Meet Our Team...

Each of our Advisors have extensive knowledge of the requirements to become a teacher in California. They are trained to evaluate and provide recommendations to assist your progress in General Education coursework and various graduation requirements in combination with the admission requirements to the   Cal State Fullerton Credential Programs. Our Advisors are not major advisors. Students should also meet with their major department advisors for specific details regarding major requirements.

Melissa Baez bio

Jacqueline "jac" Calabrese

Titan Future Teacher Coordinator & Advisor

Jacqueline Calabrese

jcalabrese@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7657

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2016

Prior Work Experience: Previous roles include community college English instructor, CSUF English part-time faculty, Writing Center Tutor, and Academic Advisor in the AAC

Education:  Bachelor of Arts in English from Cal State Fullerton

Master of Arts in English from Cal State Fullerton

Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Ally Training: UndocuAlly

What I Love About Advising: When a student sits in my office/Zoom advising appointment, I love witnessing their innate passion to teach. For many students, attending college poses many hardships, yet they persist because of an unyielding dedication to their families, themselves, and their future students. Our future teachers are filled with so much grit and potential, and it’s an honor to assist them in their vocation to the teaching profession.

Fun Fact: I signed up to study abroad one month before the plane was set to take off for the program! I didn’t even have a passport! I had always thought, “students like me (as in, Hispanic, first-generation) don’t do study abroad,” but I saw a flyer posted in a classroom and instantly knew I had to have that experience! Paying back the loans was a little tough, but other than that, I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone!

GUADALUPE "lupe" GARCIA

Men of Color in Education Coordinator

Recruitment & Retention Coordinator

Advisor

Guadalupe Garcia

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching:  2022

Prior Work Experience: Program Advisor for USC - (2018-2022) | Student Advisor for Educational Talent Search - (2014-2018)

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton | Master of Education in Educational Counseling from USC

Language(s) Spoken: English and Spanish

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Ally Training: 

What I Love About Advising: Helping students navigate their education has always been something I enjoyed. Getting to know and understand everyone's journey is definitely one of the many things I love about advising. 

Fun Fact: I love going on road trips and visiting nature-filled areas, especially National Parks, across the West Coast of the U.S. The longest road trip I've been on was 23 hours!

lilianna "lilly" quinones

Graduation Specialist & Advisor

Head shot of Lily Quinones lquinones@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7585

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2023

Prior Work Experience: Previously I was a Retention Specialist for undeclared student at the Academic Advising Center (AAC) here at CSUF!

Education: Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and minor in Chicano Studies from University of California Los Angeles

Language(s) Spoken: English and Spanish 

Pronouns: She/ Her/ Ella

Ally Training: Undoc Ally, VetNet Ally, Disability Ally, LGBTQ Ally

What I Love About Advising: I love helping students navigate college, provide support and resources to be a successful student. As a first-gen student, I understand the obstacles many students experience in college and having the opportunity to help students break cycles and change their trajectory is rewarding. 

Fun Fact: I recently started a Charcuterie Board business that was inspired by my love of hosting and creating charcuterie boards for friends and family.

Jennifer "Jen" Robles

Transfer Student Support Coordinator & Advisor

Jennifer Robles

jerobles@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7895

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2019

Prior Work Experience: Prior to coming to CSUF, I worked in Adult Education. I have advised students in both Career Technical Education programs and High School Diploma programs.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Cal Poly Pomona

Master of Social Work from Azusa Pacific University

Language(s) Spoken: English

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Ally Training: UndocuAlly

What I Love About Advising: It's so rewarding to support students as they develop their academic plans and see how they progress towards reaching their goals.

Fun Fact: I was a transfer student! I went to Mt. SAC before transferring to Cal Poly. Now, I advise students from the community colleges (including Mt. SAC) that would like to transfer to Cal State Fullerton.

Juventino "juven" Romero

Project Propel Coordinator

and Advisor

headshot of Juven

juvromero@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-4558

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2023

Prior Work Experience:  I worked as the Literacy Services Coordinator for the Riverside County Library System.

Education: Norco College with A.A in behavioral Sciences then transferred to UC Santa Barbara with a B.A in Humanities with a focus in Religious Studies.

Language(s) Spoken: English/Spanish

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Ally Training: 

What I Love About Advising: Navigating the college experience can be dizzying and difficult. As a first-generation and DACA person, I realized how much a support system is needed in order to succeed. I enjoy supporting students in their journey to achieve their academic goals and let them know that there are people who can help.

Fun Fact: I love playing music and have actually produced/released several projects. I’m also really into sneakers and watch collecting!

