OIESA Staff

I first came to Antioch University Santa Barbara as an undergraduate student, where I had such a meaningful and rewarding experience that I chose to continue my education by pursuing my MBA at Antioch. My own journey as a student inspired a deep desire and calling to help others achieve their goals through higher education. That passion ultimately brought me back to Antioch, not only as an alum, but as a staff member, where I have the privilege of supporting and empowering students along their own educational journeys.

I am happy to support students with a wide range of needs, whether they have general questions, need guidance navigating their VA educational benefits, have questions related to being an international student, or need assistance as a Department of Rehabilitation recipient. I can also assist with connecting students with the appropriate resources, services, and campus support.

To me, belonging means that one feels welcome, safe, and accepted, where you feel comfortable to be your authentic self.

I will never turn down ice cream from Rori's, a local ice cream shop. Milk chocolate chunk is my favorite flavor, though brown sugar banana comes in close second.

I was initially hired as a temp to help with a record keeping project. I was initially drawn to Antioch University due to their mission of Social Justice and core values of helping others.

I want them to know I am available to reach in different ways and I will help guide them in the right direction if I am unable to help with their specific issue.

Belonging means that I am seen and heard from those around me. That I mean something to the community I am a part of and they value my thoughts and opinions.

I am open to trying new things, especially food. I enjoy spending time with my dogs and going on walks.

I give 100 percent effort to those I care about and I hope I am able to be a good role model to the next generation.

I will never turn down helping my family, friends, loved ones, and anyone in need of help. I will do my best to help others.

After completing my MA in Social Impact I was inspired by those leaders to have the audacity to go for my PhD. I wanted to continue in the Social Justice Space as I was thriving in a virtual capacity as a JEDI Practitioner and Antioch's virtual PhD in Leadership and Change seemed like the perfect solution. It has been a wonderful journey because I landed here at Antioch. I am thrilled to be a part of the newly formed OIESA and am excited about the possibilities and capabilities of this office.

I can help connect students to opportunities and team members that can help them thrive.

Belonging to me means you can participate as your full self without having to shrink or hide, and are missed when you aren't there.

Outside of work I am a beadworker, and practicing pagan, so touching grass is necessary spiritually.

If you know nothing else about me, I hope you know that I am not too nice to have the uncomfortable conversation, and thank you for trusting me to make it awkward so that we can learn and grow and thrive together.

If I could have dinner with anyone, living or historical I would have dinner with Leondardo DaVinci. His mind fascinates me, and I love that he reportedly used his boyfriend as the model for Jesus in the Last Supper. Queer Icon status.

"I will never apologize for embracing joy & beauty - even when the world is falling apart - because joy & beauty are my fuel for activism." ~Karen Walrond 'The Lightmakers Manifesto'

I started with Antioch University Santa Barbara in 2023 working as a Student Services Coordinator. In 2026, my role transitioned to Student Affairs Coordinator of Disability Support Services where I serve students remotely. I was originally drawn to work at Antioch because of the drive and mission to provide a higher education experience rooted in social justice.

Our office is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to all students with disabilities. I work with registered Disability Support Services students in various programs across the university. I can assist students in discussing appropriate supportive measures and contacts for their time at Antioch.

Belonging is care and community to me.

I have a passion for plants.

I am compassionate.

I will never turn down a music festival, small or large.

I was introduced to Antioch's social justice mission by a close friend who was attending there. I was drawn to Antioch's progressive approach to higher education and the passion and commitment of it's student, staff, and faculty community in supporting its mission. I've always had a passion for connecting people with resources, whether as a Park Ranger, Librarian, or Higher Ed Administrator, so when a job became available at AUNE, I was eager to apply.

As a recent graduate of Antioch, I can appreciate the challenges and rewards that come with balancing life as a full-time student. This awareness inspires my willingness to help students no matter where they are in their academic journey, while making the resources for their success easily accesible.

To feel belonging is to experience community, to feel supported, and to know that you can show up as your full self.

Outside of work, I enjoy painting, hiking, and playing hacky sack with my friends.

