Category: DRC Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Get to know Denise

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Cervantes, Elizabeth

Denise VanderStoel

Supervisor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Favorite Quote: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
What motivates me in the work of building accessible learning and spaces for interaction for students: I am motivated to create change when I see students struggle in spaces and environments that are not accessible, but instead are full of additional barriers their hearing counterparts do not face.
Palomar Professor who inspires me and why: Barbara Hammonds inspires me every day with her humble, never-ending support and selfless dedication to students.
What I most love about the DRC: I love that our staff collaborates so well in our shared goal of witnessing barriers being removed for all students.
What is one thing I do that the DRC: I advocate for and arrange services to provide a more equitable learning environment for Palomar College students who have hearing loss.
One thing I have learned over the pandemic: Time is precious. Life is precious.

Get to know Liz

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Cervantes, Elizabeth

Liz Cervantes

Student Support Specialist II 

Past Education highlights: Master’s Degree in Education from SDSU, Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and Global Studies from UCLA, Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential from National University.
Past Professional Experience Highlights: Worked in the Test Accommodation Center at SDSU, taught English in Busan, South Korea.
What I most love about the DRC: That it is a welcoming, inclusive space for all – employees, students, and members of the community. 
What is one thing I do at the DRC: I do our website!
One thing I have learned over the pandemic: Flexibility is key.
What does a campus or world built with UDL at the forefront look like: An environment with accessibility built in, rather than as an add-on to existing structures or systems.
Something else about me: I am a proud community college alumna! I attended both San Diego Mesa and City College before transferring to a four-year university.  

Get to know Daniel

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Cervantes, Elizabeth

Daniel Straub

Counselor

Education highlights: Master’s of Art: Education (Counseling) – San Diego State University; Master’s of Science: Special Education – National University; Bachelor’s of Art: Economics – University of California, San Diego; Clear Education Specialist Teaching Credential
Past Professional Experience Highlights: K-12 Educator and Community College Water Polo Coach
What I most love about the DRC: The support, and willingness to collaborate. Everyone in the D.R.C. is so friendly and go above and beyond to support our students and each other!
What is one thing I do at the DRC: One of the things I do in the D.R.C. is act as a liaison between the Athletics department and the D.R.C., and provide counseling services to students that qualify both for the D.R.C. and are on one of our Collegiate Sport teams.
What is key to creating community at Palomar: A willingness to collaborate and have hard conversations.
Something else about me: I am married to my community college sweetheart (we began dating as community college athletes), and she also works in the education setting teaching students with disabilities.

Dan Dryden

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Cervantes, Elizabeth

Dan Dryden

Administrative Coordinator

Past Education highlights:  Glendale College, Cal State Univ. Stanislaus
Past Professional Experience:  Financial Consultant
Favorite Quote:  “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage”. – Indiana Jones
What motivates me in the work of building accessible learning and spaces for interaction for students:  My sister, born with multiple disabilities and the struggles we faced growing up.
Proudest moment or accomplishment at the DRC:  Being allowed to work for this department.
Palomar Professor who inspires me and why:  Bob Alidae (Mathematics) His unwavering commitment to student success.
What I most love about the DRC:  The true sense of family and our common commitment to students, versus personal gain.
What I love most about Palomar:  The incredible people I meet.
One thing I have learned over the pandemic:  How adaptable we all are.
What is key to creating community at Palomar:   Kindness and humility.
What does a campus or world built with UDL at the forefront look like:  One that lifts up each individual before it has to.

Get to know Crystal

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Cervantes, Elizabeth

Crystal Velasco

Counselor, Assistive Technology Specialist

Past Education highlights: Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from SDSU, Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from North Park University in Chicago
Favorite Quote: Nothing is impossible. The word itself say “I’m possible”- Audrey Hepburn
What I most love about the DRC:  I love the incredible camaraderie amongst the DRC team and how much each team member cares about the students and their success!
One thing I have learned over the pandemic: I’ve learned the importance of social connection and how much harder it can be to achieve but when it is experienced, it can be so healing and beautiful.
What does a campus or world built with UDL at the forefront look like: Equitable and happy!
Something else about me: I love spicy food, the burn my lips and cry, type of spicy🔥😊

Get to know Lori

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Miranda Eligio, Jonatan

Lori Meyers

Counselor

Past Education highlights: Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from SDSU; Bachelor’s Degree in Recreational Therapy from SDSU|
Current Education highlights: I have worked as a Full Time DRC/EOPS Counselor at Palomar College for approximately 13 years and worked as an Adjunct Counselor for DRC and EOPS for approximately 5/6 years.
Past Professional Experience Highlights: Worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for 17 years in the private sector. I worked closely with clients who were injured on-the-job and I would assist them in returning to suitable gainful employment.
Proudest moment or accomplishment at the DRC: To see a DRC Student who has worked extremely hard each semester be handed their diploma at Graduation!!
What I most love about the DRC: I love how everyone on the DRC Team works closely with each other for the sole purpose of supporting every single student and helping them reach their educational goals and dreams.
Person with a disability who expanded/shaped my mindset and daily work and why: I have worked with many, many students who I greatly admire and look up to every day.  They may have to work a lot harder than the average student, but their perseverance, determination and motivation blow me away. So many of these students when they came to Palomar College did not think they were “College Material”.  Due to hard work, their attitudes began to change step-by-step and as a result there are countless number of students who have their Master’s, Bachelor’s, Associate’s Degrees and Certificates and are greatly contributing to society today.  All these students have shaped my mindset to work hard each day, do the best I can do and get up again if I fall down.

Get to know Alyssa

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Miranda Eligio, Jonatan

Alyssa Vafaei

Counselor

Past Education highlights: M.S. in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling at Sacramento State University; Assistive Technology Applications Certificate at CSUN; Deaf Studies coursework at Palomar College
Past Professional Experience Highlights: Director of Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program at University of San Francisco – Branch Campuses
Favorite Quote: “Compliance does not equal equity: access exists on a continuum. What is equitable is almost always compliant, but what is merely compliant is almost never equitable.” – Dr. Amanda Kraus
Proudest moment or accomplishment at the DRC: Establishment of “Faculty Hour @ the DRC”, soon to be renamed “Access & Equity Hour @ the DRC”
One thing I have learned over the pandemic: Many of the things we said, across our institution and throughout higher education, could never be done – turns out we could have been doing them all along. This particularly applies to policies and practices that have created barriers or disproportionately placed burdens on students and employees with disabilities. We now have almost two years of proof that we can do better.
Person with a disability who expanded/shaped my mindset and daily work and why: Andrea Dalzell, Public Figure, @TheSeatedNurse. Andrea and her life story are a constant reminder to me of how the inclusion of disabled persons in all work spaces and career fields inspires innovation and improves outcomes for patients/clients/customers in those industries. STEM-related academic and career fields, in particular, tend to exclude individuals like Andrea, and she is living proof for the argument that disabled students and professionals belong everywhere that non-disabled people disproportionately occupy.

Get to know Hannah

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Miranda Eligio, Jonatan

Hannah Parmenter

Front Office Staff 

Past Education highlights: Graduate of Palomar College
Current Education highlights: Human Development student at CSUSM
Favorite Quote: “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”
Palomar Professor who inspires me and why: Fariheh Towfiq, she displays genuine interest and commitment in student success. I have witnessed her work one on one with many students, all while being the Director of the Math Center.
What I most love about the DRC: Creating a safe space for students on campus (and virtually for the last year and a half).
What is one thing I do at the DRC: I encourage and motivate students to never give up on their ideas, passions, and whatever else they want in life!