These members of our CSUCI community were either FGCS themselves or are FGCS allies. The fact that they’re listed here means that each and every one of these FirstGen Advocates will welcome opportunities to answer questions you have about college or graduate school.
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To find the people who can help you with specific questions, look in the final column for the kinds of topics that CSUCI’s FirstGen Advocates have identified as some of their areas of expertise.
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Tips for reaching out to a FGCS Advocate:
- When you email someone from this list, let them know that you found their information on this website so they know why you are contacting them.
- The more specific you can be about the information you need, the more helpful people will be able to be.
- If you don’t receive a response right away, it will probably be because of that person’s particularly busy work schedule at that point in time. Don’t let it stop you. Be politely persistent.
- Reach out to as many FGCS Advocates as you like. We all have different perspectives to share.
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Sort this table to find all of the FGCS Advocates by role (i.e., staff, faculty, administrator) and by specific area of expertise by entering the particular role or topic in the search box. Try it out by typing “staff” or “financial aid,” for example, in the search box below.
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| FGCS Advocate, Position and Contact Information | Role at CI | We can talk about... | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mary Adler Professor of English email mary.adler@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Developing academic writing skills • Choosing a major and/or minor • Accessing academic resources |
 | Karla Aguirre Admissions Evaluator email karla.aguirre@csuci.edu | Staff | • Transferring to CSUCI • Choosing a major and/or minor • Accessing academic resources |
 | Sara Alcalá Graduate Studies Center Activity Director email sara.alcala@csuci.edu | Staff | • Graduate school • Accessing academic resources • Balancing family and college |
 | Sean Anderson Professor & Chair of ESRM Program email sean.anderson@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Research opportunities • Career planning (e.g., resumés, job searching, interviewing) • Choosing a major and/or minor |
 | Julia Balén Professor, English email julia.balen@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Safe at CSUCI - AB540 • Safe at CSUCI - LGBTQ • Research opportunities |
 | Diana Ballesteros ASI Facility Specialist email diana.ballesteros@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing school and work • Balancing family and college • Career planning (e.g., resumes, job search, interviewing) |
 | Maria Ballesteros-Sola Faculty, MVS School of Business email maria.ballesteros-sola@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Career planning in the field of Business (e.g., resumes, job searching, interviews) • Graduate school • Networking with peers and professors |
 | Jared Barton Associate Professor and Chair of Economics email jared.barton@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Balancing school and work • Planning and registering for classes • Making a multi-year course map |
 | Neomi Basquez Student Finance Specialist email neomi.basquez@csuci.edu | Staff | • Tuition and registration fees • Financial aid • Office hours: what are they, why go, what to do when you go |
 | Emma Battles Guetter Admissions & Records Specialist email emma.guetter@csuci.edu | Staff | • Transferring to CSUCI • Accessing academic resources • Graduate school |
| Sandra Birmingham Associate Director, STEM Educational Outreach email sandra.birmingham@csuci.edu | Staff | • Developing strong study skills • Accessing academic resources • Choosing a major and/or minor |
 | Jeremy Booker Assistant Coordinator of Residential Education email jeremy.booker@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being involved in campus life • Being an active, engaged student • Resumé and career materials |
 | Merilyn Buchanan Professor of Education email merilyn.buchanan@csuci.edu | Faculty | • International students • Accessing academic resources • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average students) |
 | Amanda Carpenter Assistant Director of Career Development Services & Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo Institute Internship Program email amanda.carpenter@csuci.edu | Staff | • Internships • Career planning (e.g., resumes, job searching, interviewing) • Graduate school |
 | Daisy Carranza Educational Opportunity Program Specialist email daisy.carranza@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing family and college • Being involved in campus life • Developing strong study skills |
 | Aspen Coty Santa Rosa Island Research Station Coordinator email aspen.coty@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing school and work • Research opportunities • Being involved in campus life |
 | Nancy Covarrubias Gill Director of Communications & Marketing email nancy.gill@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, oldert-than-average students) • Balancing school and work • Graduate school |
 | Rosario Cuevas Operations Analyst, Extended University email rosario.cuevas@csuci.edu | Staff | • Accessing academic resources • Graduate school • Networking with peers and professors |
 | Toni DeBoni Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students email toni.deboni@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Balancing family and college • Being an active, engaged student • Accessing health and safety resources |
 | Linda Demyan Training Analyst, Division of Student Affairs email linda.demyan@csuci.edu | Staff | • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Balancing family and college • Balancing school and work |
 | Beatrice de Oca Professor of Psychology email beatrice.deoca@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Research opportunities • Being an active, engaged student • Graduate school |
