Research Fellow Sergio Maciel Sees Systemic Solutions for “Real Students with Real Needs”

Research Fellow Sergio Maciel loves a good coffee shop. What makes a good coffee shop? The vibes should be “upbeat, bright, energetic, and fun.” His coffee order follows a similar logic: “lightly sweet, lightly creamy; not black, but not dessert.”

If Sergio is a bit of a connoisseur, it may be because he is adept at thinking about the full range of student needs—from welcoming study spaces and caffeine to campus resource centers and strong counseling. He has honed his approach to higher education through roles in student affairs, governmental relations, and as a College Corps Advisor.

As a fellow on the Campaign’s Research team, Sergio takes deep dives into the data behind student outcomes. “A lot of the research we do at the Campaign reinforces my lived experiences as both a student and scholar-practitioner. The challenges that show up in the data are the same ones I see students facing on campus every day.”

Sergio is the oldest of four children whose parents “sacrificed so much to create opportunities. A huge part of my ‘why’ comes from my family.” He began his college career at Solano Community College, where he felt disconnected until Dr. Douglas Mungin recruited him to participate in speech and debate.

“I became connected to a much larger community. Speech and debate showed me the power of mentorship and people intentionally opening doors for students.”

After transferring to the University of California, Davis, Sergio studied economics and political science with an emphasis on public service. He later accepted a fellowship in the Vice Chancellor’s Office, an experience that further attuned him to the need for holistic solutions to systemic challenges.

“I had a front row seat to seeing how systems impact people.”

Sergio saw this principle in action when UC Davis addressed food insecurity by launching the Aggie Eats food truck. The bright green truck offers a pay-what-you-want pricing structure and a menu featuring items such as barbecue falafel balls and Santa Fe chicken salad.

“I witnessed how much thoughtful planning our leadership and campus donors put into that” Sergio recalls. “Seeing those long lines at the truck was powerful. It’s a reminder that behind every budget conversation are real students with real needs.”

Another impactful campus resource is the Undocumented Student Resource Center, where students can access assistance with grants and scholarships, experiential learning pathways, mental health services, and more. In 2025, the Campaign’s California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition successfully secured $35 million in the state budget for programs supporting undocumented students, including campus resource centers.

As part of the Campaign’s Research team, Sergio contributed to The State of Higher Education for Latinx Californians, the final installment in a flagship series that uses disaggregated data to assess how California’s higher education systems are serving racially minoritized students.

“I was excited that this year’s report highlights economic outcomes,” Sergio says. “We need to make sure that elected officials, institutional, and system leaders are aware of where progress has been made and why, and where we need to pay more attention.”

Sergio hopes to one day become a dean, vice chancellor, or chancellor within the UC system, where he can apply what he has learned to help transform the systems that shape students’ lives.

Whether he is analyzing economic data or advising students, his ultimate goal is one the Campaign shares: “I believe that students thrive when we invest in them as people. I had mentors who invested in me. Now I get to watch students grow into versions of themselves they may not have foreseen.”

Invest in the next generation of higher education leaders.

The Campaign’s fellowship program gives emerging leaders like Sergio opportunities to connect research, policy, and practice while contributing to a more equitable future for California students.