Meet our Team

Brittiny Dennis | Health Professions Advising Coordinator

Alyssa Avellaneda | Lead Pre-Health Student Advisor

Major: Kinesiology        Concentration: Health Promotion

As a third-year Kinesiology Health Promotion major, Alyssa Avellaneda is dedicated and committed to leading students in exploring and uncovering their career paths in health professions. 

Her inspiration comes from her personal quest to achieve her aspirations of being an aesthetic nurse. This journey is shaped by her cultural heritage and identity along with her drive, flexibility, and commitment propelling her toward accomplishing objectives. Noticing a scarcity of women, specifically Hispanic women, opting for a biology major and overall STEM majors on university campuses.

One of Alyssa’s major accomplishments at CSUSB thus far has been securing a position on the executive board of the sorority Alpha Phi. The opportunity to serve as the VP of Finance for Alpha Phi holds special meaning, especially considering that as a second-year college student, she never envisioned being selected for such a crucial role. This achievement is important as it signifies both personal growth and recognition of capabilities within the sorority community. 

Ayanna McAlister | Pre-Health Student Advisor

Major:  Biology   Concentration: Pre-med

As a fourth-year Biology Pre-med student striving for a career in the medical field, Ayanna McAlister is passionate and dedicated to helping students on the path to health professional careers.

Her motivation and agility alone have kept her spearheading her goals, and this is due to her culture/ethnic background and identity. Ayanna aspires to attend Medical school and study to become an OB/GYN. This has been her career goal since childhood, especially after noticing the bias within the healthcare industry towards non-Black women and Black birth rates.

One of Ayanna’s favorite accomplishments so far is the professional connections she has built within each student-related department on campus. Having that sense of comfort of knowing wherever she goes on campus, she can reach out to people and have connections with staff and resources helps her succeed as a student.

Johnny Garcia | Pre-Health Student Advisor

Major: Chemistry        Concentration: Biochemistry

As a third-year Biochemistry pre-med student, Johnny Garcia is driven to make an impact on his community. Not only does he plan on making an impact on his future patients as a physician, but also by helping his fellow students create and understand their path toward their desired health professions.

His drive is mainly due to his culture and background. As a proud Chicano born and raised in SoCal, Johnny aspires to create an environment in which his community can comfortably see a physician to not only get medical treatment, but to connect with on a more personal and cultural level. He would like to break the negative stigma that people of color have when it comes to seeing a doctor. Johnny hopes to reside in the Inland Empire and attend medical school to further decide on a specialty.

One of Johnny’s favorite accomplishments at CSUSB is the personal growth he has accomplished. Being able to refine his work ethic, public speaking, confidence, time management, mental and physical healh have all helped Johnny improve on the foundational skill set that is necessary in the medical field.