Meet the DSA Staff

Students may book an appointment with Dean Cindy

Cindy brings over 25 years of experience as a higher education administrator. In her role as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, she is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and administration of the division.  She provides leadership, vision, and direction for activities and services that enhance students’ experiences and engagement. She also facilitates open communication and information sharing between the students and the administration. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a Master of Education degree in postsecondary administration and student affairs from the University of Southern California, and a Doctor of Philosophy in organizational leadership at the University of San Diego.

Students may book an appointment with Carrie Tamayo

With over 10 years of experience in higher education and a clinical background in speech-language pathology, Carrie has cultivated a strong foundation in interdisciplinary collaboration, counseling and cultural competence. Her work is driven by a commitment to fostering self-advocacy and providing holistic support to diverse student populations through an approach grounded in research and compassion. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. She is excited to bring her expertise to support students’ well-being and collaborate across departments to create a nurturing academic environment.

As the administrative assistant for academic and student affairs, Liz assists students in various ways. Some of these include approving flyers to be posted around campus, submitting driver applications for students to drive Mudd vans, and helping students find the offices and DSA staff members in Platt. Additionally, Liz processes student/staff/faculty reimbursements for the Leonard Fund and schedules appointments for students to meet with the various deans and staff members of DSA.

• Approving flyers to be posted around campus (digital or hard copies)
• Submitting driver applications for students to drive Mudd vans
• Helping students find the offices and DSA staff members in Platt. 
• Processes student/staff/faculty reimbursements for the Leonard Fund 
• Schedules appointments for students to meet with the various deans and staff members of DSA.
• Primary processor of Expense Reports, invoice paying, and journal entries in the accounts payable system.

Students may book an appointment with Dean Amy

As the associate dean for academic resources and student success, Amy serves as a connection point for students seeking academic resources and support, coordinates outreach efforts for students who are struggling academically, and provides workshops and programming for students and faculty. Amy’s work focuses on developing the whole student and creating an environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree from Cornell University.

• Primary point of contact for students experiencing academic, health, and/or personal difficulties
• Coordination and management of Leave of Absence process
• Partners with the Associate and Assistant Deans of Academic Affairs
• Serves on HMC Care Team and participates on Scholarly Standing Committee and Academic Affairs Committee

Students may book an appointment with Dean Kat

Katrina is a dedicated professional passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in higher education. Having served as a graduate assistant for the Office of Institutional Diversity at Harvey Mudd, she played a pivotal role in supporting the Summer Institute program, the I’m a First Initiative, Affinity Groups, and Transfer Students. Prior to this role, Katrina served as a career coach at Cal State Fullerton, specializing in guiding first-generation college students toward successful career paths. Before joining Cal State Fullerton, she worked at a TRIO Support program at Cal Poly Pomona, where she collaborated with students who have disabilities, are first-generation, and have limited financial resources. Katrina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and is set to graduate with a Master’s in Higher Education in Spring 2024. With a deep commitment to educational equity and a wealth of experience supporting diverse student populations, Katrina seeks to continue making meaningful contributions to higher education.

Sarah Repetto has 14 years of experience working in higher education and spent the last ten years as the Director of International Affairs at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.  She led short-term study abroad programs in Europe and Asia and fostered exchange partnerships and international internship opportunities for students studying in the creative industries.

Sarah grew up in the Los Angeles area and attended California State University Long Beach where she earned bachelor’s degrees in both drawing/painting and art history. She returned to CSULB, to earn a master’s degree in art history.  Sarah was fortunate to study abroad on two separate occasions studying painting in Italy and art history in France.  These experiences were the beginning of a life-long passion for international education and their critical role in the development of the whole student. 

She is thrilled to join the passionate community at Harvey Mudd, share her enthusiasm for study abroad with every student, and encourage participation in life-changing international education programs.

