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 that 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 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 was the Assistant Director of First-Year Advising at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences.
Alejandra Tenorio-Rosas, NTSAF Advisor
Alejandra Tenorio-Rosas is dedicated to students’ holistic success. She is a first-generation college student that earned a double BA in Media and Cultural Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies from the University of California, Riverside, as well as an M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from USC. As a native of South-Central Los Angeles, she believes representation matters in higher education to achieve one’s fullest potential. Alejandra empowers students to explore both their studies and identities, serving as a trusted advocate throughout their academic journey. In her role as NTSAF’s Advisor, she aims to foster a safe, inclusive space for student growth and achievement.
Jesica Ramirez, Governing Board Chair 2025–2026
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.
Natasha Ronquillo, Graduate Assistant
Natasha Ronquillo is a graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Educational Counseling at the Rossier School of Education. She identifies as a first-generation daughter of immigrant parents and a proud Chicana of the East Los Angeles Community. Natasha attended the University of California, Merced, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Along with her passion for higher education, she’s also a K-12 educator, where she has spent her time serving her community as a Substitute Teacher. Natasha’s goal is to validate students’ unique educational journeys and support them by building and creating equitable learning environments that will empower students to create change within their communities.
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.