Vincent Rasso, Government Relations Director (Contact)
Vincent Rasso serves as UCSA’s Government Relations Director, where he oversees the state and federal policy agenda on behalf of UC students. By navigating legislative and budget advocacy, he works with student leaders, coalition partners, UC and state leaders to identify and advance policy priorities that center equity and support the accessibility, affordability and quality of current and future UC students. He manages programming for our Student Lobby Conference and Hill Day while supporting mentorship and leadership development for legislative directors at each UC campus. Vincent is a proud UC Riverside alumni with a bachelor’s in political science, the first in his family to earn a college degree. As the former Student Affairs Manager at the Campaign for College Opportunity, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in higher education policy, public affairs and coalition-building, communications and research, statewide and regional student and community engagement, and policy advocacy.
Caroline Nguyen, Policy Director (Contact)
Caroline is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine. As the primary liaison between UCSA and the UC Office of the President, she is responsible for researching and crafting the institutional policy positions of the organization and providing day-to-day direction and training to student leaders with respect to practices, systems, and operations within the UC.
In addition, Caroline manages the appointment and engagement of student representatives, including Student Observers to the Board of Regents, Systemwide Committee representatives to the Academic Senate, and the UCSA Board of Directors in meetings with UCOP, in order to empower students to effectively leverage access points to university leadership. In her role, she facilitates relationships with other systemwide student bodies including the Council of Presidents, Council on Student Fees, and UC Graduate and Professional Council to maximize students’ collective impact in administrative spaces.
Caroline lives in Sacramento with her cat Banana, her ball python Frosty (he’s not white; he’s just named after Frosty the Snowman because he was rescued in the month of December), her albino corn snake Ralph, and her king snake Gus. In her free time she enjoys not leaving her apartment for several days, listening to audiobooks, and reading most things except fantasy, romance, and memoirs.
Adrianni Silvano, Government Relations Associate (Contact)
Adrianni was born in the Philippines and moved to the US in 2012 at age 11, now residing in San Jose, CA. Growing up as a first-generation Filipino American, Adrianni encountered the challenges and resilience that often characterize immigrant communities, and these experiences have profoundly influenced his commitment to equity and inclusivity in public service.
While attending UC Riverside as an undergrad, Adrianni served as a Policy Intern at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington D.C. and supported Biden-Harris Administration policy initiatives that address global challenges in areas such as humanitarian assistance and sustainable development in underserved regions. After graduating, he served as a Ron Loveridge Fellow at the California State Assembly in Sacramento, where he conducted legislative analyses and engaged closely with community advocates. His insights and experience in these experiences translate into a goal of meaningful advocacy that shapes his work today.
Salih Muhammad, Executive Director (Contact)
As Executive Director, Salih leads our staff team and organizational strategy, keeps the UCSA office in operation, supports the Board and other student leaders, and fundraises to maximize the potential of our organization. Salih also oversees planning for UCSA’s annual statewide conferences.
Raised in Oakland, California, Salih Muhammad strives to embody the principles of service, sacrifice, and selflessness. For much of his life, he has been committed to living toward the liberation of Black people, at home and abroad.
In 2009, he continued the pursuit of knowledge at the University of California, Berkeley, where he excelled as a Black student and organizer on campus. His favorite quote is from Franz Fanon, who stated, “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in relative opacity.”