Aidan Nguyen

UCSC Alum

Santa Cruz, California, United States

About

Passionate about the intersections of education, equity, and social justice, my research focuses on the impacts of tracking, discipline policies, and the school-to-prison pipeline.

Experience

  • Mental Health Support Coordinator at Highland Behavioral Health
    Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

    - Provide residents with counseling and training; assistance with daily living skills and managing psychiatric symptoms. - Assist in identifying and accessing medical, educational, prevocational, rehabilitative, social and other community services, specific to residents’ needs, goals, and service plans. - Plan and implement cost effective and efficient service plans in conjunction with other staff, families and other service providers. - Initiate preventative measures and create intervention methods for clients or conditions that pose a threat of danger or crisis.

  • Student Teacher at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School
    Oct 2024 - Jun 2025 · 9 mos

    - Worked closely with students displaying behavioral challenges, providing individualized support to help improve classroom behavior. - Collaborated with teachers and counselors to monitor student progress and develop strategies to address challenges. - Designed a project to incorporate martial arts training into PE curriculum to promote physical fitness, discipline and self-confidence among students. - Developed age-appropriate lesson plans aligned with physical education standards.

  • UCSC Taekwondo Club Vice President at University of California, Santa Cruz
    2023 - Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    - Responsible for organizing outside-of-practice events, such as socials, to help advertise the club and facilitate social connections within the club. - Responsible for assembling the roster for belt promotions and ensure that everyone is properly prepared. - Recruited potential members at a university-wide event, gathering 200+ sign-ups

  • Community Organizer at UNITE HERE
    Jun 2024 - Aug 2024 · 3 mos

    - Spearheaded organizing campaigns to mobilize union members and community allies. - Coordinated labor actions, including rallies and negotiations, successfully advocating for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions for hospitality workers. - Conducted outreach and one-on-one meetings with workers to educate them on their rights and union benefits, completing 200 worker surveys over the course of 8 weeks.

  • Teaching Assistant at Bay View Elementary School
    Dec 2023 - May 2024 · 6 mos

    - Assist in the supervision students at an assigned school site during after school enrichment programs - Tutor individual or small groups of students reinforcing instruction and supporting students in homework completion - Observe and manage behavior of students during educational and recreational activities - Co-create and collaborate to contribute to an after school environment that promotes students’ academic, social and emotional growth and well-being - Assist in the preparation of instructional materials and implementation of lesson plans