Students may book an appointment with Dean Chris

Chris, who has been at Harvey Mudd College since fall 1997, is the associate dean of students and director of campus life. He directs and coordinates the gamut of campus life activities, including the New Student Orientation programs, Associated Students of Harvey Mudd College (ASHMC) advisement, Linde Activities Center/Gym (LAC) management, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) physical education classes and the DSA Muchachos Student Activities Team (on-campus social programming). Chris has bachelor’s degrees in business administration and art from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a master’s degree in college student affairs from Azusa Pacific University.

• Oversee all Campus Life activities and operations, including New Student Orientation programs, Social events in residence halls, Linde Activities Center/Gym (LAC) management, and the DSA Muchachos Student Activities Team (on-campus social programming).
• Instruct students in two Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) physical education classes
• Assist with management of bicycle safety and removal if necessary
• DSA liaison for ASHMC
• Assist with new student parking requests and approval; liaison to Campus Safety on parking-related issues.
• Contact Dean Chris to use the “Dean Chris booth” in the Hoch

Shannon joins Harvey Mudd College with 15 years of experience working with STEM-focused graduate students at Keck Graduate Institute. She worked as the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships, where she managed relationships with life science companies that supported programs aimed at providing students with the necessary skills and experiences for their career growth.

Prior to her role in Corporate Partnerships, she was the Director of Admissions at KGI. During her tenure, she recruited, interviewed, and advised students on their plans for graduate school and potential job opportunities upon completion.

She holds a BA in Finance from Washington State University and an MBA from the University of Montana. Before her work in higher education, she held various marketing positions at high-tech and media companies.

As the assistant director of employer relations and recruiting in the Office of Career Services, Jeanette is responsible for supporting relationships with outside organizations and to plan and coordinate a variety of campus events linking students with opportunities for internships, research, and full-time positions. Jeanette has worked in higher education and in career services for the past seven years. She previously worked at UC Riverside’s Career Center as the client outreach and career advisor and the on-campus interview and events coordinator overseeing recruitment efforts for major career fairs and provided counseling to all UCR students. Jeanette has a B.A in political science and law and society.

• Serves as the point of contact for employers, recruiters, and graduate school officials
• Oversees employer engagement and coordinates on campus recruitment, events and virtual engagement
• Coordinates on campus room reservations and event promotion
• Partners with Clinic, APR, and Advancement for the employer, alumni collaborations
• Serves as a point of contact for students and alumni – career services appointments
• Partners with the Claremont Consortium Career Services Directors
• Serves as point of contact for Senior Survey Data with OIRE
• Serves as point of contact for data for faculty and staff 
• Leads OCS and supervises the full-time staff

As a Career Advisor and Educator, Natasha supports students and alumni through one-on-one career advising appointments and educational workshops. Appointment and workshop topics can include resumes, cover letters, interview preparation and practice, job/internship searching, networking/making industry connections, applying to graduate school, and other career-related areas. Prior to coming to Mudd, Natasha worked as a Career Advisor at California Institute of the Arts. Before that, she earned her M.S. in Education with a concentration in Higher Education from California State University, Fullerton, where she also worked as a Career Coach. For her undergrad, Natasha attended the University of California, San Diego, where she earned a B.A. in Communication with minors in Cognitive Science and Education Studies.

• Advises students and alumni on their journey to graduate school, internships, and careers via 1:1 appointments, events, and programs
• Co-supervises OCS Peer Consultants
• Serves as liaison between students and pre-health advisors

Alyssa serves as a resource for Harvey Mudd students and alumni in their journey to graduate school, internships and careers. As Career Advisor and Educator she empowers students through career-related programs, events and 1:1 advising meetings. She also produces the office’s weekly newsletter and leads social media content creation. Her experience also includes different areas of student affairs including student support services and residence life. Alyssa graduated from California Lutheran University with a B.A. in Marketing Communication and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Student Affairs and Educational Justice at Claremont Graduate University.

