Contact NAISSC Staff

Native American Indigenous Student Success Center (NAISSC)

Email: naissc@applegatearchitects.com
Phone: 408-924-7304
NAISSC Location: 
Former Spartan Memorial Chapel (SPM) (near Yoshida Hall)

Mailing Address:
Native American Indigenous Student Success Center
San José State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA  95192-0196

Meet Our Team

Elisa Aquino
Program Director
Pronouns: she/her
elisa.aquino@applegatearchitects.com 

Elisa Aquino is the inaugural Program Director for the Native American Indigenous Student Success Center at San Jose State University. She is proudly Bini' Zaa (Zapotec) from the Valles Centrales in Oaxaca, Mexico. Elisa is a first-generation college student who completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and received her masters degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs at the University of San Francisco. In her free time, Elisa enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring new food spots around the Bay area. 

"It is with great honor and responsibility to my Indigenous community to provide culturally-sustaining support services rooted in ancestral knowledge. X'tiosu/ Thank you, I look forward to connecting with you".

2024-25 NAISSC Student Staff

Indigenous Student Success Advocates: 

• Emily Hyatt
• John Paul Amaral
• Dallas Quinonez
• Maliya Tinajero

Indigenous Scholars Sustaining Knowledge (SKO) Mentorship Program Peer Mentors:

• Marissa Hemstreet
• Kay Hernandez