Get to know your Classified Senate executive team!
Vee Zahare
President
Hello Classified Professionals! My name is Vee, and I am honored to serve as your 2026-27 Classified Senate President. I have been part of the ÃÛÌÒAPP family for nearly 10 years, all within Financial Aid. I started as an NBU and worked my way up to my current Out-of-Class position as a Senior Financial Aid Specialist.
When I'm not at work, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband, our energetic 3-year-old son, and our even more energetic recently adopted puppy, Abby, a Corgi/Border Collie mix!
One random fact about me: I am slightly obsessed with matcha lattes, so if you have a favorite spot or recommendation, please send it my way! I'm always looking for my next matcha fix.
The Classified Senate Executive Team and I look forward to working with all of you throughout the year. I'm excited for the year ahead and, most importantly, for the opportunity to listen, connect, and represent our wonderful classified professionals.
Here's to a great 2026-27!
Marco Madariaga Benavides
President-Elect
My name is Marco Benavides, and I have the privilege of being the President-Elect this year. This means next year I will be your Classified Senate President.
When I was a student at ÃÛÌÒAPP, the classified professionals contributed greatly to my success today. Now, as the K-12 Enrollment Coach for the Outreach and Strategic Partnerships office, I have the honor of showing our community who we are: a caring campus.
As a 1st-generation student myself, this has great meaning for me, helping our students navigate our college.
Cheers to an exciting academic year!
Erlynne Ballo
Past President
Erlynne Ball is serving as the Classified Senate's Past President. She's been actively involved in Classified Senate since 2022 in various roles and is proud of the ways that the Classified voice has been amplified through both Senate and Caring Campus.
Erlynne has been with Saddleback since 2017 and with the district since 2014. In her current role, she serves as a Promise Program Success Coach. She's dedicated to helping students overcome barriers and connect with the resources they need to succeed.
She values collaboration, radical inclusion, social justice, delicious coffee, and laughing as much as possible while at work.
Chantelle Gil
Vice President at Large
Chantelle Gil has proudly been part of the ÃÛÌÒAPP community for 15 years, beginning her journey as a student before becoming a Classified Professional and campus leader.
An equity champion, she is a passionate advocate for Classified Professionals, noncredit education, nontraditional students, and adult learners. She currently serves as the 2026-27 Classified Senate Vice President at Large, following previous leadership roles as Classified Senate President and the college's inaugural Classified Senate Vice President of Equity & Inclusion.
Her campus leadership has also included serving as a former Tri-Chair of the Caring Campus Committee and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee, reflecting her longstanding commitment to belonging, equity, and an inclusive campus community.
Through her work in Extended Learning, Chantelle leads ÃÛÌÒAPP's United Domestic Workers (UDW) partnership and supports a regional consortium of adult education leaders dedicated to expanding access, strengthening educational and career pathways, and creating opportunities for adult learners in South Orange County.
Her own journey from student to Classified Professional remains at the heart of her work, inspiring her commitment to elevating Classified voices, advancing equity, fostering meaningful connections across the campus community, and helping students see what is possible.
Angie Veliz
Vice President, Equity and Inclusion
Hello Classified Professionals! My name is Angie Veliz, and I am honored to serve as the Vice President of Equity and Inclusion for this academic year.
As a first-generation college graduate, former EOPS student, and transfer student, my journey shapes my passion for advocacy. I am dedicated to breaking down barriers for students and colleagues and meeting everyone where they are to ensure our campus community is inclusive, supportive, and accessible to all.
In my current role, I serve as the EOPS/Foster Scholar Specialist, where I help students learn how to navigate higher education and connect them to various resources on campus.
As an SJCA, ACCCA (Cohort 5) graduate, I look forward to applying a strong social justice lens to this work.
I am excited to connect, collaborate, and hear from all of you in our upcoming meetings.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Georgina Martinez
Treasurer
Hello, my name is Georgina. I am the Classified Senate Treasurer for this academic year (2026-2027).
