Counselors
Ailene Crakes
Dean of Counseling and Student Development
Office: Oceanside Campus, Building 3700, Room 3714; 760.795.6893
B.A., Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona; M.S., National University; Ph.D.,
University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Kentucky
Adrean Askerneese
Counselor
B.A., Point Loma Nazarene University; M.S,. San Diego State University; M.M.F.T.,
USC; Ed.D, USC
There is no perfect quote about me, so I say to you, come as you are because I value
all of you.
Markus Berrien | Watch My Video
Counselor
B.A., UC San Diego; M.A., San Diego State University; Ed.D., USC
Laney Collins
Counselor
B.A., University of San Diego; M.S., National University
Arti Dua
Counselor
B.A., San Diego State University; M.S., National University
Arti was on a solo backpack adventure through South-East Asia to Nepal and it was
during that trip she decided to be a counselor.
Karina Duarte
Counselor
Department Chair
B.A., CSU Long Beach; M.S., CSU Northridge
While visiting Peru, Karina hiked Machu Picchu.
Hilda Gomez-Zinn
Counselor
B.A., San Diego State University; M.A., San Diego State University
Hilda is an animal lover.
Laura Hayek
Counselor
B.A., CSU Long Beach; M.A., San Diego State University
Laura was born and raised in Oceanside; she is an MCC alumni.
Wendy Horton
Counselor
B.A., CSU Chico; M.A., Pepperdine University
When Wendy was 17, she moved to London for school and traveled extensively throughout
Europe; Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland, and France were among her favorite countries
to visit.
Ticey Hosley | Watch My Video
Counselor
B.A., UC Berkeley; M.A., University of San Diego; Ph.D., San Diego State and Claremont
Graduate University
"You define your own life, don't let other people write your script."—Oprah Winfrey.
Luke Lara | Watch My Video
Counselor
B.A., Carleton College; M.A., San Diego State University; Ed.D, San Diego State University
Luke studied math because he enjoyed it and discovered his passion for helping others
through work and life experience.
Sinar Lomeli
Counselor
B.A., UC Santa Barbara; M.S., USC
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare
for it today."—Malcolm X
Don Love
Counselor (UMOJA)
B.S., Azusa Pacific University; M.A., Point Loma Nazarene University
Donny Munshower
Veterans & Military-Connected Counselor
B.A., UC Davis; M.A., San Diego State University
Donny was an exchange student in Belgium and learned how to speak Flemish during his
time there. He also taught English in Japan for two years.
Edward Pohlert | Watch My Video
Retention Counselor
A.A., Los Angeles City College; BSW, CSULA; M.S., SDSU; PsyD., Alliant International
University
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress". Frederick Douglass
Oswaldo Ramirez
Counselor, Continuing Education
B.A., UCLA; M.A., San Diego State University; Ed.D., University of Southern California
Ariana Solis | Watch My Video
Counselor
B.A., San Diego State University; M.A., San Diego State University
Cynthia Vasquez Gonzales
Counselor, Continuing Education
Department Chair
B.A., UC San Diego; M.A., San Diego State University
Jill Ventrone
Veterans & Military-Connected Counselor
B.A., Columbia College, Chicago; M.S., University of Kentucky
Afifa Zaman | Watch My Video
Counselor
B.A., San Diego State University; M.A., San Diego State University; Ed.D., University
of Southern California
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am
changing myself.”—Jalaluddin Rumi
Magdalena Zepeda
Counselor (PUENTE)
B.A., UC Los Angeles; M.S., University of Phoenix; M.S., National University
Favorite Author: Victor Villaseñor
Associate Counselors
- Alexis Calderon-Ferrino
- Alexa De Alba
- Sandi Duraid
- Mary Eden
- Cassandra Evans (Veterans & Military Connected - MC)
- Jacqueline Gomez (Continuing Education)
- Fredy Gomez Cruz
- Sarah Gross
- Dorian Herrero
- Xiao Kuang (Continuing Education)
- Liz Leguizamo
- Erin Long (Veterans;& Military Connected - MC)
- Desmond Morente
- Jamie Pemble
- Josilyn Perez
- Sandra Perez (Continuing Education)
- Amber Rivas
- Ken Rogers (Veterans& Military Connected - MC)
- Koliniusi (Keli) Ross-Ma'u (Mana ASE counselor)
- Elizabeth Salinas
- Marisela Sanchez Garzon (PUENTE counselor)
- Carlos Velasco
- Sasha Verastegui (Continuing Education)
- Katherine Vilchez
- Melody Vivar
Staff
- Tim Alves
Manager of Counseling Services
Office: Oceanside Campus, Room 3718
A.A., Diablo Valley College; B.A., UC Santa Cruz; M.A., Rutgers University
First Generation College Student - Valerie Lopez
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Counseling and Student Development
Coordinator, Committee on Exceptions (CoE)
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., CSU San Marcos
First Generation College Student - Laura Romero
Administrative Support Assistant (ASA) III
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., CSU San Marcos; M.A., San Diego State - Donney Cummins
Transfer Specialist
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., National University
First Generation College Student
Veteran - Brenda Morelia
Interim Administrative Support Assistant (ASA) II - Interim
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., CSU San Marcos - Terence Sautia
Administrative Support Assistant (ASA) I
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., CSU San Marcos (in progress) - Jess Luna
Campus Aide III
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., CSU San Marcos - Jackie Robledo
Campus Aide III - Community Learning Center (CLC)
A.A., MiraCosta College; B.A., UC Los Angeles
"...just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power then your job is to empower somebody else." -Toni Morrison - Luz Duran
Campus Aide III
B.A., CSU San Marcos - Eliana Pelayo
Campus Aide III
B.A., CSU San Marcos
