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
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
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
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
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
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
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