Anyssa Torres

I am Anyssa Anahí, a fourth year graduating this fall with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Sociology and Chicanx/Latinx Studies from UC Berkeley. My interests today are directly tied to my youth spent in the San Joaquin Valley as it relates to building community as form of resistance. This capture of community is what leads to my attraction towards research and library science as a career of paying homage to the folks back home.

As I wrap up my time as an undergraduate student, I am continuing my work in the Ethnic Studies Library, researching with the support of the Latinx Social Studies Pipeline Initiative, and volunteering at the Freedom Archives.

Circulation Desk Assistant; Ethnic Studies Library

• Reliably guide patrons of multigenerational, cultural backgrounds to our library's resources including archival materials, microfilm, physical books, as well as connecting them with professional, librarian staff
• Utilizing Library of Congress Classification System, I effectively catalogue, re-shelve, and organize across our various collections: Chicanx Studies, Asian-American Studies, Native-American Studies, Faculty, and Comparative Ethnic Studies Collection

Intern/Volunteer; The Freedom Archives

• Engage with archival materials (periodicals, monographs, reel-to-reels, cassette tapes, and more) dated from the 1960s through 1990s
• Consciously plug in information into the archival database in order to sustain accessibility for public usage

Research Assistant; The Latino Social Studies Pipeline Initiative

• Independently assist Associate Professor within the Chicanx/Latinx Program at UC Berkeley on a research project interested in learning about the programs/departments across universities nation-wide
• Wide-ranging tasks that vary throughout the weeks working approximately 10 hours/week such as coordinating, conducting, and transcribing interviews with students in addition to CITI Program training

University of California, Berkeley (August 2021-December 2024)

Activities and societies: Chicanx/Latinx Undergraduate Association (CLUA)

• Engage with faculty and lecturers via meetings as it relates to retention as well as growth within the program
• Coordinating socials and other events in order to sponsor community within the program
• Working collaboratively with other Chicanx/Latinx majors

Freshman/Transfer Edge Program Ambassador

• Promote a smoother transition for incoming students via hybrid model
• Share insight on my experience with the program with student-audiences