• Advises students and alumni on their journey to graduate school, internships, and careers via 1:1 appointments, events, and programs
• Serves as the secondary contact for employers and recruiters
• Partners with the employer relations teams across the consortium
• Supervises OCS Student Workers
• Manages OCS newsletter, social media, and marketing
• Provide crisis management support and intervention. Lives on campus and serves on the on-call duty rotation.
• Title IX Deputy Coordinator

Please reach out to the Office of Career Services for any questions regarding on-campus employment, job search, resume reviews, career connections, mock interviews, career fairs, employer events, and individualized appointments. The Career Services office can be reached via email at careers_services@vaftizo.com or in the Platt Campus Center during office hours

Students may book an appointment with Gabriela

As director of community engagement, Gabriela fosters new and current relationships with community organizations, coordinates student engagement and participation in community based learning activities and provides support for the development, implementation and assessment of service learning courses. Gabriela is a graduate of Pomona College and received her master’s in education from the Claremont Graduate University.

• Civic Learning Programs (programming of civic year-round efforts, such as book clubs, Power of Your Voice, etc.)
• Community Engagement Opportunities
• Liaison to and for community partners
• Academic affairs-related efforts (service learning, CE fellowship fund, internal and external professional development opportunities)
• Signature community/civic engagement models such as Inside Out Program and the Napier Initiative
• Assessment, data, and budget for CE efforts
• Collaboration on planning and writing for grants

Students may book an appointment with Danny

As the associate director of community engagement, Danny organizes, develops and supports community engagement programming on- and off-campus, including student-led and community-led programs. He also manages and supervises the Homework Hotline program by working collaboratively with school districts, educators and other members of the campus and external community. Danny received his B.A. in psychology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and his M.S. in college counseling and student development from Azusa Pacific University.

• Tutoring programs (Homework Hotline and America Reads/Counts)
• Summer Funding Opportunities (Summer Internship Fund & Projects for Peace)
• Voices of Engagement (from logistics to registration)
• Voter Engagement Programs (efforts across campus and at 7C)
• Mentorship to student organizations with community engagement opportunities

We encourage you to reach out to the Office of Civic and Community Engagement (OCCE) for any questions, programming ideas, prospective partnerships, logistical support, professional development opportunities, general inquiries related to outreach efforts, and or community/civic learning and engagement initiatives. OCCE can always be reached at communityengagement@vaftizo.com or you can reach out to us individually.

Students may book an appointment with Dean Veronica

Veronica found her passion for supporting students in higher education at a non-profit called Step Up Women’s Network where she worked with high school girls to help them understand and apply to college, while providing opportunities to explore careers through mentorship and internship programs. After receiving her master’s degree in education from the University of La Verne and working in a charter school system for several years, she officially entered higher education at the University of Southern California and served as an academic advisor and assistant director in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s Academic and Advisement Services office. At USC, she served on the First-Generation College Student Task Force which organized the inaugural, First Generation College Student Summit, she was a mentor for First-Generation students and an advisor for the Annenberg Latino Student Association. Most recently, Veronica was Senior Director of Student Affairs at Keck Graduate Institute and oversaw Student Accessibility Services, Academic Support Services, Title IX, International Student Programming, Student and Campus Life and was a member of the JEDI committee and 7C Inclusive Excellence Committee. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Southern California. When she is not working, she is usually at the park with her three kids helping on their soccer and baseball teams, along with her husband. Her top five Gallup Clifton Strengths are: Adaptability, Relator, Developer, Harmony and Maximizer.

Kristen McVaugh (She/They) is a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to advancing social justice and inclusion. Kristen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Azusa Pacific University, where she developed a keen understanding of the importance of advocating for marginalized communities. Next, they pursued a Master’s degree in Sociology at Cal State Fullerton in 2021, specializing in gender, sexuality, communication, and meaning-making. Concurrently, Kristen served as the inaugural Graduate Assistant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal State Fullerton’s Associated Students, Inc. In this role, she was instrumental in developing the program from its inception, launching several impactful initiatives, enhancing staff training, and promoting collaborative events across campus. 

When she is not working, Kristen is usually exercising, reading, or spending time with her wife and their dog. 

Students may book an appointment with Dean Nita

Nita Kansara has been at Harvey Mudd College since August 2021, working as the Facilities Operations Assistant Manager, responsible for the daily operations, accounting and supervising student staff.

