Our Team

Dean's headshot

Dean Tanioka 

Director

Dean earned his degree in Sociology from UC Berkeley and has been an integral part of NAVCAL since its inception. He currently serves as the Director of NAVCAL and also spearheaded the launch and operations of the NAV2CAL Program. His lived experiences with education, violence, and the carceral state have long informed his work, first as a student and now as staff, fueling his commitment to equity and systemic change. Dean’s proximity to social inequities continues to guide his passion for reimagining how nontraditional communities show up at Cal and for paving pathways for future leaders in society.

McArthur Full Body Picture

Mac Hoang 

Founder

Mac is a graduate of the Sociology Department at UC Berkeley. He started the NAVCAL and NAV2CAL program through the UC Berkeley Public Service Center Peter E. Haas Leadership Fellowship with the support of Dr. Victoria Robinson and the Ethnic Studies Department. Mac is motivated to help students from non-traditional backgrounds navigate Cal. Mac grew up in the margins of society and has excelled at navigating educational systems—his goal is to reach back and support those that follow. Being from the non-traditional background, Mac has the ability to view education through the lens of those who are often overlooked.