Meet the Team
The Topping Team is dedicated to delivering quality services for our Topping Scholars & Fellows. The Team coordinates all Topping events, including the annual Topping Leadership Conference, the Faculty-Student Luncheon, and the end-of-the-year Recognition Banquet. Scholars and Fellows can schedule their one-on-one advising sessions with the Team through AdviseUSC.
Dr. Rick Trevino, Director
Dr. Rick Trevino is a Higher Education professional with a passion for student development and enhancing student success. He is a first-generation college student who earned a B.S. in Kinesiology and M.P.A. from California State University Northridge, as well as an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from California Lutheran University, where his dissertation focused on first-generation students in First-Year Experience programs. Dr. Trevino has spent over a decade overseeing areas such as Student Life, First-Year Experience, and Student Success Programs. Dr. Trevino most recently served as the Associate Director of the First-Year Experience for USC Dornsife.
Dr. Lucy Rinard, Assistant Director
Dr. Lucy Rinard is a higher education professional dedicated to fostering students’ growth and development by creating a supportive environment where they feel heard and valued. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, she is a proud graduate of the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI). Lucy is a first-generation college graduate and earned a BA in History and Political Science from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the USC Rossier School of Education. Her dissertation focused on the transition experiences of first-generation Latinx students and their parents to college. Before joining the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, Dr. Rinard held roles in admissions and academic advising.
Ernestina Garcia, Advisor
Ernestina Garcia is a higher education professional committed to supporting students’ academic and personal growth through holistic, student-centered advising. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, she is a first-generation Latina college graduate who earned a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.Ed. in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California. Before joining the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, Ernestina supported students through academic advising, disability services, student-athlete academic support, and student success programs. She is passionate about helping students navigate higher education, connect with campus resources, and recognize their strengths as they work toward their academic and personal goals.
Megan Poe-Betancourt
Megan Poe-Betancourt is a student affairs professional dedicated to empowering students to navigate higher education with confidence and a strong sense of belonging. As a first-generation college graduate, she knows firsthand how transformative the right support and guidance can be, and she is committed to creating that experience for others. Megan earned a Master of Education in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies in Elementary Education from Western Governors University, and an Associate of Arts in General Studies from McLennan Community College. Megan centers her work on supporting first-generation, low-income, and disabled students, fostering the resilience, growth, and sense of community they need to thrive at USC and beyond.
Jesica Ramirez, Governing Board Chair 2026–2027
Jesica Ramirez is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern California, pursuing a B.S in Public Policy with a concentration in Law. A proud native of Southeast Los Angeles, Jesica is the first in her family on track to graduate from college. Deeply rooted in her heritage, she is passionately committed to transforming systems to create a more sustainable and equitable future for her community. Jesica aspires to build a career at the intersection of social work and law, advocating for vulnerable populations and fostering compassionate, fair systems that effectively serve and support those in need. Her focus on policy and justice drives her to tackle inequities and uplift communities. As the Governing Chair for the 2025-2026 academic year, Jesica is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of Scholars and Fellows while strengthening a supportive network that promotes opportunity, leadership, and community engagement throughout their time at USC and beyond.
Bryan Delatorre, Graduate Assistant
Bryan Delatorre (he/they) is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Postsecondary Administrative and Student Affairs at the USC Rossier School of Education. As a first-generation transfer student, Bryan earned an associate degree from Palomar College before completing a B.A. in Legal Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Throughout their undergraduate career, Bryan held various student life positions, where they developed a passion for supporting students navigating nontraditional pathways to higher education. After leaving high school during their senior year to support their family, Bryan experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating alternative routes to pursuing a college education. Their experience at community college became an important stepping stone in their academic journey and shaped their passion for supporting transfer students and helping others navigate their own pathways from community college to four-year institutions. Bryan believes that connecting students with campus resources, building community, and reducing unnecessary barriers can help students feel supported and empowered throughout their academic journeys. As a graduate assistant, Bryan hopes to help students, particularly those from transfer and nontraditional backgrounds, access the resources and support they need to achieve their educational goals.
Gloria Mejia, Graduate Assistant
Gloria Mejia is a graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Educational Counseling at the Rossier School of Education. She is a proud first-generation college graduate who earned her B.A. in Sociology from Sonoma State University. Raised in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley, Gloria witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers that limit access to higher education and transformative learning experiences for underrepresented students. As a current Norman Topping Fellow and a Governing Board Fellow Student Representative, she has deepened her commitment to first-generation student success and educational equity. Having studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, during her undergraduate career, Gloria is especially passionate about expanding access to high-impact opportunities– such as study abroad, internships, and experiential learning– that empower first-generation students to broaden their academic, personal, and global perspectives. Through her work, she strives to ensure students feel supported, confident, and encouraged to pursue opportunities at USC and beyond.
Dr. Thomas Freeman, Associate Vice Provost, Academic Programs
Dr. Thomas Freeman is an experienced Higher Education Administrator with a demonstrated history of impactful work in academe. He joins USC and the Topping family from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), where he was an award-winning educator and leader. Dr. Freeman has spent much of his career promoting STEM education and opportunities for all, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds. He earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Tulane University. He then won a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship to investigate molecular interactions in a protein that became a novel target for cancer therapeutics at UNC’s School of Medicine. In his current role, Dr. Freeman leads initiatives that provide diverse pathways connecting students to the technology ecosystem at USC.