Skip Main Navigation

EOPS Faculty and Staff

EOPS Counselors

"Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even if you don't want or feel like doing it".

B.A. Sociology; M.S. Educational Psychology with option in Student Development in Higher Education
-CSU Long Beach

First Generation College Student

Hobbies: Woodwork; cooking; gardening; hiking; reading; horror movies; loving on others; doggy parent; grandmother to a sweetie pie; playing poker; hanging with family; relishing my alone time with God.

"Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion."
 - Michael Jordan

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
-Cal Poly Pomona

Masters of Science, Educational Counseling
-University of La Verne

1st generation college graduate.

Hobbies: Music, reading/writing, fitness, camping/hiking, video games.


"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"
-Wayne Gretzy
-Michael Scott

B.A. Public Administration
-CSU San Bernardino

M.A. P.P.S. Education: School and College Counseling
-Universty of Redlands

1st Generation College Student

Hobbies: Hanging out with friends and family, Eating delicious food, basketball and going to the beach.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
-Ghandi

Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Work
-CSU San Bernardino

Master’s degree in Educational Counseling and Guidance
-CSU San Bernardino

I am first in my family to attend college

Hobbies: I like gardening, walking/hiking, and cooking with friends.


Administrative & Support Staff

Heather Jones

Heather Jones
Director, EOPS/CARE
Primary Undocu Liaison (DREAMers)
Foster Success Initiative Liaison (Guiding Light)   
hjones@msjc.edu

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
- Maya Angelou

B.A. Sociology
-Holy Names University

M.Ed. Counseling and Guidance
-Howard University

DMFT
-Loma Linda University - in progress

1st generation college student

Fav thing: Playing with my son, Cooking/Baking, going to the beach, and laughing ‘til it hurts

Liliana Castro

Liliana Castro
Administrative Associate I 
licastro@msjc.edu

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?“
-Frida Kahlo

A.A. Social/Behavioral Science
-Mt. San Jacinto College

B.A. Sociology/Ethnic Studies
-UC Riverside

M.A. College Counseling
-Univeristy of Redlands

I am a 1st generation college student! 🙂

Hobbies: Reading, cooking vegan cuisine, and spending time with my one-year old baby, family, and dogs


Shehnaz Aguilar

Shehnaz Aguilar
Administrative Associate I 
shaguilar@msjc.edu

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
-Albert Einstein

 

A.S. Business Administration
-Mt. San Jacinto College

 

Hobbies: Cake and dessert decorating

Kathy Ponio

Kathy Ponio
Special Programs Assistant
kponio@msjc.edu 

“In all negatives there is a positive, if you look hard enough you will find one.”

Cosmetology degree
-Mira Costa College

Office/Business Administration
-Mt. San Jacinto College -in progress

I have worked at MSJC since 1997 starting as a student worker and temporary employee, becoming a permanent employee in 2000.

First generation college student.

Hobbies: Dancing, karaoke, spending time with children and grandchildren, the beach


Juan Mata

Juan Mata
Special Programs Assistant
jmata@msjc.edu

“What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger”
-Friedrich Nietzche

A.S. Computer Drafting and Design
-ITT Technical Institute

1st generation student and first Upward Bound graduate

Hobbies: Family, travelling, and gardening

Betzi Miranda

Betzi Miranda
Marketing & Outreach Specialist
bmiranda@msjc.edu

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
-Maya Angelou

A.S. Mathematics
-Mt. San Jacinto College

1st generation college student

Hobbies: Admiring nature, cheering from the sidelines