Caryl Montero-Adams  | she, her, hers
Assistant Dean of Students for Student Life
[email protected]

Caryl Montero-Adams serves as the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Life. In her role, she leads the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life, Center for Student Organizations & Activities, and the Campus Assistance, Response, Engagement, and Support (CARES) program. In addition to these supervisorial roles, Caryl collaboratively leads several strategic efforts within the division, including expanded late night and weekend programming, the implementation of recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety, and hazing prevention efforts at SDSU. 

Prior to her role, Caryl served as the Director of Student Life & Leadership, Assistant Director of SLL for Fraternity & Sorority Life, and as a Residence Hall Coordinator. She earned a bachelor of science in education degree in health promotion and education from the University of Cincinnati and a masters of science in education degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University. Caryl has been honored by the division with the Strengthening Connection to SDSU, Excellence in Student Development, and Exceptional New Professional awards. Caryl serves as Co-President of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Leadership Alliance and volunteers as the Alumnae Initiate Experience Consultant for Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. 

Christine Molina  | she, her, hers
Assistant Dean of Students for Co-Curricular Programs and Student Support 
[email protected]

As Assistant Dean of Students for Co-Curricular and Student Support, Molina provides vision and leadership to promote student success and a high quality of student life, engagement, and development.  She has responsibility for the Center for Commuter Life and the Glazer Center for Leadership and Service, and provides leadership to the coordinated care advising and affinity group programs. She also collaboratively leads the division’s utilization of SDSU Navigate (EAB).

Christine has been a dedicated member of the SDSU community for 16 years, holding leadership roles supporting undergraduate academic advising and student success.  Most recently, she served as the Director of Advising and Evaluations, and provided leadership to undergraduate campus advisors.  Previously, she served as Associate Director of Advising and Evaluations, Academic Coordinator/Advisor for Compact Scholars, and Adviser/Evaluator.  She is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), and has worked closely with CSU Directors of Academic Advising. Christine earned a bachelor of arts degree in human development from the University of California San Diego and a master of arts degree in postsecondary educational leadership with a specialization in student affairs from San Diego State University. 

Center for Commuter Life

Eunice Flores | she, her, hers
Assistant Director, Center for Commuter Life
[email protected] 

Eunice Flores serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Commuter Life at San Diego State University. She is from Chula Vista down south of SDSU. Her transformative college experience is what led her to pursue a career in Higher Education. Eunice is a proud two time alumna of SDSU receiving a bachelor's in Psychology and a master's degree in Educational Leadership.

Eunice has held various positions at SDSU for the past 9 years. She served as Lead Coordinator in the Office New Student Orientation welcoming thousands of new students and families and led a full day Spanish parent orientation program.  She held a position as a Career Counselor at SDSU Career Services where she served students in the College of Arts of Letters and Professional Studies & Fine Arts with their career development. In her role now as Assistant Director for the Center for Commuter Life provides leadership and support initiatives and efforts that contribute to commuter success.  Eunice has developed and maintained working relationships with many campus partners across campus to support Student Success Pathways, mentoring and workshops. As a former commuter student herself she understands the commuter experience and is dedicated to helping commuter students thrive during their time at SDSU. 

Helen Ma | she, her, hers
General Advisor & Retention Specialist, Commuter Life
[email protected]

Helen Ma serves as a General Advisor & Retention Specialist at San Diego State University. Helen is a San Diego native. She attended San Diego State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration as well as her Masters of Arts degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership. 

In her role, Helen serves first year, second year and transfer commuter students through various mentoring programs. She also programs and develops events for the Commuter Resource Center to promote commuter student engagement. Helen is very passionate about connecting students to all that SDSU has to offer. Outside of Commuter Life, Helen advises Sigma Alpha Zeta, a multicultural sorority on campus. When she isn’t working, she loves to workout, cook and shop at Costco. 

Sarah Mercado | she, her, hers
General Advisor & Retention Specialist, Commuter Life 
[email protected]

Sarah Mercado is a General Advisor & Retention Specialist at San Diego State University and a two-time alumna of SDSU. While commuting to campus, she earned her bachelors in sociology and masters in educational leadership from SDSU. Sarah has worked in several roles on campus, including serving as an academic advisor for both graduate and undergraduate students in the Fowler College of Business. She is committed to helping students meet their academic goals through caring and inclusive advising. As a native San Diegan who grew up in Chula Vista, Sarah comes from a long line of Aztecs. Her grandfather attended SDSU in the 1930’s, her father in the 1960’s, and her sister in the 1990’s. When she is not at work, Sarah enjoys hanging out with family and friends, enjoying delicious food, and reading.  

