MISSION:

The Student Success team provides students with guidance, individualized support, and academic strategies. We connect students with resources and opportunities for affirming and building on their strengths and assets, cultivating a creative practice, achieving academic excellence, and promoting personal and professional development. Through our work together, students engage in self-reflection and meaningful learning, prioritize holistic wellness, refine their skills, and further define their goals and purpose through self-empowerment and self-advocacy.

VALUES:

• Connection - Connect students with resources, opportunities, and community to build meaningful relationships and strengthen belonging
• Reflection - Engage students in reflection of self and their circumstances as an important part of their growth, creativity, and decision-making
• Support - Cultivate welcoming and affirming spaces to promote academic success and holistic wellbeing

VISION:

The vision of the Office of Student Success is to work in collaboration with our community through outreach and engagement to help students activate their strengths and further develop their creative voice. We recognize and celebrate the unique experiences and talents every student brings to our community, and which are the foundation of their success.

PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES:

• Academic success workshops focused on key deadlines, policies, resources, and support. Essential for students with academic probation status, students who have received interim progress reports, and students requesting permission to repeat courses
• Study groups, study skills, priority management (time management), developing SMART goals
• Disability accommodations, coaching, programming, services, and awareness for inclusive and sustainable learning environments.
• Outreach for students spending time away (not currently attending, on a leave of absence, or with dismissal status)

• FONDA YOSHIMOTO-REED
• BIANCA RAMOS
• SARAH KRUSE
• MARCOS GARCIA
• PRESTON ARMENT
• KAYOKO WAKAMATSU

• NYA SERANO
• HEATHER LEIGHTON
• BRYAN DOMINGUEZ
• ACADEMIC COACHING TEAM

FONDA YOSHIMOTO-REED, MFA - DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS

Fonda Yoshimoto-Reed believes in the transformative power of education and that every student's unique background, experience, and interests are an essential source of strength and inspiration as they navigate their educational and professional journey. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Studio Art at University of California, Davis (UCD) and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She served in multiple roles in Academic Advising at CCA before becoming Director of the Office of Student Success in 2021. Fonda is a dancer with Halau KaUaTuahine, a Polynesian dance group, under the direction of Māhealani Uchiyama in Berkeley, California. She is a mother of two young children and is inspired by their love of learning and innate creativity.

Please Note: Fonda is currently on maternity leave, anticipating to return on April 3, 2023. The Office of Student Success team looks forward to working with you while she is away. Please email studentsuccess@cca.edu.

BIANCA RAMOS, M.Ed. - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS

As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income background, Bianca Ramos is passionate about centering the lived experiences of students and providing them with individualized support with care and compassion. She earned a B.A. in Psychology & Social Behavior and Education Sciences from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and a M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration at the University of Vermont (UVM), where she experienced living in the snow for the first time. Bianca is originally from Oakland, CA, and she enjoys discovering new ice cream and boba spots around the Bay Area. Some of Bianca's favorite hobbies include figure skating for fun, making collages using magazines, and spending time with her cat, Frisco.

Email at bianca.ramos@cca.edu

Appointments at biancaramos.youcanbook.me

SARAH KRUSE, Ph.D. - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS - LEARNING RESOURCES

Sarah Kruse is passionate about student success and achievement and believes in the importance of creativity in education. She loves helping students feel empowered in their strengths and finding ways to take ownership of their own learning. She currently is an MFA candidate in Poetry at the University of San Francisco and received her doctorate from the University of Rhode Island in 2016. A former lecturer at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Literary Arts, Sarah has been working with students in academia for over 15 years both teaching and tutoring. Her research interests include creative writing, poetry and poetics, the archive, critical race theory, and philosophy of language. She has published in Hotel Amerika, Shinning Rock Poetry Review, Assay: a Journal of Nonfiction Studies, and The International Journal of Žižek Studies. She lives in San Francisco where she enjoys exploring offbeat destinations and is in search of the best cappuccino in North Beach.

Email at skruse@cca.edu

Appointments at sarahkruse.youcanbook.me

MARCOS GARCIA, M.Ed. - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS - DISABILITY SERVICES

Marcos Garcia believes education provides pathways to a life filled with meaning and purpose. Although the trials and experiences during college may be difficult, they help develop a student holistically. As a first-generation college graduate, Marcos understands how challenging it can be to navigate the college experience. Marcos is delighted to assist students through their unique educational journey. Marcos is fascinated by the rich history and future ambitions of CCA. His time working in Residential Education offered him the opportunity to experience many pivotal moments in CCA's recent history. Marcos was the final Residential Education Coordinator (REC) for Clifton Hall, Avenue, and Panoramic Apartments. Then he assisted with opening Founders Hall as its first REC. Marcos has a BS in Psychology and Biology and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership & Policy. He focused his research on law & policy regarding accommodations in higher education for students with psychiatric disabilities. Outside of work, Marcos enjoys spending time in nature, museums, and at dog parks with his emotional support animal, Mykonos. 

