Our Team
Colette (Coco) Auerswald, MD, MS
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Washington D.C.
Coco is a pediatrician, specialist in adolescent medicine and Professor of Community Health Sciences in the School of Public Health. She is the Co-Director/co-Founder of i4Y (Innovations for Youth), a collaborative academic/community hub committed to improving youth wellbeing through structural change. For the last twenty-six years, she has studied the social determinants of wellbeing among historically marginalized youth, particularly youth experiencing homelessness. She is committed to working in partnership with communities in ways that prioritize youth voice and partnership in research.
Claire Genese
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Daly City, California
Major: Master of City Planning and Master of Public Health
Claire Genese is a second-year graduate student studying the intersection of homelessness and public health. She is a graduate student researcher doing community outreach to help collect data for the California Homeless Youth Project's Youth Homelessness Dashboard. She is also working to develop guidelines for communities to use when allocating youth dedicated funds from Cal ICH's Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention grant program. Prior to attending UC Berkeley, Claire served as the Coordinated Entry for Youth Program Manager with San Francisco's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. When she's not advocating to end youth homelessness, Claire can be found tending to her plants or cuddling with her spouse and their 14 year old dog.
Silvana Larrea Schiavon
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Major: MD (Specialty in Preventive Medicine), MPH
I'm currently a thirdsecond-year Doctor of Public Health candidatestudent and one of the Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) at the YAAH Lab. Prior to starting my graduate program at UC Berkeley, I was a Program Officer for the Poverty, Gender, and Youth program in the Population Council Mexico office. I am also a co-investigator in diverse research projects related to migration and health, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health. In the lab, I work closely with the rest of the team in developing and implementing our research activities. Currently, we are working on evaluating the HHAP youth-set-aside funds for youth experiencing homelessness in California. My research interests include sexual and reproductive health, migration and health, and health inequalities. I enjoy reading, biking, walking around the Bay Area, and trying new food.
Jasmine Mah
Major: Sociology & Public Health
My name is Jasmine Mah and I am a sophomore studying Sociology and Public Health at Berkeley! In all my studies, I have always gravitated toward human rights advocacy, and I have always hoped to be able to exercise my privilege by helping those who are at a disadvantage. I still have so much to learn, but it is an honor being a part of a team that holds similar values!
Amber Peake
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Albemarle, North Carolina
Major: Public Health
I am currently a third year undergraduate studying Public Health. I am part of the Cal ICH pod of the lab which focuses on evaluating programs and funding for youth experiencing homelessness. Outside of the lab, I volunteer at John Muir Medical Center on the medical surgical ICU and the mother baby recovery. I also volunteer with hospice and have an interest in end of life care and processes. I am passionate about providing access to care for underrepresented and marginalized populations along with women’s health. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family, hike, and experience live music!
Sydney Tucker
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia
Major: Master of public health in epidemiology and biostatistics
Sydney is graduating with her Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics and starting a PhD in epidemiology. Sydney has worked in the YAAH lab to analyze survey data aiming to understand the impact of COVID-19 on youth experiencing homelessness in the Bay Area, as well as specifically assess the feasibility of this online approach for surveying youth who are unhoused. Sydney is passionate about using epidemiology to identify effective, creative solutions to help people who have experienced significant trauma heal, restore, and live flourishing lives.
Maddy Cuyler
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Easy Bay Area
Maddy Cuyler was raised in the East Bay Area and returned to complete her Master's in Public Health (Health & Social Behavior) from UC Berkeley after spending nearly a decade living in and exploring Oregon. Maddy received a BS in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon with a minor in Food Studies. Prior to graduate school, Maddy worked in food justice and health equity in academic, non-profit, and government institutions. While at Berkeley she further explored her interests in harm reduction, addressing the root causes of homelessness, and police abolition/community safety alternatives. She is passionate about using participatory research methods to elevate the expertise of community members in the planning and evaluation of effective public health interventions. In her free time, Maddy enjoys cooking, music, outdoor activities, and spending time with her dog, Winnie.
Jasleen Kang
Any Pronouns
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Major: Public Health
I'm currently a second-year undergrad studying Public Health. I'm a part of the Research & Dissemination pod of the lab which focuses on website development and infographic creation. Outside of the lab, I'm also a part of the Medical Section of Berkeley Free Clinic and participate in the Women's & Children's Clinic for Suitcase Clinic. I'm currently really interested in women’s health, with an emphasis on reproductive care. In my free time, I also love to crochet and read!
Karen Esparza Lopez
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Ruskin, Florida
Major: Political Science
Identities: First-generation, Mexican Immigrant, Transfer Student, Former Foster Youth, System Impacted.
Karen is currently a fourth-year undergrad studying Political Science. Karen is part of the Youth and Allies Against Homelessness: Mixed Method Evaluation Research Regarding Youth Homelessness research lab, which focuses on generating a body of evidence that can be used to impact the implementation of programs for youth experiencing homelessness, as well as policies related to addressing and ending youth homelessness. Outside of the lab, Karen is an Assistant Program Director for the Public Policy and International Affairs program at the UC Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy. As a former foster youth, she has dedicated her career to advocating for child welfare system improvements through policy, legislation, and research. In her free time, she enjoys reading and baking!
Nicole Sears
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Major: Microbial Biology
I’m currently a 4th year undergraduate student studying Microbial Biology. I am working on the survey for the California Interagency Council on Homelessness project, which seeks to evaluate funding for ending youth homelessness. I also work to create dissemination products for the lab. Outside of the lab, I am the Women’s Clinic Director for the Suitcase Clinic. In my free time, I like to play guitar, listen to live music and spend time with my family and friends.
Sahra Nawabi
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Hayward, California
Major: Sociology
Sahra, also known as the Youth advocate and Researcher, graduated from Chabot College in 2023 and strives to continue her education. She met YAAH through her current role at the Alameda's Youth Advisory Board (YAB), as Youth Lead where she works in partnership with currently and formerly unhoused youth to inform, advise, and take action on programs, projects, metrics and processes for our youth homeless responses system in the County. She has described the lab as an honor and opportunity of how it feels to work with evolving like-minded individuals who are actively working to evaluate and address the root cases of youth homelessness. In her free time she enjoys self care activities such as reading, skating, & baths.
Shukri Suhir
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Major: Public Health
I'm currently a third-year undergraduate studying Public Health and minoring in Data Science. I am part of the California Interagency Council on Homelessness project, which researches the impact and implementation of funding related to ending youth homelessness in California. Outside of the lab, I do work as an Outreach Coordinator for Suitcase Clinic, a student-run organization that serves the unhoused community of Berkeley, and as an Emergency Medical Technician in San Francisco. In my free time, I enjoy going on hikes and runs with friends, playing piano, and cheering on the San Francisco 49ers and Giants!