Spring 2020 Leadership
Luis Cornejo
President
United States Marine Corps 2011 - 2015
Hometown: Palm Desert, CA
Major: English
“I was raised in the Coachella Valley, and lived in California for most of my life. I served as a 2146 Main Battle Tank Technician from Nov 2011-Nov 2015.
I am an English major, and Education minor in my last year of undergraduate studies. I plan to return to the Coachella valley to teach high school and give back to my community.
Although I was uncertain about my academic abilities, I quickly found support in the veteran community here at Cal. This club is important to me, not only as a student who enjoys interacting with other student-veterans, but also as a veteran who found the transition to education difficult. The Cal Veterans Group was just the thing I needed when I transferred here, and I want to keep this club successful.
Oai Tran
Vice-President
United States Marine Corps 2011 - 2015
Hometown:
Major: English
Roberto “Beto” Gonzalez
Finance Chair
United States Marines Corps 2001 - 2004
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Major: Political Science
“I am a bay area native and currently pursuing a bachelors at UC Berkeley. With this degree, I intend to alleviate some of the many immigration issues that are encountered in the U.S. Being a lawyer is a prospective goal that was not originally in my plans but is proving to be a great contender.
During my time in the Marine Corps, I was an airframe technician on CH-53Ds. With two WESTPAC tours under my belt, traveling throughout Asia was an extremely memorable experience. Having served I can attest to the difficulties encountered when separating from the service as well as the anxiety that comes along when one is trying to recreate oneself through the lens of a non militant society. I open heartedly extend my hand to all of my brothers and sisters in arms who are in need of anything and everything I have to offer. I feel it is a privilege and honor to be an officer for the Veterans group at Cal and I hope together, we can continue making education an attainable goal for all.”
Purvis Gills
Public Affairs Officer
United States Navy 1991 - 1999
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Political Science
"I joined the United States Navy after high school and served as a Disbursing Clerk. My time in the service has afforded me many opportunities and has helped me become the person I am today. The skills and lessons learned in the Navy have helped me to be successful in life outside of the military. My deployments to other countries not only gave me the opportunity to see the world but also to understand different viewpoints and cultures.
Today, I stand before you a proud veteran, husband, father, and a Cal Berkeley student. During my time in service, I learned the importance of teamwork and that I always have more to give. The military showed me that my commitment to service didn’t stop after being discharged from the military. The Cal veterans group allows me to continue to serve. I look forward to building on the hard work and sacrifices of the Cal veterans that came before me by fostering positive community relationships"
