Santa Barbara City College

The Dean of Student Affairs reports directly to the Vice President-Student Affairs, plan, organize, control and direct assigned instructional and student support operations, activities, departments and programs; coordinate and direct communications, information, resources and personnel to meet the instructional and student support needs of the College and enhance the educational effectiveness of assigned departments, programs and functions; supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned faculty and classified personnel.

Dean of Student Affairs

Interim Dean of Student Affairs

--Develop, implement and maintain a variety of support services for students interested and participating in EOPS / CARE, CalWORKs, and summer bridge programs including recruitment, orientation, admissions, assessment, counseling and advising, basic skills, tutoring, transfer, career guidance, and financial aid services; monitor, evaluate and adjust services in response to student needs.
--Develop, implement and maintain a variety of EOPS / CARE, CalWORKS summer bridge programs support services including recruitment, orientation, admissions, assessment, counseling and advising, basic skills, tutoring, transfer, career guidance, and financial aid services.
--Direct and participate in providing consultation and technical assistance to students concerning EOPS / CARE, CalWORKs and summer bridge programs, services, and related College opportunities; respond to inquiries and provide technical information concerning admissions, enrollment, financial aid, support services, and related College standards, timelines, requirements, processes, policies, and procedures.
--Attend, conduct, chair and participate in various meetings and committees as assigned; prepare and deliver oral presentations concerning EOPS / CARE, CalWORKs, and summer bridge programs and services; coordinate and conduct student orientations as needed; represent the College on the assigned task force.

EOPS/CARE/CalWORKS/Guardian Scholars Director

Boundless Love, Inc (Nonprofit Ministry)

In "Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before It Begins," married couple Javier and Christina Llerena share an intimate account of their relationship—one that has been transformed through faith—and the lessons they have learned as they’ve weathered life’s storms together.

Whether you are single, dating, engaged, or married, "Boundless Love" provides you with a spiritually-based path you can walk in order to prepare your heart, mind, and soul for a relationship that heals you, blesses you, connects you, and inspires you. 

Over the years, Javier and Christina have helped more than 1,000 couples prepare for marriage. Boundless Love includes their personal invitation to bring your faith into your marriage before you actually say “I do,” and their promise that what God has in store for your marriage is far better than anything you can create or imagine on our own.

Co-Author of "Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before It Begins"

InGenius Prep

Empowering and counseling high school students to successfully navigate and complete the college application process.

Former Admissions Officer 

West Valley College

Academic and personal counselor with emphasis on transfer, retention, and student success. Advocate for first-time college students and mental heath prevention/resources. Actively involved in First Year Experience, High School Counselors' Conference, Early Alert, and the West Valley College Transfer Team and Program. Teaching Counseling 50: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Spring 2014.

Tenured Counseling Faculty

Oversee and restructure West Valley College's grant program to provide opportunities for academic development assisting primarily first generation community college students with basic college requirements while motivating them to acquire an associate's degree and/or transfer to a four year program. TRiO SSS increases the college retention and graduation rates of its participants while co-creating a college-minded community based on mutual respect and support. A change agent for social justice in higher education. 


Types of Projects 
All SSS projects must provide: academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects; advice and assistance in postsecondary course selection, assist student with information on both the full range of student financial aid programs, benefits and resources for locating public and private scholarships; and assistance in completing financial aid applications. Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy and assist students in applying for admission to graduate and professional programs; and assist students enrolled in two-­year institutions and applying for admission to, and obtaining financial assistance for enrollment in four­-year programs. The SSS projects may also provide individualized counseling for personal, career, and academic information, activities, and instruction designed to acquaint students with career options; exposure to cultural events and academic programs not usually available; mentoring programs, securing temporary housing during breaks for students who are homeless youths and students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system.

TRiO SSS Program Director

CLL Consulting

With over eight years of higher education counseling experience and twenty years as a social worker, I am excited to expand my business model to focus on supporting students and their families with the college admission process.  My primary goal is to support students and their respective families plan, thrive and complete the college application, admission, transfer and transition process. It is an exciting and sometimes challenging time, and my primary focus is to reassure students and families that they are not alone or overwhelmed. And, students and families can be empowered by the process!

I work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and have a sliding scale to fit the student's specific needs. My professional mantra is that students deserve viable, realistic and exciting educational options that "fit" their areas of interest, financial circumstance, personality and aspirations. College is not about prestige, but finding several "matches" that will nurture the student's success and personal development. I thoroughly enjoy helping students navigate and blossom in this process while supporting parents in their own transition as their own role(s) shift.

College Admission Consultant 

City of Palo Alto

Lead, facilitate and support community coalition organized around suicide prevention and youth well-being in Palo Alto. My work focused on supporting student success in the context of total emotional well-being, healthy school and community relationships, and empowering student voice and leadership about their needs. I worked from a strength-based model in collaborating with students, parents, school staff and community members.

Project Safety Net Director

Sacred Heart Community Service

Oversee Education Department of comprehensive one-stop community center in downtown San Jose. Programs include adult education, youth after school and summer academic camp, and early childhood and parents of preschooler programs.

Education Manager

Co-Chair of High School Counselors' Conference Committe; Counselor for Earlly Admission Program (for incoming high school seniors), Middle College Counselor and Basic Skills Counselor. Teach College Success, Jump Start and Counseling 12: Careers and Lifestyles as well as counsel students on short-term and long-term academic goals.

Associate Counseling Faculty, West Valley College

Cañada College

Counsel and teach students in life planning, career development and educational planning. Counselor for summer LEAP program catering to basic skills students. Partner and teacher for the SAFE grant at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, CA.

Counselor

Our Second Home

Developed community-based early childhood program from beginning including hiring and training a multi-disciplinary staff and collaborated extensively with fellow community-based organizations, parents, teachers and child care providers. This included grant writing and ongoing community collaboration.

Early Childhood Program Supervisor

Christina Llerena has 25 years of bilingual social work and higher education experience working in diverse communities in New York City and the Bay Area. Seasoned in strengths-based social work, academic counseling, private and public program management, Christina has a proficient background in higher education, professional development, and empowering teams.  A servant leader, social justice advocate, and lifelong learner. #neverstoplearning

Specialties: Bilingual (English/Spanish), Transformational Leadership, Academic and College Admissions Counseling, Professional  Leadership Development, Ally and Social Change Agent.

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