Email at marcos.garcia@cca.edu

Appointments at marcosgarcia.youcanbook.me

PRESTON ARMENT, M.Ed. - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS

Preston Arment finds her spark in the innovation, creativity, passion, and wealth of experience each student brings to the table. Preston is striving towards lifelong adaptability in her work in order to create inclusive and universally designed spaces and procedures in the college setting and beyond. In 2020 she earned a B.S. in Television-Radio at Ithaca College and in May of 2022, earned a M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University at Buffalo. Preston is originally from Syracuse, NY and is new to the Bay Area. She is always seeking opportunities to engage in creative work and chat about her favorite movies and tv shows. In her free time she enjoys reading outside at parks, painting, knitting, and listening to podcasts.

Email at parment@cca.edu

Appointments at parment.youcanbook.me

KAYOKO WAKAMATSU, MFA - ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

As a 1.5 generation Asian American, Kayoko was the first in her family to attend school of any kind in the United States, which has similarities and distinct differences from the First Gen experience. Kayoko has degrees in linguistics and creative writing. Her work spans student affairs and (in former roles) academic advising, Title IX, teaching/tutoring, and international education & scholarships. Kayoko has worked in graduate advising, admissions, and program administration at the University of Hawaii and UC Berkeley and has a soft spot for graduate students and the faculty and staff who support them. She is a member of committees that shape policies impacting students and that determine their academic standing. She loves chatting with students she has gotten to know and then appreciating them in an entirely different way upon encountering their creative work.

Graduate students and chairs are encouraged to contact kwakamatsu@cca.edu with questions or for a time to chat about graduate student success, academic standing, and policies that impact graduate students.

Email and appointments at kwakamatsu@cca.edu

NYA SERANO, STUDENT SUCCESS PEER MENTOR AND PAINTING AND DRAWING MAJOR

First-Generation College Student Organization Leader

Nya Serano is a passionate social justice advocate. She fights for inclusivity and equity, both in her home and on the streets. In 2020, Nya donated money she raised by selling prints of her artwork to bail out protestors who were fighting for the rights and protection of Black bodies. In 2021, she did the same for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who faced violence and discrimination. 

As a mixed Afro-Latin woman, Nya finds that her identity activates creation. She is a self-taught artist whose work is based in painting and drawing, yet oftentimes meets other areas of expression like sculpting and mixed media. Her work was exhibited in multiple art galleries and showings before attending CCA, including one that focused on Black artists and highlighted the work they created in relation to their identity. 

Nya hopes to cultivate radical change at CCA, both through her art and her activism. She is excited about the opportunity to work with students and is always open to discussions about ways to combine art with social change. 

Email at studentsuccess@cca.edu

HEATHER LEIGHTON, STUDENT ASSISTANT FOR DISABILITY SERVICES AND GRADUATE ARCHITECTURE STUDENT

Heather is passionate about social justice awareness. Through travel and education she’s developed an eagerness to engage with minority communities and advocate with them. Her studies in architecture, international studies with a focus in human rights, and disability studies have prepared her for a life of activism and creating hedonistic inclusion.

As a woman with a disability, Heather sees how important representation is and enjoys disrupting gender, race, and disability roles. She finds that her disabled body activates space and gives her a platform, from which to create awareness.

Heather hopes to create interest in human rights matters and a space where the community feels safe while drastically supporting minority members at CCA. She is excited about the opportunity to work with students and staff to create awareness through art.

Email at studentsuccess@cca.edu

BRYAN DOMINGUEZ, ACADEMIC ADVISING ASSISTANT AND PAINTING AND DRAWING MAJOR

First-Generation College Student Organization Leader

Bryan is a Painting and Drawing major. He is an on going first-generation college student who strives to be a mentor and/ or guide for CCA students. He serves a role as an Academic Advising Assistant and collaborates with OSS as student leader for CCA's first-generation college student organization. Bryan was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He enjoys dancing to latin music and loves cooking traditional Mexican cuisine. A majority of his work as an artist is about sharing untold stories from his community.

Email at studentsuccess@cca.edu

ACADEMIC COACHING TEAM - STUDENT SUCCESS - LEARNING RESOURCES

The Learning Resource Center is a team of about 20 CCA students (undergraduate and graduate) and 3 faculty/staff members who serve as coaches in all academic subject areas.

We love working with students at all levels! Our faculty coaches specialize in helping multilingual writers with academic reading, writing, and oral communication. Our coaches are here to help you brainstorm, compose, and communicate your creative vision--to help you become a stronger learner and writer. Their focus goes beyond editing and proofreading your work, and strives to improve you as a writer, student, and professional. We encourage you to make appointments early and to book multiple sessions. Visit: https://portal.cca.edu/learning/learning-resources/

Email at lrc@cca.edu

RAMI KINGSLEY-DOYLE, INDIVIDUALIZED MAJOR

Rami is an Individualized major focusing on Illustration and Textiles. They graduated from Oakland School of the Arts downtown from Oakland campus and really appreciate that they got to stay and attend art college here. Rami loves getting boba, spending time with their cat Baby, and watching bad dramas with their siblings. They love learning queer, Middle-Eastern, and all types of history and wishes to become an arts focused educator- even if they don’t know exactly what yet.