Meet Our Staff

Christopher Yanov
Founder and President, Reality Changers

Recently named by San Diego Magazine as one of San Diego’s new civic power brokers, Christopher Yanov raised and awarded over $1,000,000 in scholarships to inner-city students before turning 30 years old.

Mr. Yanov earned four college degrees in just five years. He graduated in two-and-a-half years from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish Literature. Mr. Yanov also completed two Master’s programs at the University of San Diego with degrees in Peace & Justice and International Relations.

Previously, Mr. Yanov worked with gang members for five years before starting Reality Changers in May 2001 with just $300 yet now the program’s 300+ students have earned over $15,000,000 in scholarships from all sources.

Most recently, Mr. Yanov was selected as an inaugural commissioner of the San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention, is the chairman of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Education and Workforce Development Committee, and is putting the finishing touches on his book, “How to End Gang Violence in America.”

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
SENIOR ACADEMY
COLLEGE APPS ACADEMY
Full-Time Employees
Ivan PerezIvan Perez
Vice President, Operations
ivan@realitychangers.org 
619.516.2222

Eduardo CoronaEduardo Corona '10
Director of Academic Performance;
Site Director, City Heights
eduardo@realitychangers.org 
619.516.2222

Jesse EnriquezJesse Enriquez
Program Director
jesse@realitychangers.org
619.516.2229
Marshela SalgadoMarshela Salgado
Vice President, Communications
marshela@realitychangers.org
619.516.2219

Jonathan VillafuerteJonathan Villafuerte '05
Dean of Students
jonathan@realitychangers.org
619.516.2222
Angela YenAngela Yen
Coordinator of Volunteers, 
College Forums, & Community Service
angela@realitychangers.org
619.516.2218

Cecelia VillegasCecelia Villegas '07
Director of Academic Performance;
Site Director, City Heights
cecelia@realitychangers.org
619.516.2222
Part-Time Employees
Ashley MorganAshley Morgan
Program Manager
ashley@realitychangers.org
619.516.2222

Genemo AliGenemo Ali '11
Assistant Program Manager
genemo@realitychangers.org
619.516.2222		Tony GarciaTony Garcia
Academy Instructor
tony@collegeappsacademy.com
Norma Ruiz-MurphyNorma Ruiz-Murphy
Executive Assistant
norma@realitychangers.org
619.516.2216

DaSean CunninghamDaSean Cunningham
Program Assistant
dasean@realitychangers.org
619.516.2222		Rachael LemkauRachael Lemkau
Academy Instructor
rachael@collegeappsacademy.com
Carlos SolorioCarlos Solorio
Digital Media Director
carlos@realitychangers.org
619.516.2222

Evelyn SoquiEvelyn Soqui
Academy Instructor
evelyn@collegeappsacademy.com
Walter TorrenceWalter Torrence
Academy Instructor
walter@collegeappsacademy.com
Eleina VallejoEleina Vallejo
Academy Instructor
eleina@collegeappsacademy.com