 | Cindy Derrico Associate Vice President for Student Affairs email cindy.derrico@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Being involved in campus life • Balancing school and work • Time management |
 | Jeannette Edwards Mission Centers Coordinator email jeannette.edwards@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing family and college • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Balancing school and work |
 | Robert Felix Records and Degree Audit System Analyst email robert.felix@csuci.edu | Staff | • Veteran benefits and resources • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older than average) • Planning and registering for classes |
 | Crista Fisher Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs Office email crista.fisher@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing family and college • Being an active, engaged student • Planning and registering for classes |
 | Airam Flores Project ALAS Coordinator email airam.flores@csuci.edu | Staff | • Accessing academic resources • Networking with peers and professors • Accessing health and safety resources |
 | Cynthia Flores Assistant Professor, Mathematics email cynthia.flores@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Balancing family and college • Office hours (what are they, why go, what to do when you go) • Graduate school |
 | Nicholas Fuentes Operations Director, Extended University email nicholas.fuentes@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Graduate school • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average students) • Balancing family and college |
 | Jorge Garcia Professor, Mathematics email jorge.garcia@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Email with questions you may have |
 | Venessa Griffith Coordinator of Residential Education email venessa.griffith@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being involved in campus life • Being an active, engaged student • Balancing school and work |
 | Emily Guetzoian Marketing & Conference Analyst email emily.guetzoian@csuci.edu | Staff | • Developing strong study skills • Graduate school • Student clubs and organizations |
 | Michelle Hasendonckx Assistant Director, Student Academic Success & Equity Initiatives email michelle.hasendonckx@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being an active, engaged student • Career planning (e.g., resumes, job searching, interviewing) • Networking with peers and professors |
 | Doreen Hatcher Director of Student Transition & Engagement Programs email doreen.hatcher@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Being involved in campus life • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Transferring to CSUCI |
 | Geri-Lyn Himebaugh Academic Program Analyst email geri-lyn.himebaugh@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing school and work • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Safe at CSUCI - LGBTQ |
| Carolee Hurtado Assistant Professor of Education email carolee.hurtado@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Being an active, engaged student • Balancing family and college • Time management |
 | Chris Jetton Police Sergeant email christopher.jetton@csuci.edu | Staff | • Accessing health and safety resources • Transferring to CSUCI • Balancing school and work |
 | Kristin Jordan Research Analyst, Institutional Research and Faculty, Sociology email kristin.jordan@csuci.edu | Staff | • Time management • Developing strong study skills • Developing academic writing skills |
 | Christine Joyau Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students christine.joyau@csuci.edu | Staff | • Service on University committees • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Balancing school and work |
 | Sean Kelly Professor, Political Science email sean.kelly@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Email with questions you may have |
 | Kathleen Klompien Composition Faculty, English email kathleen.klompien@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Developing academic writing skills • Being an active, engaged student • Balancing family and college |
 | Manfred Koch Health Instructor email manfred.koch@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Accessing health and safety resources • Balancing family and college • Balancing school and work |
 | John Lazarus Executive Director, University Auxiliary Services email john.lazarus@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing family and college • Career planning (e.g., resumés, job searching, interviewing) • Time management |
 | Jill Leafstedt Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Innovations/ Senior Academic Technology Officer email jill.leafstedt@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Balancing family and college • Office hours: what are they, why go, what to do when you go • Developing strong study skills |
 | Sohui Lee Assistant Professor and Faculty Director of the Writing & Multiliteracy Center email sohui.lee@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Developing academic writing skills • Applying for graduate school programs • Career planning (e.g., resumés, job searching, interviewing) |
 | Lori MacDonald Coordinator of Student Recruitment Programs email lori.macdonald@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Transferring to CSUCI • Choosing a major and/or minor • Accessing academic resources |
 | Bob Mayberry Associate Professor of English email bob.mayberry@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Developing academic writing skills • Choosing a major and/or minor • Graduate school |
| Ilene Mehrez Interim Manager, Procurement & Contract Services email ilene.mehrez@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Balancing school and work • Networking with peers and professors • Being an active, engaged student |
 | Alicia Milanowski Coordinator of Basic Needs & CARE email alicia.milanowski@csuci.edu | Staff | • Basic needs assistance • Balancing school and work • Accessing academic resources |
 | Jennifer Moss Manager, Budget & Planning email jennifer.moss@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Safe at CSUCI - LGBTQ • Career planning (e.g., resumes, job searching, interviewing) • Networking with peers and professors |
