Kicking off its 17th year, the Merritt Scholars program recently launched this year’s cohort with 14 new scholars! As a cornerstone of Merritt’s Commitment to California (C2C) initiative, the Merritt Scholars program serves as an entry point into the affordable housing industry, giving students a chance to explore a wide range of career and growth opportunities.
The Merritt Scholars program includes a $10,000 scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students. Students have the opportunity to learn more about the affordable housing field through experienced mentors, fully paid attendance at local and statewide industry conferences, and engagement with industry leaders.
Being able to zoom out and learn about the different career paths that are possible within the industry allows students to evaluate their options and not only find the roles they are most passionate about but identify roles that are a strong fit based on their skill sets.
In recent years, the market has been experiencing a downward shift in the number of jobs available within the affordable housing industry, and there has been an increase in the number of candidates willing to take on these roles. Because demand has a tendency to fluctuate, the Merritt Scholars program is uniquely built to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the market.
Continuing with program tradition, each scholar has been paired with a mentor who will provide continuous support to students throughout the course of the program. Just as scholars are carefully vetted and selected to join the program, mentor selection is equally critical for program success.
Program Manager, Celina Pacana, and President/CEO, Ari Beliak, review each mentor’s background to ensure they will be a good match for their mentees. Input from scholars, their recommenders, and others who know them is also heavily considered, as the needs of each scholar are unique. Thank you to this year’s mentors who are dedicating their time and knowledge!
One of the most unique aspects about the Merritt Scholars program is that it’s more than an educational offering. Scholars not only obtain valuable industry knowledge but also build relationships and are connected with peers and leaders in the industry. Scholars receive one-on-one assistance with job placement, which expedites finding the right role, and increases their likelihood of long-term success in the affordable housing space. Our mentors are critical with identifying jobs that are a strong fit for our scholars.
Please join us in welcoming the 2025-2026 cohort:
Adriana Torres Ceja University of California, Los Angeles
Brandon Tran University of California, San Diego
Brenda Gonzalez-Rayo University of California, Los Angeles
Emma Barker University of California, Berkeley
Jennifer Flores University of California, Berkeley
Jolie Nguyen University of California, Los Angeles
Krishna Madhav Stanford University
Laura Walton University of Southern California
Madison Richards University of California, Los Angeles
Monica Tavassoli Stanford University
Rediet Retta University of Southern California
Ruben Anguiano University of California, Berkeley
Samantha Lee University of California, San Diego
Shania Santana University of California, Los Angeles
There is an immense need for emerging leaders in the affordable housing field that not only have industry knowledge, but a passion to shape the future. Many of these scholars have a personal lived experience that inspires them to pursue a career in a space that makes an impact by keeping Californians housed.
We look forward to officially kicking off our 2025-2026 Merritt Scholars program in person on August 16 with a live orientation! 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 Program Manager, Celina Pacana, at cpacana@merrittcap.org.
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 $1.6 billion and creating over 12,000 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.