With more than 20 years of experience in Higher Education, Nita previously held positions at Pomona College, focusing on Student Affairs. Her breadth of experience encompasses roles in Residence Life, Campus Housing, Academic Affairs, and student support. Additionally, she has provided informal advising as a language and cultural mentor to international students.

Originally from Mumbai, India, Nita earned her B.A. in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Mumbai. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, she is passionate about assisting international students in navigating college life in the US and facilitating their access to various resources.

When not working, Nita enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and playing Scrabble. She lives in Rancho Cucamonga with her husband and their two grown children.

Students may book an appointment with Dean Michelle

As the associate dean for wellbeing, Michelle oversees wellbeing programming on campus and work with the health educators and meets with students one-on-one to provide support and case management services. Michelle is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a B.S. in public health. She also holds an MPH in health behavior and health promotion as well as an MSW in mental health and substance abuse from The Ohio State University.

• Meets individually with students to provide support and case management services
• Instructs and trains HMC faculty, staff, and students in Mental Health First Aid
• Oversees, plans, and implements wellbeing programming 
• Chairs the HMC Care Team
• Provide crisis management support and intervention. Lives on campus and serves on the on-call duty rotation.
• Conducts BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) assessment

Students may book an appointment with Dean Dominique

As the assistant dean for wellbeing, Dominique helps develop and implement programs and works with students to provide guidance and support with wellbeing-related topics. Dominique’s work focuses on promoting health and wellbeing to improve student success and quality of life. She received her B.A. in public health policy from UC Irvine and her MPH from San Diego State University.

• Plans and implements wellbeing programming 
• Advises the Peer Health Educators
• Supervises the ProjectConnect student facilitators 
• Instructs and trains HMC faculty, staff, and students in Mental Health First Aid
• Conducts BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) assessment

Please contact the Office for Wellbeing (OWB) for any questions regarding wellbeing programming and mental health care on campus. OWB can be reached via email at wellbeing@vaftizo.com or in the Platt Campus Center during office hours.

Students may book an appointment with Dean Karen

As the associate dean of students and director of residential life, Karen helps to coordinate and manage student housing, the first-year experience program, campus events and programs, and New Student Orientation. Karen has worked at Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF) at the Office of Student Life and Leadership as their sports club graduate assistant. Prior to Harvey Mudd and CSUF, Karen was heavily involved in student government and was a student assistant at the Latinx cultural center at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP). Karen earned her master’s of science in higher education at CSUF. She has a bachelor of science in kinesiology, exercise science from CPP.

• Provides assistance to individual students and groups, including conflict resolution and mediation
• Manages rosters, Symplicity, and any housing-related data
• Supervises the Proctors 
• Develops and revises residence hall policies and procedures
• Oversees the dorm opening/closing procedures
• Advises the ASHMC Resident Affairs Liaisons and assists with room draw and preplacements
• Provide crisis management support and intervention. Lives on campus and serves on the on-call duty rotation.

Students may book an appointment with Dean Vanessa

As the assistant dean for campus and residential life, Vanessa helps develop student engagement by coordinating and managing student housing, student leadership initiatives and New Student Orientation. Vanessa has worked as both a peer counselor and new student advisor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Prior to Harvey Mudd she was a graduate student worker at Claremont Graduate Admissions Office. She is a graduate of UCLA where she earned her B.A. in Political Science and Spanish and received her M.Ed. in Student Affairs and Educational Justice at Claremont Graduate University. Vanessa is excited to continue her work at Harvey Mudd College and is committed to help make Mudd feel like a second home for all students.

• Facilitate room switch requests and roommate conflicts
• Manage and maintain office and department information and records 
• Supervises the mentors
• Assist with coordinating and implementing the New Student Orientation program. 
• Provide crisis management support and intervention. Lives on campus and serves on the on-call duty rotation.

Please reach out to the Office of Housing and Residential Life (ResLife) for any questions regarding living on campus, roommate/suitemate meditations, programming,  campus resources, and Room Draw. The ResLife office can be reached via email at ResLife@vaftizo.com or in the Platt Campus Center during office hours.