Meet Our Team
Michael Oye
Executive Director
Mike Oye is the Executive Director for CommUniverCity and a resident of San Jose, living near SJSU’s South Campus. He’s been teaching Engineering courses at SJSU since 2009, and has been incorporating CommUniverCity projects in his classes each semester since 2012. Mike believes that CommUniverCity projects not only benefit the local community, but also SJSU faculty and students as well, because they can get involved with real-world projects that have farther reaching impacts than just what happens in the classroom.
Pamela Wells
Faculty in Residence
Pamela Wells received her M.S. from San José State in 2005. She is a Managing Partner of Critical Moments Safety Training, LLC, and serves as a mediator for the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations and consultant for the Destiny Re-Entry Program. Her activities on campus include Faculty Advisor for the Latino Business Student Association and Passport Program Coordinator for the Global Leadership Advancement Center. She is a recipient of San José State University’s Master Teacher Award.
Imelda Rodriguez
Community Director
Imelda is a resident of Olinder Park, a neighborhood in central San José, located within the boundaries of CommUniverCity. She oversees projects and programs to deepen resident engagement, and plays a key role in connecting San José State University faculty and students to the larger downtown San José community. She works on establishing strong working relations with key community-based organizations, schools, and resident leaders. Imelda utilizes her cultural and professional background to work with residents in the implementation of neighborhood programs dealing with education, health, neighborhood environment, safety, and access to food.
Elizabeth Figueroa
Special Programs Manager
Elizabeth is a transplant from Fresno, California. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from San José State University’s Recreation Program. Her first project with CommUniverCity was Community Outreach for the 2010 Census. Since then, she has led projects in all categories and is now the longest standing project coordinator. Elizabeth coordinates Accelerating 3rd Grade Literacy, Reading Mentors, and Writing Partners.
Email: Elizabeth@cucsj.org
Phone: (408) 297-3301
Matthew Snyder
Department Analyst
Matt Snyder is CommUniverCity’s Administrative Analyst and joined the Team in Fall 2020. Matt is a native of San José and an alum of San José State University. He holds a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Social Interaction. Matt participated in CommUniverCity’s Northside Neighborhood canvassing during his undergrad, which sparked his interest in community work. He is now working in his career path for education and community work. You can find Matt at CommUniverCity’s office at San José State, Clark Hall 105.
Email: Matthew.Snyder@sjsu.edu
Phone: (408) 924-3560
Jennifer Rodriguez-Alonso
Assistant Community Director
Originally from Santa Maria, California, Jennifer moved to San José to pursue her B.A. in Sociology. She first started with CommUniverCity as a project coordinator during her undergrad where she led college-going projects. She enjoyed leading projects and creating an impact in the community. She is now the Assistant Community Director of CommUniverCity and is excited to continue her passion for community work.
Email: jennifer.rodriguez-alonso@sjsu.edu Phone: (408) 297-3301