Office of Institutional Diversity

Veronica found her passion for supporting students in higher education at a non-profit called Step Up Women’s Network where she worked with high school girls to help them understand and apply to college, while providing opportunities to explore careers through mentorship and internship programs. After receiving her master’s degree in education from the University of La Verne and working in a charter school system for several years, she officially entered higher education at the University of Southern California and served as an academic advisor and assistant director in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s Academic and Advisement Services office. At USC, she served on the First-Generation College Student Task Force which organized the inaugural, First Generation College Student Summit, she was a mentor for First-Generation students and an advisor for the Annenberg Latino Student Association. Most recently, Veronica was Senior Director of Student Affairs at Keck Graduate Institute and oversaw Student Accessibility Services, Academic Support Services, Title IX, International Student Programming, Student and Campus Life and was a member of the JEDI committee and 7C Inclusive Excellence Committee. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Southern California.

When she is not working, she is usually at the park with her three kids helping on their soccer and baseball teams, along with her husband. Her top five Gallup Clifton Strengths are: Adaptability, Relator, Developer, Harmony and Maximizer.

Nita Kansara has been at Harvey Mudd College since August 2021, working as the Facilities Operations Assistant Manager, responsible for the daily operations, accounting and supervising student staff.With more than 20 years of experience in Higher Education, Nita previously held positions at Pomona College, focusing on Student Affairs. Her breadth of experience encompasses roles in Residence Life, Campus Housing, Academic Affairs, and student support. Additionally, she has provided informal advising as a language and cultural mentor to international students.Originally from Mumbai, India, Nita earned her B.A. in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Mumbai. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, she is passionate about assisting international students in navigating college life in the US and facilitating their access to various resources.

When not working, Nita enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and playing Scrabble. She lives in Rancho Cucamonga with her husband and their two grown children.

Kristen McVaugh (She/They) is a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to advancing social justice and inclusion. Kristen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Azusa Pacific University, where she developed a keen understanding of the importance of advocating for marginalized communities. Next, they pursued a Master’s degree in Sociology at Cal State Fullerton in 2021, specializing in gender, sexuality, communication, and meaning-making. Concurrently, Kristen served as the inaugural Graduate Assistant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal State Fullerton’s Associated Students, Inc. In this role, she was instrumental in developing the program from its inception, launching several impactful initiatives, enhancing staff training, and promoting collaborative events across campus. 

When she is not working, Kristen is usually exercising, reading, or spending time with her wife and their dog. 

Ayah Hamdallah is a current Masters of Public Policy student at UCLA, with an education policy concentration. During her time in undergrad at UCLA, Ayah discovered her passion for student mentorship and her interest in advancing equity in higher education. As a first-generation college student, Ayah experienced firsthand the unique challenges first-gen students often face when navigating unfamiliar academic environments and barriers to opportunities, thus, motivating her to pursue roles within UCLA’s Academic Advancement Program and UCLA’s CCCP Office where she partook in mentorship and the promotion of accessible support programs to first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students in higher education. Her experiences in undergrad shaped her desire to foster inclusive and supportive educational systems, and led her to pursue her Master’s degree. 

Prior to becoming the Graduate Assistant here at the Office of Institutional Diversity, Ayah had worked at the Office of Advancement and Communications at Pitzer College. Being able to experience firsthand the impact and opportunities within higher education throughout her different work experiences has been rewarding and impactful, and she is excited to continue her time at the 7C’s during her role at Harvey Mudd. 

When she is not working, Ayah enjoys spending time with her friends and family, as well as her cat, and she loves checking out new coffee shops around Socal.