I have been working at Saddleback since 2016, first in Student Equity, then in the Promise Program, and now in the MESA Program.
As a first-generation college graduate, I am passionate about serving students and my peers. I love all things astronomy! I have the honor to see how the campus has grown and continues to evolve into an equity-focused institution.
I have held various roles for Classified Senate since joining four years ago. I am excited to nerd out on spreadsheets and help others with PD opportunities.
Riley Phelps
Secretary
I’m a classified professional at ÃÛÌÒAPP with a passion for student success, professional development, and creating a more accessible and caring campus community.
Since joining the college workforce in 2018, I’ve supported students across multiple service areas, including first-generation students, veterans, and incoming freshmen navigating barriers to higher education.
As a Program Student Support Specialist, I bring both lived experience and a student-centered perspective to my work, with a strong interest in using data and improving systems to make college easier to navigate for both students and staff.
I’m proud to continue serving Classified Senate as Secretary after previously serving as Vice President and Member-at-Large. I’m especially passionate about helping classified professionals grow, build confidence, and see themselves as leaders.
Through Caring Campus, the AI Workgroup, and ACCCA Cohort 8, I hope to bring back new ideas, strengthen connections, remove barriers, and expand opportunities for our campus community, with curiosity, collaboration, care, and a little fun along the way.
Donna Nguyen
Member at Large
I’m excited to serve as Member-at-Large on Classified Senate and connect with fellow classified professionals across campus.
As the Program Technician in Workforce Program Innovations and Partnerships, I support high school articulation and dual enrollment programs, creating smooth transitions from local K-12 schools into higher education.
Prior to joining Saddleback, I worked in campus housing at UC Irvine and spent time as a therapist in school and community mental health settings.
That mix of human-centered work has given me a deep respect for meaningful collaboration, active listening, and finding practical solutions that genuinely support the broader community.
Noelle Chow
Member at Large
I'm delighted to serve on the executive team this year and represent ATEP, that not-so-far-off island of ovens and engines.
I value a culture of kindness, collaboration, and fun. When these are present among staff, they can touch students and the campus as a whole.
Ask me about my favorite fonts, what makes a "good word," and the type of poem that sounds like an ice cream.
Victor Valdez
Events Coordinator
Prior to Saddleback, Victor accumulated a wealth of internship opportunities within various HSI community colleges, UC San Diego, and USC.
Victor identifies as a first-generation, queer, Latine professional. Navigating higher education, Victor found communities that allowed him to find his purpose and career aspirations.
Activating his intent and passions, Victor now wants to pay it forward to the ÃÛÌÒAPP community. Victor is strongly committed to social justice and ensuring students feel seen, represented, and affirmed with care and empathy, helping them find purpose and a sense of belonging on campus.
Madeline Hernandez
Caring Campus Liason
Hi, friends! I’m Maddie, and I’m excited to serve as the Caring Campus Liaison for Classified Senate.
As a proud Saddleback alumna and STEM Success Coach, I’m passionate about creating a campus where every student and employee feels welcomed, valued, and supported.
Over the past few years, I’ve served on Senate as both Member-at-Large and Treasurer, and I’m excited to continue serving in this new role.
I look forward to collaborating with all of you to strengthen our Caring Campus culture.
I love being creative and finding new coffee and matcha spots to enjoy, if you ever want to join me!
Let’s work together to make Saddleback a place where connection and care are part of our everyday campus experience.
Diana Ramos
Webmaster
My name is Diana Ramos, and I’m excited to serve as the Classified Senate Webmaster for the 2026-2027 academic year.
I have worked at ÃÛÌÒAPP since 2015 and currently serve as the Health and Wellness Program Specialist for the Nursing Program.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Classified Senate Executive Team. I look forward to participating in meaningful conversations, representing the voices of classified professionals, and contributing ideas that will help make our Classified Senate stronger and more connected.