Heather Terry

Assistant Director

Heather Terry

hterry@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-4736

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2018

Prior Work Experience: 17 years in the Department of Elementary & Bilingual Education at CSUF.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Human Development with Counseling focus from Hope University;

Master of Science in Education with Higher Education focus from Cal State Fullerton.

Language(s) Spoken: English

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Ally Training: Veterans, LGBTQIA, UndocuAlly

What I Love About Advising: I love learning each student's story and then being able to help them find the pathway that is most fitting for them. Advising to me is not just about the academics and getting a student from point A to point B but joining them on that journey of twists and turns that the college years promise.

Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Colorado and moved to California almost THREE decades ago to attend college and never left. I am also a non-traditional student who restarted my college journey a few times before completing my bachelor's degree.

Jennifer "jwoo" Woo

 

Department Assistant

photo of Jwoo

jewoo@fullerton.edu 

(657) 278-7130

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2023

Prior Work Experience: Prior to CSUF, I worked as a Database Administrator in Northern California.

Education: CSU Long Beach BA in English with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition. Additional coursework includes HR, statistics, finance, and accounting from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

Language(s) Spoken: English

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Ally Training:

What I Love About Assisting the Center: The center is a diverse and welcoming place for meeting new people, learning new things, finding pathways, and building community. I love being a helpful hand for our staff and students so that everyone will have the best experience possible. I want our future teachers to feel supported!

Fun Fact: I'm originally from LA, but I lived in NorCal for the last 5 years. I like to paint, read, and listen to podcasts in my spare time. I also have an interest in learning different languages, especially to the different places I want to travel. I've learned a bit of Navajo (Diné), Korean, and Spanish so far. On Duolingo, I'm currently working on German, Russian, French, and Italian. For me, Korean and French are the hardest because of pronunciation!

Aimee Nelson

Director

Aimee Nelson 

anelson@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7130

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching:   2014

Prior Work Experience:   21 years at CSUF - College of Education Assistant Dean (2008-2014), Nursing Department Academic Advisor (2000-2008), University Outreach Counselor (1999-2000); Part-time Counseling Faculty at Santa Ana College (2001-2002 & 2005-2007)

Education:   Bachelor of Science in Psychology   from Cal State Fullerton

Master of Science in Psychology   from Cal State Fullerton

Language(s) Spoken:   English

Pronouns:   She/Her/Hers

Ally Training:   LGBTQIA, UndocuAlly, Vet Net Ally

What I Love About Advising:   I do not currently meet with students for academic advising, but I do have a background in advising and I have always loved it, which is why I love being in the CCT. I love being a part of the learning and growing that happens as students work toward their educational and career goals. I love being able to share the knowledge I have to support our students.

Fun Fact:   I actually still have a baby tooth, never fell out because there isn't an adult tooth underneath.

Karina Alcantar

TFT - Student Assistant

Karina Alcantar

zz-kalcantar@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7130

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2021

Education: Sonora High School Class of 2020 and current CSUF Child and Adolescent Development major and plans to pursue a single subject credential in Mathematics.

Language(s) Spoken: English 

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

What I Love About Being Student Assistant: I like that I can meet other future teachers and bond with them about our struggles and achievements. It brings a smile to my face knowing that I can help other students who are on the same teaching pathway. I'm also improving my professional skills, which will help me in the future. 

Fun Fact: I love reading and watching streams on Twitch in my free time. I also have a big collection of vinyl and candles from Bath and Body Works. 

Sofia Rubio

Student Assistant

Sofia Rubio

askcct@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7130

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2022

Education: Schurr High School Class of 2021, and a current CSUF Child and Adolecent Studies
major and plans to teach pursue a single subject credential in Biology.

Language(s) Spoken: English

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

What I Love About Being Student Assistant: I enjoy working with people who have
similar goals and share common interests with me. I have always had a passion for
helping others learn and grow and I am able to do that as a student assistant. I also love
creating content for social media and this position also helps me better my time
management skills.

Fun Fact: I enjoy going to the gym in my free time and I also love to read. I am a second
degree black belt which took me six years to earn and I was Captain of the wrestling team
for my high school during my senior year.

Natalie vargas

Student Assistant

head shot of Natalie Vargas

askcct@fullerton.edu

(657) 278-7130

Joined the Center for Careers in Teaching: 2023

Education: John A. Rowland High School; Fullerton College - AA-T in English; CSUF - English major and plans to pursue a teaching credential in English.

Language(s) Spoken:   English

Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers

What I Love About Being Student Assistant: I have always liked meeting new people and being able to help where I can. Being a Student Assistant means I can learn alongside my peers as we navigate our paths to becoming future teachers!

Fun Fact: I like to read and write in my free time. My favorite genres are mystery, fiction, and modern poetry!