The people behind the program.

Sherry Smith

Executive Director

Sherry leads BCS: the team, the program, and the community that holds it together. An educational professional with nearly 45 years of experience, Sherry has focused on supporting families and students in the transition from pre-school through graduate school and early career pathways. She is well-versed in college admission, financial aid, recruitment, organizational management, organizational change and college selection and matriculation. She is especially committed to serving the needs of the underserved, under-resourced and first-generation students navigating the various paths to earning a degree and finding their self-defined pathway to success.

Sherry has worked with students from the most challenging neighborhoods especially in the cities of Los Angeles, Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco and now Berkeley. She has also spent time connecting with influential members of major companies and foundations in order to provide the necessary resources for the students in the various community based organizations in which she was affiliated. From her earliest days in college admission to her later years working as an Executive/Managing Director, Sherry has helped students and families living in the lowest economic quartile, being among an underrepresented population in college graduation rates and being the first in their generation to attend and graduate from college realize a dream of earning a degree.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in General Humanities – emphasis on Communication from Santa Clara University, a Master’s in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Certificate of Non Profit Management from Stanford Business School.

Angelina Chacon-Garcia

Deputy Director

Angelina Chacon-Garcia is a data professional with more than 15 years of experience building systems that let nonprofits and schools do their work well. Previously, she worked at the California College Guidance Initiative, supporting K-12 public school districts across California. Her career has spanned data systems architecture, educational compliance, grant management and reporting, and technical assistance for partners; throughout, she is guided by a belief that good data infrastructure is a tool for equity.

In July 2026, Angelina joined Berkeley Community Scholars as Deputy Director. She brings an array of systems-and-equity lenses to program management, development, and operations — helping ensure BCS scholars have the infrastructure and support behind them to complete their degrees.

She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Religious Studies from UC Davis and an M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Social Justice and Equity from San Francisco State University.

Emily Maciel

Program Manager – Scholars, Events and Alumni

Born and raised in Berkeley, Emily developed a deep commitment to community service and education. From her time in Berkeley public schools to being a BCS award recipient herself, she has always been dedicated to giving back to the communities that shaped her. She participated in the EOP program at UCSC and later spent two years as a Bridge Mentor at BHS, guiding first-generation and low-income students through college. She went on to spend three years as an EAOP/DCAC College Adviser through UC Berkeley, supporting De Anza High School students with college prep, career development, and social-emotional support. Today, Emily explores opportunities with education-focused nonprofits, driven by her commitment to creating pathways for BIPOC students to achieve their dreams.

She earned her BA in Sociology and Latin American Latinx Studies at UC Santa Cruz.

Ralph Nubla

Program Manager – Systems and Technology

Ralph is a dedicated student advocate with a robust background in financial literacy and college success initiatives. With over a decade of experience in the education and college success fields, Ralph has championed student support by providing individualized financial advising and college counseling, as well as managing the distribution of annual scholarships. His commitment to empowering students through financial literacy has led to the development of comprehensive programs, including social media campaigns, resource creation, and engaging presentations. Today he provides guidance and support to our scholars and is the backbone of our systems and technology that we utilize in our work.

Ralph received his B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento.