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 Dean Amy

As the senior associate dean for student success, Amy provides strategic direction and oversight for Academic Resources, Campus Life, Housing and Residential Life, Study Abroad and Wellbeing, and support for the division as a whole. With over 20 years of experience in higher education administration, Amy is committed to working collaboratively to foster a vibrant, inclusive community focused on holistic student success and wellbeing. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree from Cornell University.

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 Carrie Tamayo

With over 13 years of experience in higher education and a clinical background in speech-language pathology, Carrie Tamayo serves as a connection point for students seeking support in her role as Associate Dean for Academic Resources. Her work is rooted in fostering inclusive academic environments, promoting holistic student success, and supporting students through evidence-based approaches.

Carrie has cultivated a deep commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, trauma-informed support, and the development of academic coaching programs tailored to the unique needs of students in STEM disciplines. She is passionate about creating strategies that empower students to overcome challenges and thrive both academically and personally.

Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. She looks forward to continuing her work in advancing student success through innovative programs and meaningful partnerships across the Harvey Mudd community.

• Serves as the primary liaison for students with academic concerns, including academic outreach, resource referral, and collaboration with faculty and staff across the campus
• Oversees and coordinates the Leave of Absence process to ensure students receive comprehensive support during transitions
• Collaborates closely with the Associate and Assistant Deans of Faculty for Academic Affairs, the Office of the Registrar, and the Director of Learning Programs to address student needs
• Participates actively on the HMC Care Team and serves as an ex-officio member of the Scholarly Standing Committee and Academic Affairs Committee to advocate for students

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

As Assistant Director of Campus Life, Alyssa is dedicated to creating an inclusive campus environment that fosters community connection, encourages involvement, and empowers students to develop as leaders. She works to develop and support student programming, coordinates leadership initiatives, and supports the holistic well-being of students through events, workshops, and campus-wide collaborations.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from UC Riverside and her master’s in Education, with a concentration in Student Affairs and Educational Justice, from Claremont Graduate University. A proud ally of the undocumented community, Alyssa holds an ‘Allies of Dreamers’ Certificate from Claremont Graduate University and has a strong background in supporting undocumented students.

• Supports campus programming with DSA Muchachos, ASHMC, and the Associate Dean.
• Manages, trains, and supervises student employees (DSA Muchachos, Orientation Directors, Mentors).
• Oversees event and party management for 1C and 5C communities.

Shannon has over 15 years of experience working with STEM-focused students at the Claremont Colleges. Before Harvey Mudd, she worked at Keck Graduate Institute 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.

• Provides strategic direction for the office of career services
• Partners with faculty and student leadership to align services with the needs of the students
• Manages the day-to-day operations of the office, including leadership of the professional staff 
• Meets regularly with the Career Services Directors of 6 other Claremont Colleges to align offerings and best practices

As the Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Recruiting in the Office of Career Services, Jeanette focuses on building strong relationships with external organizations and coordinating a range of campus and off-site events that connect students with valuable opportunities that connect students with internships, research opportunities, and full-time positions. With over nine years of experience in higher education and career services, Jeanette previously worked at UC Riverside’s Career Center, where she managed recruitment efforts for major career fairs and provided career counseling to undergraduate and graduate students.

Jeanette holds a B.A. in Political Science and Law and Society from UC Riverside and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs and Education Justice from Claremont Graduate University.

• Serves as the primary point of contact for employers, recruiters, and graduate school representatives.
• Oversees employer engagement initiatives and coordinates on-campus and virtual recruitment events.
• Supervises OCS Peer Consultants 
• Manages room reservations and event promotion for on-campus activities.
• Collaborates with Alumni and Parent Relations to facilitate alumni partnerships.
• Collaborates with 7C consortium employer relations team.

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.

• Designated School Official (DSO)
• Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA)
• 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 from Claremont Graduate University with an M.A. in Student Affairs and Educational Justice.

• 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
• 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@hmc.edu 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@hmc.edu 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.

Logan McVaugh (he/they) is a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to advancing social justice and inclusion. Logan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Azusa Pacific University, where he 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, Logan served as the inaugural Graduate Assistant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal State Fullerton’s Associated Students, Inc. In this role, he was instrumental in developing the program from its inception, launching several impactful initiatives, enhancing staff training, and promoting collaborative events across campus. 

When he is not working, Logan is usually exercising, reading, or spending time with his 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) and CASICS (Cannabis Screening and Intervention for College Students) program

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
• Serves on the HMC Care Team, TCCS Eating Disorder Task Force, and the 7C Wellbeing Committee
• Meets individually with students to provide support and resources
• Conducts BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) and CASICS (Cannabis Screening and Intervention for College Students) program

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@hmc.edu 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 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@hmc.edu or in the Platt Campus Center during office hours.