Haidy Mendez

Marketing & Development Manager

Haidy is the Marketing & Development Manager for the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA. She is a proud first-generation Latina, daughter of immigrants, and UCLA alumna with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She was a CSS intern for 9 months before joining the staff full time in 2023. She is dedicated to advocacy, justice, and empowerment, striving to make a difference in the lives of those she serves in and outside of work. 

Before her current role, Haidy worked as a Legal Advocate for an organization that provides support and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, regardless of age, gender, or background. In this capacity, she provided restraining order assistance for survivors in Stanislaus County while facilitating accessible legal system navigation in English and Spanish. Her work included offering safety planning and crisis intervention strategies and helping survivors confidently advocate for themselves. Haidy also collaborated with law enforcement, immigration attorneys, and community organizations to support U-Visa applications, ensuring that immigrant survivors of violence had a path to safety and legal protection. 

Outside of work, Haidy enjoys diving into a good book, indulging in her love for horror films and shows, and exploring new places whenever possible. Her passion for travel and adventure complements her curiosity for different cultures, stories, and the unknown, whether on the page, on screen, or in real life.