I always try my best!

Soundtrack to my life right now: Dolan's 6AM - Beoga

My previous institution had eliminated my entire department. A former colleague saw a job they thought I would be great at. After hearing how amazing she thought the university was, I applied, was offered the job and fell in love with Antioch myself.

I know that asking for help isn’t always easy. I’m the first to admit that. Sometimes we feel like we should be able to figure things out on our own, or we may not even know exactly what kind of help we need.

But please know that you don’t have to have all the answers before you reach out. You just have to take that first step and let me know what’s going on. I can’t help you, support you, or guide you to the right person or resource if I don’t know what you need.

Belonging is more than simply being part of a community. It’s knowing that you have a place within it.

Belonging means feeling welcomed, supported, respected, and valued for who you are and for what you bring to our community. It means knowing that your voice matters, your experiences matter, and your contributions help shape the community around you.

Whether you are walking through the doors at a physical campus, joining a class online, connecting with a faculty or staff member, or participating in a student event, you should feel that you have a place here.

Belonging also means knowing that you don’t have to navigate your student experience alone. There are people here who want to listen, support you, help you find answers, and connect you with the resources you need.

At Antioch, I feel belonging means knowing: “I am welcome here. I am valued here. I am supported here. I am part of this community.”

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, cuddling with my grand kitty, and opening our home to family and friends. I’m happiest when our house is full of people, laughter, good food, and plenty of time to simply enjoy being together.

I care very much for our Antioch community and will always be there for anyone through the good and bad.

Ripple - The Grateful Dead

Antioch has a very wonderful and special community and I am very proud to work here and be able to be here for our students, faculty, and staff.

After a 2001 layoff, I was referred to Antioch by my library program director. I was fortunate to be hired by Peggy Baldwin, the AUS Library Director, and have been with AU in a variety of roles ever since.

I do the administrative work for the DSS team so our Coordinators can devote their time to directly supporting students.

"Come as you are"

I love the creative arts. I have a regular mixed media art journal practice, but when fall rolls around I can't help but pick up my knitting and stitching.

I wanted to work at an institution that aligned with my values.

Please reach out for support. We are here to help!

Belonging to me means finding people and places you feel comfortable, appreciated, and understood expressing yourself.

I enjoy skiing, swimming, and going on outdoor adventures with my family.

I've enjoyed working in the college setting for almost 30 years.

I'd like to have dinner with Dolly Parton. I always admired her authenticity, hard work, generosity, and ability to bring people together.

I love this Mary Oliver quote: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable."

Applied while looking for a new job in 2004 and was called up, interviewed, and chosen. I came for a new opportunity at a social-justice-oriented non-profit. I stayed because of the people--like-minded co-workers and service-oriented students--as well as the mission and the industry of higher education.

I want them to know that we work to provide a safe and warm facility that serves them well as on-campus students. I want them to know that our campus is here to support them and to facilitate their success.

Belonging means feeling welcomed and part of something bigger than myself.

I learned of this opportunity through a message from my predecessor on a Writing Center Listserv where he advertised coordinator roles for both synchronous and asynchronous writing support teams at Antioch. I was especially drawn to Antioch's proud justice-oriented mission and how outspoken the institution is on issues that matter a lot to me on a professional and personal level. My writing center work had been exclusively with synchronous services up until that point in my career, so I was excited at the prospect of learning a new skill while also working within an institutional context that would support me in my student-first outlook.

Students should know that what draws me to this work is being able to contribute to their success, even in tangential ways. I am able to work directly with their peers who will be proving them feedback asynchronously, and I put a lot of time and energy into ensuring that they are upbuilding, confident, and well-equipped to target students' expressed areas of concern in their writing to help facilitate ongoing growth. When students submit to our team, they guide the conversation by telling us what they need the most support with and how we might best fit that need via asynchronous feedback. Students are then able to take these suggestions and ideas into consideration without feeling like they are required to incorporate everything; they can take what strengthens their ideas and still retain full control for the writing they produce in the process.

