We are proud to welcome the 2026–2027 Merritt Scholars cohort, kicking off the program’s fifth cohort! Merritt Scholars is the flagship program of Commitment to Community (C2C), Merritt’s workforce development initiative. It serves as a gateway into the affordable housing industry, preparing the next generation of leaders through hands-on learning, mentorship, and meaningful industry connections.
As part of their year-long journey, each Merritt Scholar receives a $10,000 scholarship and access to opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Throughout the program, scholars are paired with experienced industry mentors, attend fully funded local and statewide affordable housing conferences, and engage directly with affordable housing leaders.
Together, these experiences provide scholars with a comprehensive understanding of the many career paths available within affordable housing while helping scholars discover where their interests and strengths can make the greatest impact.
As the affordable housing workforce continues to evolve, the Merritt Scholars program is intentionally designed to prepare students for long-term success in the ever-evolving landscape of affordable housing. By combining knowledge sharing, professional development, networking opportunities, and individualized career guidance, the program equips scholars with the skills and relationships needed to navigate a competitive job market and build meaningful careers.
A defining feature of the Merritt Scholars program is its personalized mentorship. Each scholar is thoughtfully matched with an industry mentor who provides guidance, encouragement, and professional insight throughout the program. Mentor matching is led by Impact Manager Celina Pacana and President & CEO Ari Beliak, who carefully consider each scholar’s background, career aspirations, and unique strengths—as well as feedback from recommenders and others who know them—to create meaningful, productive partnerships.
More than an educational program, Merritt Scholars is a community. Throughout the year, scholars build meaningful relationships with peers who share a passion for affordable housing, creating a supportive network that extends well beyond the program itself. Together, they learn from one another, celebrate milestones, and establish lasting connections that strengthen both their careers and the future of the affordable housing industry.
Please join us in welcoming the 2026-2027 cohort:
Alberto Espiricueta – University of California, Los Angeles
Aurion Wiley-Green – University of Southern California
Danielle Morales – University of California, Berkeley
Eli Inkelas – University of California, Berkeley
Emily Cain – University of California, Berkeley
Gelsey Ramos – University of California, Irvine
Jacob Korn – University of California, Berkeley
Jacqueline Valentín – University of California, Irvine
Jasper Chew – University of Southern California
Jessica Rodriguez – University of California, Los Angeles
Laurence Hicks – University of California, Los Angeles
Luis Guzman Garcia – University of California, Los Angeles
Megan Nguyen – University of California, Berkeley
Ronaldo Esquivel – University of Southern California
Shaine Stuhlmuller – University of California, Los Angeles
We look forward to officially kicking off our 2026-2027 Merritt Scholars program in person with an orientation on August 20! Stay tuned for more program updates on Merritt’s LinkedIn page.
For any questions related to the Merritt Scholars program, please reach out to our Impact Manager, Celina Pacana, at cpacana@merrittcap.org.
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
Merritt Community Capital Corporation is a mission-oriented affordable housing funder that serves the state of California. For more than 35 years, Merritt has been a trusted partner, investing more than $1.7 billion and creating over 12,500 affordable homes across California. Beyond investing in properties, Merritt invests in people. Through its Commitment to California initiative (C2C), Merritt proudly spearheads programs across the state that attract, train, and retain current and future affordable housers.
Merritt is also the west coast member of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF), which empowers locally engaged, mission-driven housing and community investment partners to build thriving communities. By partnering with mission-aligned organizations and developers in the affordable housing space, Merritt ensures the most critical communities are developed and maintained for low-income residents.