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Aria Zapata earned a BA in Communications and Film Studies from the University of the Pacific in 2016, an MFA in Social Documentation from UC Santa Cruz in 2018, and a Master of Science in Counseling, Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from the University of Phoenix in 2024. Her thesis film, Con o Sin Papeles, documents the injustices faced by migrant workers in California’s Central Valley and has been screened at festivals including the Margaret Mead Film Festival in New York. Much of her film work highlights the lived experiences of undocumented immigrants, centering themes of identity, belonging, and social equity while using storytelling as a vehicle for awareness and change. Currently, Aria provides crisis services to children and adults across the San Joaquin Valley, where she supports some of the community’s most vulnerable populations. She is also working toward licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist with the goal of opening her own private practice. Alongside her counseling work, Aria teaches courses on storytelling and social justice, helping students and community members explore how narratives can challenge systems of oppression, preserve cultural memory, and empower marginalized or silenced voices. Born and raised in Stockton, California, and a proud first-generation college graduate, Aria is committed to uniting counseling, education, and film to create lasting impact, while fostering spaces where collective histories and personal stories inspire healing and social transformation.
Office hours: By appointment via Zoom