Our Team

Close-up portrait of a young woman with long, curly black hair, light brown eyes, and a beauty mark below her lip, wearing a white blazer and top, looking directly at the camera.

JULIA SANDOVAL

I’m a first-generation Latina and the Founder and President of JVS Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to helping students from underrepresented and low-income communities access higher education through scholarships, mentorship, and essential resources. I started JVS Scholars because I know what it’s like to have big dreams but limited support and I wanted to create the kind of guidance and opportunity I once needed.

Alongside my nonprofit work, I run Sandoval Enterprise LLC, a legal consulting and marketing firm that empowers individuals and small businesses to grow with confidence. My passion lies in helping others break barriers, find their voice, and transform their ambition into real, lasting impact.

A woman standing in an arched corridor, wearing a blue graduation sash with gold details, smiling, with columns and hanging lights in the background.

ELIZABETH BRADY

Hi, my name is Elizabeth Brady, and I am a 2025 graduate of UCLA with two B.A. degrees in Public Affairs and Political Science, and a minor in Labor Studies. I currently serve as Vice President of JVS Scholars and as Treasurer of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council. On campus, I also held leadership roles as President of The Women’s Network at UCLA and Co-Founder and Co-President of Quiet at UCLA. My professional experience spans multiple law firms, a California State Representative’s District Office, the UCLA School of Law, and a Washington, D.C. media journal, with specific legal work in Wills & Trusts, Public Criminal Defense, and Tenants Law. Through JVS Scholars, I am passionate about expanding access to higher education, fostering opportunity through mentorship and community investment, and empowering the next generation of scholars to reach their full potential.

A woman with dark hair, sunglasses, and hoop earrings sits outdoors at a table, smiling. She is wearing a black dress with a white floral pattern. In front of her is a plate with a crepe drizzled with chocolate sauce, powdered sugar, and a dollop of whipped cream. The setting appears to be outside a modern restaurant or cafe, with other outdoor seating, plants, and a blue sky.

JAYLENE SALCIDO

Hello, my name is Jaelynn Salcido. I typically go as Jay. I use she /her pronouns. My education background is a bachelor art of psychology and a certificate degree for teaching English as a second language .I am currently a treasure for JVS scholars. I am one of two first generation college graduate within my family . Also my own experience within going into an international small community college was greatly beneficial of how I want to lead the education system and be a guidance counselor for all students and achieving their educational goal with a diverse background. One of my goals is to make sure that all students achieve their educational goal with confidence, passion, and grit to achieve who and what they want to be because JVS Scholars will help achieve that very goal.

A young woman with long dark hair standing outdoors in a green natural setting, wearing a white sleeveless top and dark pants, smiling softly at the camera.

JENNIFER IBARRA

Jennifer Ibarra is a first-generation college student driven by a profound passion for justice and advocacy. Born to immigrant parents, Jennifer’s life has been deeply influenced by the challenges and triumphs of the immigrant experience. She has a bachelor degree in Political Science and Spanish, and a minor in Latin American and Iberian Studies. Jennifer has been actively involved in various organizations that support immigrant rights and social justice. Her first hand exposure to the struggles faced by immigrants has only deepened her passion to make a great impact in these communities. Jennifer’s goal is to increase access to higher education for all students. She wants to accomplish this by creating outreach programs to underrepresented communities, developing public educational programming that demystifies the application and financial aid processes. She aims to remove systemic barriers and empower individuals to pursue post-secondary success.