Stanford’s Year Up Community Continues to Grow

Friday, February 14, 2025

Felipe Garcia Villa

“My name is Felipe Garcia Villa. I am an I.T. Intern here at Stanford thanks to the Year Up United Program. Having the opportunity to be part of the Stanford family has been amazing, everyone has been friendly and growth is the top priority. Collaboration is a huge component here at Stanford, everyone’s voices are heard and you are encouraged to share your ideas. Coming from no previous I.T. work history I have been able to expand my soft skills while growing my hardware skills with the people I have been able to help. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here and the continued support Year Up and Stanford have offered!”

Internship Track: IT Helpdesk and Desktop Support
Stanford Internship Position: IT Service Desk

Jocelyn Torres Lepe

“Am I dreaming? That’s what I kept asking myself before starting this internship, and even now, just a week in, it still feels surreal. From day one, I’ve been welcomed by amazing people who’ve made me feel right at home. Being part of the UIT Service Desk team is an incredible experience—we often say “Our knowledge is a mile wide and an inch deep" because we have to know so much to help users effectively. It’s been challenging, but I’m already learning so much and feel grateful to be part of such a dynamic team. I’m proud to have completed the Year Up program, which opened the door to this life-changing opportunity. I know I’m making my family proud, and I’m excited to keep growing, learning, and contributing during my time at Stanford!”

Internship Track: IT HelpDesk and Support
Stanford Internship Position: UIT Service Desk

Miguel Rico Santana

“I am currently an intern at the IT helpdesk at Stanford University Library (SUL), where I have an opportunity to learn how the tech world works at Stanford. Taking on support tickets that come from staff with tech issues waiting to be resolved, organizing our inventory to keep up with our supplies, and many more tasks. I am learning a lot from the entire team, Elmer is a great manager and is teaching me many things and it's just the beginning. I am super grateful and honored for the opportunity to be a part of something great. I am eager to learn many technical, and professional skills to prepare me for the tech industry/world, build my network with amazing people, and represent my personal brand to the world. Stanford truly has great tech support.”

Internship Track: IT HelpDesk and Desktop Support
Stanford Internship Position: Stanford University Library tech support

For the seventh year in a row, the Year Up United Internship Program and Stanford IT community are hosting Year Up interns—providing them with first-hand experience in the workforce. In January, we welcomed 12 new interns!

Year Up United

Year Up United (YUU) equips young professionals with the technical skills and real-world experience needed to build meaningful careers through structured programs that include hands-on training and internships at organizations like Stanford.

At Stanford, YUU interns gain mentorship, career coaching, and exposure to a dynamic workplace culture. By the end of the Internship, YUU graduates are ready to pursue their path– whether it’s launching a career, continuing their education, or contributing to the Bay Area and beyond.

“We passed 200 interns in this cohort. That's an amazing milestone!” says Hope Johnson, Year Up Partnership Lead. “Year Up alumni working at Stanford are also starting to earn promotions.” Hitting that milestone and interns continuing to thrive at Stanford highlights the community's commitment to creating opportunities for talented people.

We have five returning sponsoring organizations: the Graduate School of Business; Land, Buildings and Real Estate; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Stanford University Libraries; and University IT.

“In partnership with the CIO Council, the Year Up United internship program provides a unique opportunity to tap the breadth of amazing young talent that is reflective of our broader Bay Area community,” said Steve Gallagher, Chief Information Officer and executive sponsor for the Stanford Year Up Internship program. “I’m delighted to see this program continue to grow and prosper across Stanford.”

This Cohort’s Interns

Miguel Domine, University IT
Jocelyn Torres Lepe, University IT
Julia Anaya Espinoza, University IT
Andrew Gamboa, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Felipe Garcia Villa, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Yamilette Ramos, Land, Buildings and Real Estate
Joshua Tran, University IT
Trevor Pagaduan, University IT
Ruth Abebe, University IT
Miguel Rico-Santana, Stanford University Libraries
Anjali Vemuri, Graduate School of Business
David Mendoza, University IT

Learn More

Year Up United is an integral part of the CIO Council's strategic vision for the IT community at Stanford. Visit the Year Up Internship Program page to learn more. For more information on the Year Up United organization, visit yearup.org.