As the Operations Coordinator, Na Araki oversees day-to-day operations at California Competes. She provides administrative and operational support relating to finance, fundraising, human resources, board support and communications.
Before joining California Competes, Na served as an Administrative Assistant for the San Mateo County Parks Department, supporting park services to approximately three million visitors each year. There she helped assess, create, and implement improvements to administrative processes to provide more park access and a better experience for park patrons. In collaboration with the Parks Department and Human Services Agency, she also helped launch the Mariposa Program, which provided a free annual park pass to San Mateo County residents who met the eligibility criteria for public assistance programs.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
What motivates you to advance California Competes’s mission?
I’m passionate about solving problems in my community and creating equal opportunities for everyone. I’ve seen first-hand how limited access to education, money, and representation can hinder care, resources, and basic needs. Working at California Competes allows me to support efforts to create more opportunities for higher education and improve state policy through research, recommendations, and resources. As a first-generation college student, I know the importance of these resources and how they can make a difference between having a dream of going to college versus making it a reality. I want all Californians to have the ability to make higher education their reality.