Heather LaPerle | she, her, hers
General Advisor & Retention Specialist, Commuter Life
[email protected]

Heather LaPerle is a General Advisor & Retention Specialist for the Center for Commuter Life at San Diego State University. She is a proud double alumna having earned her Administration Bachelor of Science Degree in  Recreation and Masters of Arts degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership. 

Heather has worked in several areas at SDSU including Fowler Center for Student Success, Career Services, and the Compact Scholars Program. Heather is dedicated to helping students actualize their goals while they explore their passions. Outside of work, Heather loves attending SDSU basketball games, theatre, hiking, backpacking and fundraising for Make-A-Wish. 

Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life

Kayla Snow | she, her, hers
Student Life Advisor for the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life 
[email protected]

Kayla Snow is a Student Life Advisor for the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life at San Diego State University. Kayla is originally from Poway, CA and was born and raised in San Diego, although she has family across several states. She received her bachelors of science in Kinesiology from California State University San Marcos and went on to achieve her masters degree in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Kayla joined the Fraternity & Sorority Life advisory team in January of 2022 and serves as the primary advisor for all 4 Greek governing councils and 5 of our Greek Auxiliary groups. Additionally, she provides direct support to all recognized Greek organizations on campus. Outside of SDSU, Kayla is a spin instructor and enjoys being active, outdoors, attending concerts and spending time with loved ones. 

Glazer Center for Leadership & Service

Chelsea Lombrozo | she, her, hers
Assistant Director, Leadership & Service

[email protected]

Chelsea is the Assistant Director for the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service at San Diego State University. She is originally from Los Angeles, California and attended Sonoma State University for her undergraduate career where she received degrees in Psychology and Business. She is also a proud Alumna of San Diego State University where she earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

Chelsea’s role allows her to work with all students to encourage them to realize their leadership potential. She does this through one on one advising, workshop facilitation and manages large scale event planning. She oversees of many landmark campus programs such as the Aztec CORE leadership retreat, SDSU Leadership Summit conference, Aztec Unity Project service learning program and the Quest for the Best top leadership awards. Chelsea is also a Myers-Briggs certified practitioner and CliftonStrengths coach. She believes these personality and leadership assessments are great tools to empower students to realize their potential and articulate their leadership value. While not at work, Chelsea enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants.

Brookland Gordon | she, her, hers
Student Life Advisor, Community Service 

[email protected]

Brookland is the Student Life Advisor for Community Service for the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service at San Diego State University. She is a Tennessee native who attended Tennessee Technological University for her undergraduate career where she received a degree in Secondary Education, with minors in Biology and Communication. She went on to earn her master’s degree in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of West Florida. Previously she has worked with Student Government, Campus Activities, and Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Brookland’s role allows her to work with all students to encourage them to participate in and grow through service learning in their community. She does this through one-on-one advising, workshop facilitation and managing service-related student organizations. She leads the Aztec Unity Project service learning program and assists in planning and executing many additional campus programs such as the Aztec CORE leadership retreat, SDSU Leadership Summit conference and the Quest for the Best top leadership awards. She believes in leadership development and the strength of the Aztec community. You can find Brookland in the Student Life office and the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service. In her free time, Brookland enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, cat & partner, traveling near & far, working on her next DIY, and exploring all the local foodie locations.

Liana Marin | she, her, hers
Student Life Advisor, Leadership 

[email protected]

Liana Marin joins the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service as the Student Life Advisor for Leadership. Liana is a proud SDSU alumna who received a B.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology with a minor in Leadership and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies from the Weber Honors College. She also earned her M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. Liana has previously served as the Leadership Development Coordinator for Associated Students Inc. at CSU Dominguez Hills and the Coordinator for Student-Athlete Development at CSU Long Beach. Her professional experience has focused on developing holistic programs for specialized populations such as student-athletes, student-government leaders, fraternity and sorority life, and cultural communities.

Liana will support the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service in their signature leadership programs such as Aztec CORE Leadership Retreat, the SDSU Leadership Summit, Homecoming, and the Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Student Service Award. Liana is excited to return back to the SDSU family and empower student leaders to engage in transformative self-discovery initiatives that enrich the lives of the communities we serve and represent.