Belonging means being able to ask questions openly, being able to ask for help without fear or hesitation, and trusting that your community will come through for you in the ways they are able.

As a first-generation Latina and college graduate, Sarah’s work is grounded in commitments to justice, care, equity, access, and student-centered learning. She is especially passionate about creating writing spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. Outside of work, she enjoys powerlifting, pilates, poetry, café hopping, browsing local bookstores, and crafting.

I am here to support your writing journey in any way I can!

I will never turn down a good latte

I came to Antioch from Quinnipiac University, and what initially drew me here was the opportunity to do meaningful work in a university community that genuinely values social justice, inclusion, and the whole person. My role has changed quite a bit since I first arrived, but one thing that has stayed constant is how much I enjoy being able to connect with students and help make a large and sometimes complicated university feel a little more human and a little easier to navigate.

My role touches a number of areas across Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence, so I am often involved when a student is navigating a situation that feels complicated, sensitive, or difficult to sort through. I help students understand processes, identify the right resources, and make sense of what options may be available to them. I am very comfortable with messy situations, complicated questions, and the occasional “I honestly don’t know who else to ask.”

Belonging means feeling like there is room for you exactly as you are. It is knowing that you can show up without having to shrink yourself, hide pieces of who you are, or constantly prove that you deserve to be there. It also means being part of a community where people notice when someone is struggling, celebrate one another’s successes, and make an effort to leave space at the table for someone else.

I am a Navy veteran, a mom, a dog person, and someone who will almost always choose sunshine and warm weather if given the option. My Goldendoodle, Paisley, is ridiculously sweet and firmly convinced that every person she meets is her new best friend. I love to travel, explore new places, spend time with my family, and settle in with a silly game or new movie!

I try to approach people and problems with fairness, perspective, and a healthy sense of humor. I take my work seriously, but I also believe that kindness, common sense, and remembering that everyone is human can go a long way.

I will never turn down GOOD FOOD!

Like many of our students, I have had a non-standard career path that has taken me through military service, law, civil rights work, and higher education, and each of those experiences has shaped how I approach my work today. I value curiosity, resilience, and people who are willing to keep learning. I also firmly believe that some of the best conversations happen over good food and that travel is the best ways to gain perspective.

My Antioch story began when I came to Antioch as an international student. What started as my own journey as a student eventually grew into a much deeper connection with the university and its community. Over the years, I had the opportunity to experience Antioch from many different perspectives and eventually build my career here, supporting students and helping others navigate their own educational journeys.

Looking back, I’m grateful that what brought me to Antioch as an international student became a journey of learning, growth, and service that continues to this day.

I want students to know that they don’t have to figure everything out on their own. I’m here to listen, help them understand their options, connect them with the right resources, and support them in navigating challenges along the way. As someone who once started my own Antioch journey as an international student, I understand how overwhelming a new educational environment can feel. My goal is to help students feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward.

To me, belonging means feeling that you have a place where you are welcomed, respected, and valued for who you are. It also means knowing that you don’t have to navigate everything alone. I think belonging is created through small moments of connection— someone listening, offering support, remembering your name, or simply making you feel that you matter.

Outside of work, I’m usually somewhere between planning our next family trip, looking for something good to eat, and trying to convince my kids that we don’t need another snack. I love traveling, exploring new places, trying different foods, and finding little adventures with my family.

… you can always come to me with a question. Even if I don’t have the answer, I’ll do my best to help you find the right person, resource, or next step.

What is one thing you could talk about for hours?

I’m fascinated by what shapes us, our experiences, relationships, culture, and the stories we carry with us. I can talk about psychology, relationships, personal growth, and what helps people feel understood for a very long time.

One of the things that makes Antioch especially meaningful to me is that I didn’t begin here as an employee—I began here as a student. My journey has come full circle in a way that I never could have imagined when I first arrived as an international student. Having experienced Antioch from the student perspective and now being able to support students in my professional role is something I value deeply. I hope my own journey reminds students that where you begin does not necessarily define where your journey can take you.