Food: Carne en su Jugo!!

Favorite Song: Hand Me Downs by Mac Miller

Ask me about… house plants, my art, double minoring, study abroad, first-generation student, CAMP, Husky Marching Band, bullet journaling.

ASK BRENDA A QUESTION