Associated Students of UCR

Asha Nettles

Executive Director

(951) 827-2782
asha.nettles@ucr.edu

Asha Nettles (she/her) serves as the Executive Director of the Associated Students of the University of California, where she leads as the primary advisor and administrator for operations, programs, and initiatives. In this role, she supports both student leaders and professional staff across student government with a focus on cultivating leadership, organizational, and personal skills through group and individual engagement. She also oversees the growth and sustainability of programs and services designed to support students and student organizations.

A double alumna of California State University, Long Beach, Asha earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and her Master of Science in Counseling, with an option in Student Development in Higher Education. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership for Higher Education, where her research centers on the persistence of first-generation college students. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to training and mentoring student leaders and professional staff in governance, advocacy, and policy decision-making. Driven by her passion for motivating, empowering, and engaging others, Asha works to help students and staff become the best versions of themselves while fostering a deeper sense of care for the communities and world around them.

Amy Carrizosa

Financial Operations Manager

(951) 827-4128
amy.carrizosa@ucr.edu

Rachel Freeman-Cohen

Coordinator for Programs & Initiatives   

rachel.freemancohen@ucr.edu

Rachel Freeman-Cohen serves as the Coordinator for Programs and Initiatives for Associated Students at the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR). As Coordinator, Rachel supports the programmatic needs and travel coordination of Student Leaders and their various offices within ASUCR. Rachel graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts in Feminist Studies and a minor in Politics. There, she gained experience working in student government as an intern for the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (VPDI) office to then be elected by campus the following year as the VPDI. Rachel grew her passion for working with students, fostering their leadership potential, and creating opportunities for meaningful and transformative campus experiences at the University of Southern California where she earned her Masters of Education in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs. 

They have experience working in student government, identity and cultural centers, and student life with an emphasis in large-scale event programming. Rachel emphasizes in any space they occupy the importance of listening to students and centers education, advocacy, outreach, and engagement as a praxis for building community and understanding with campus communities. It is important to her in fostering an open, safe, inclusive space that is committed to empowering student and campus leaders to create environments that are a nexus for acceptance and wellbeing. 

When Rachel is not working, you can find her engaging in community, trying out new recipes, and absolutely loving her adorable cat while wondering where she went wrong in raising their rascal of a dog. As a bonus, Rachel also loves to discuss kpop and anime fandoms, really anything pop culture-related, and hopes to write a dissertation in the future on queerness within Asian media.