 | Kari Moss Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Program email kari.moss@csuci.edu | Staff | • Networking with peers and professors • Safe at CSUCI - LGBTQ • Balancing family and college |
 | Jennifer Mota Coordinator of University Outreach jennifer.mota@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being an active, engaged student • Accessing academic resources • Being involved in campus life |
 | Sunghee Nam Faculty, Sociology email sunghee.nam@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Being an active, engaged student • Internships • Office hours (what are they, why go, what to do when you get there) |
 | Monica Ocampo University Culture Pathways Activity Director email monica.ocampo@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Balancing family and college • Time management • Financial aid |
 | Lindsey Trimble O'Connor Assistant Professor of Sociology email lindsey.oconnor@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Graduate school • Time management • Career planning (e.g., resumés, job searching, interviewing) |
 | Wendy Olson Human Resources Manager, Org Effectiveness & Talent Management email wendy.olson@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Balancing family and college • Graduate school • Career planning (e.g., resumes, job searching, interviewing |
 | Pilar Pacheco Managing Director, Center for Community Engagement email pilar.pacheco@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Being involved in the community • Being an active, engaged student • Accessing academic resources |
| Bridget Partida Catering Manager email bridget.partida@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing school and work • Balancing family and college • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) |
 | Nancy-Jean Pément Faculty, School of Education email nancy-jean.pement@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Graduate school • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Developing academic writing skills |
 | Amanda Quintero Associate Vice Provost, Student Success & Community Engagement email amanda.quintero@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Balancing school and work • Being an active, engaged student • Networking with peers and professors |
 | Cesar Rangel Bilingual Admissions Counselor email cesar.rangel@csuci.edu | Staff | • Transferring to CSUCI • Balancing school and work • Graduate school |
 | Fara Ravan Academic Program Assessment Analyst, School of Education email fara.ravan@csuci.edu | Staff | • Accessing academic resources • Balancing school and work • Being an active, engaged student |
| Michelle Resnick Director, Disability Accommodations & Support Services email michelle.resnick@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Accessing academic resources • Developing strong study skills • Balancing family and college |
 | Catharine Reznicek Faculty, Education email catharine.reznicek@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Graduate school • Developing strong study skills • Accessing academic resources |
 | Monica Rivas Assistant Director of Advising, Special Populations Coordination email monica.rivas@csuci.edu | Staff | • Accessing academic resources • Choosing a major and/or minor • Planning and registering for classes |
 | Ariana Robles Coordinator of New Student Orientation email ariana.robles@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing family and college • Being involved in campus life • Balancing school and work |
 | Don Rodriguez Professor of Environmental Science and Resource Management email donald.rodriguez@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Email with questions you may have |
 | Leticia Romero Student Account Specialist email leticia.romero@csuci.edu | Staff | • Financial aid • Balancing family and college • Accessing academic resources |
 | Beatriz Ruettgers Grants Analyst email beatriz.ruettgers@csuci.edu | Staff | • Balancing school and work • Accessing health and safety resources • Balancing family and college |
 | Tonee Sherrill Assistant Director, Associated Students, Inc. email tonee.sherrill@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being involved in campus life • Balancing school and work • Time management |
 | Weldon Zane Smith Assistant Professor of Psychology email weldon.smith@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Graduate school • Office hours: what are they, why go, what to do when you go • Choosing a major and/or minor |
 | Khatira Assil Tarvirdian Assessment & Evaluation Analyst email khatira.tarvirdian@csuci.edu | Staff | • Graduate school • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average) • Balancing family and college |
 | Amanda Timpson Administrative Analyst, Teaching & Learning Innovations Team email amanda.timpson@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being an active, engaged student • Choosing a major and/or minor • Being involved in campus life |
 | Kaia Tollefson Professor of Education email kaia.tollefson@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Safe at CSUCI - LGBTQ, AB540 • Developing strong study skills • Developing academic writing skills |
 | Kim Vose Assistant Professor, English email kimberly.vose@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Developing academic writing skills • Nontraditional students (e.g., veterans, older-than-average students) • Being an active, engaged student |
| Billy Wagner Professor and Associate Chair, Sociology email billy.wagner@csuci.edu | Faculty | • Safe at CSUCI - LGBTQ • Graduate school • Choosing a major and/or minor |
 | Russell Winans Coordinator of Student Organizations & Involvement email russell.winans@csuci.edu | Staff | • Student clubs and organizations • Being involved in campus life • Balancing school and work |
 | Tanya Yancheson Assistant Coordinator of Residential Education email tanya.yancheson@csuci.edu | Staff | • Being involved in campus life • Being an active, engaged student • Balancing school and work |
 | Richard Yao Vice President for Student Affairs email richard.yao@csuci.edu | Administrator | • Accessing academic resources • Being an active, engaged student • Research opportunities |
