Senior Community Director
rornelaz@berkeley,edu | 510.
Hey everyone! My name is Robert Ornelaz, I use he/him pronouns, and I’m excited to be back in California, where I grew up in LA County. I received my B.A. in Sociology from the University of San Diego and my M.Ed. in Postsecondary Education and Student Affairs Administration from USC. Before joining Berkeley, I served as a Community Director at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, with earlier roles in student wellness at the USD and residential life at USC and UC San Diego. My wife and daughters are here with me, and we’re glad to be part of this community.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me exploring somewhere new with my family, ideally somewhere with food we haven’t tried yet. I’ve been writing music since I was a kid, mostly rap and hip-hop, and yes, I’m on Spotify and Apple Music (stream responsibly). I enjoy concerts and have pretty broad taste in music. I love being outdoors, whether that’s an ocean breeze or a new hiking trail, and when I find the time I’m a competitive gamer, Apex Legends, specifically. I’m a big believer that the small everyday moments are what turn a place you live into a place that feels like home, and I’m looking forward to building that with all of you.