Meet the Promise and SDSI Team
North Orange Promise at Fullerton College
Deniz Fierro
dfierro@fullcoll.edu
Special Projects Director:
Promise/Pledge
Deniz is the Special Projects Director for the Promise Program. She is currently attending Cal State Fullerton for her Ed. D. in Educational Leadership. She received a MA in Education and a BA in History from UCLA.
Monica Gutierrez
mgutierrez@fullcoll.edu
Peer Mentor Coordinator
Monica received her MS in College Counseling and Student Development from Azuza Pacific University. She transferred from Fullerton College to Cal State Fullerton and graduated with her BS in Human Services. Her goal is to serve her community and empower students to be the best version of themselves.
Paige Acuña
pacuna@fullcoll.edu
Project Coordinator
Paige has recently graduated with her MS in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne. She attended both Fullerton College & Cal State Fullerton, earning two undergraduate degrees in Sociology. She is committed to serving the community of Orange County & working alongside others who also believe that high quality education should be accessible to all.
Promise Coaches
Angel Ramirez
aramirez1@fullcoll.edu
Zoom Appointments:
calendly.com/angelramirez
Mon – Thur: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Angel graduated from Cal State Fullerton and earned a BS in Human Services. He transferred from Fullerton College with his AS in Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences. His goal is to become a Community College Counselor specifically focusing on the undocumented student population and being a part of establishing a Dreamer’s Resource Center at a Community College.
Annika Shellenbarger
ashellenbarger@fullcoll.edu
Zoom Appointments:
calendly.com/ashellenbarger
Mon & Tue: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Friday: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Annika currently attends the University of La Verne and is pursuing her MS in Educational Counseling with the PPS Credential. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BS in Human Services. Her goal is to become a high school or middle school counselor.
Juan Ramos
jramos1@fullcoll.edu
Zoom Appointments:
calendly.com/fcjramos1
Tue – Thu: 8:00am – 10:00am
Juan earned his Master’s in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BS in Human Services and received his AS in Administration of Justice from Fullerton College. His goal is to become a community college counselor.
Miriam Sandoval
mgodinezayala@fullcoll.edu
Zoom Appointments:
calendly.com/mgodinezayala
Tue & Thu: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Wednesday: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 9:00am
Miriam currently attends the University of La Verne to pursue her MS in Educational Counseling. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with her BS in Human Services and had transferred from Santa Ana College with her AA in Liberal Arts: Humanities and Communication.
Promise Mentors
Adrian Ruiz Diaz
Project Lead
Fatima Zaidi
Project Lead
Fatima graduated from Fullerton College with an AD-T in Psychological Science and continues her education at UCI. Her goal is to return to FC as a college counselor.
Janet Carreño
Mentor Lead
Janet graduated with an AA-T in Sociology from Fullerton College and is now attending CSUF for her BS in Human Services. Her goal is to become a high school counselor.
Ricky Roman
Finance Lead
Ricky graduated from Fullerton College with an AD-T in Business Administration. He is attending Cal State Fullerton and majoring in Business with a concentration in Operations & Supply Chain Management.
Evelyn Darlene Penilla
Senior Peer Mentor
Evelyn graduated from Anaheim High School and is attending Fullerton College to major in Human Services. Her goal is to be a high school and community college counselor.
Destiny Key
Peer Mentor
Destiny graduated from Brea Olinda High School and is attending Fullerton College to major in Film, TV, & Electronic Media. Her goal is to graduate school and work in Television Programming.
Cindy Nava
Peer Mentor
Cindy graduated from Loara High School and is currently attending Fullerton College to major in Studio Art. Her goal is to transfer to a university and work in the stop-motion animation industry.
Rolando Sanabria
Peer Mentor
Rolando graduated from Fullerton Union High School and is attending Fullerton College to major in History. His goal is to become a college history professor.
Student Diversity Success Initiative (SDSI)
Ilinca Filimon
Counselor
Ifilimon@fullcoll.edu
Ilinca graduated from Cal State Long Beach with her MS in Counseling. She recieved her BA in Sociology from UCLA and had transferred with an AA in Economics from Santiago Canyon College.
Tia Brown
Life Skills Coach
tbrown1@fullcoll.edu
Tia is currently pursuing her MS in Education from Cal State Fullerton. She received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Sociology of Education from San Jose State University. Her goal is to serve and support students who come from marginalized backgrounds within higher education after she receives her Masters degree next Spring.
Vanessa Prieto
Life Skills Coach
vprieto@fullcoll.edu
Vanessa obtained her BS degree in Human Services at CSUF, and is currently perusing her M.S. in Counseling and Student Development in Higher Education at CSULB. She transferred from Fullerton College with her AA in Social Behavior and Self-Development. Her goal is to become a commmunity college counselor.
SDSI Ambassadors
Natalia Ibanez
Natalia graduated from Pioneer High School and is attending Fullerton College to major in Mechanical Engineering. Her goal is to transfer to a 4-year university.