Center For Student Organizations and Activities 

Veenwar Almezory | he, him, his
Assistant Student Life Advisor for Student Organizations and Activities
[email protected]

Veenwar Almezory serves as the Assistant Student Life Advisor in the Center for Student Organizations and Activities. He is a San Diego native and San Diego State University alumnus, graduating with a degree in Theatre Arts: Performance Emphasis in Acting and Musical Theatre. He also has a minor in Digital and Social Media Studies. With a background in student organizations, leadership, and management, Veenwar is thrilled to provide students with the resources to succeed on campus as a student organization. As a first-generation Kurdish graduate with an artistic background, Veenwar strives to bring creativity to every project in order to bring liveliness and inspiration to the workplace.

Veenwar is passionate about pushing for diversity, equity, and inclusion both on campus and in the workplace. His biggest goal is to bridge the accessibility gap between first-generation students and higher education.

Minerva Carrillo Ortega | she, her, ella
Assistant Coordinator, Residential Education Office & Center for Student Organizations and Activities
[email protected]

Minerva Carrillo Ortega serves as an Assistant Coordinator within the Center for Student Organizations & Activities at San Diego State University. Minerva grew up in Santa Barbara and obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently completing her last year in the Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs Masters Program here at San Diego State University.

Minerva is passionate about bridging the gap between marginalized communities and higher education. In her work she tries to implement holistic ways to fully support students and help them find their place of belonging. In her role, Minerva supports the development and implementation of events on and off the SDSU campus, in particular those related to Aztec Nights, Summer Nights, and the SDSU Go! field trip program. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her pug, trying new coffee shops, and watching sunsets on the beach.

Kevin Araujo-Lipine | he, him, his
Director, Center for Student Organizations and Activities
[email protected] 

Kevin Araujo-Lipine (he/him) serves as the Director of the Center for Student Organizations & Activities. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and support for Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs), the Event Application System (EAS), Aztec Nights late-night programming, One SDSU Community, SDSU Go!, and Summer Nights. Kevin has been a member of the SDSU community since 2018, where he started as the Assistant Director for Student Organizations & Activities, and most recently supported the Center for Student Rights & Responsibilities serving in the Associate Director role.

Kevin brings a portfolio of leadership experiences in residential life, orientation, student activities, diversity and inclusion, student engagement, student and organizational conduct, and large-scale programming. Kevin attended North Central College in Naperville, Illinois where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and minors in Secondary Education and Organizational Leadership. He went on to attain a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Kevin is actively involved in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), including past leadership roles as the Co-Chair for the Gender and Sexuality Knowledge Community (KC), and a NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) Mentor. Kevin enjoys spending time with his family and friends, cooking, being a Disney nerd, and traveling.

Michelle Halverson | she, her, hers
Student Life Advisor for Campus Events & Alternative Programs
[email protected]

Michelle Halverson serves as a Student Life Advisor for Campus Events and Alternative Programs at San Diego State University. Michelle is originally from Roseville, California a suburb near Sacramento. Michelle graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies with Distinction. Additionally, she is an alumna of San Diego State University where she received her Master of Arts in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs.

Michelle has an extensive background in working with fraternity and sorority leaders at various universities. Michelle is passionate about planning fun and engaging events for college students to create a memorable experience at SDSU and making sure they are widely known on campus. Specifically, Michelle manages the Aztec Nights, Summer Nights, and the SDSU Go! field trip program.  Michelle is an active alumna of her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, where she volunteers as a Chapter Development Specialist. When she isn’t working or volunteering, she loves to do yoga, travel, and explore San Diego with her partner and dog!

Kaleigh Lacouture  | she, her, hers
Student Life Advisor for Student Organizations & Activities 
[email protected]

Kaleigh Lacouture is a Student Life Advisor for the Center of Student Organizations & Activities at San Diego State University. She is originally from Paso Robles, California, a small town on the central coast. Kaleigh attended Sonoma State University for her undergraduate career where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In addition, she receieved her master’s degree from San Diego State University in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs.

Kaleigh’s role consists of supporting student organization leaders and members through consultations, guidance, and coordination of the student recognition processes as well as organization events. She assists in programming and developing co-curricular opportunities to enhance student engagement and foster a sense of community here at SDSU with events connected to Aztec Nights and more. When she is not with students or doing the work she loves, Kaleigh also enjoys going to concerts, hanging out with her friends at the beach or pool, and being outdoors with her dog! 

Zach McDaniel  | he, him, his
Student Life Advisor for Campus Events & Alternative Programs
[email protected]

Zach McDaniel serves as the Student Life Advisor for Campus Events & Alternative Programs within the Center for Student Organizations & Activities at San Diego State University. Zach grew up in San Marcos in North County San Diego and obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Psychology from California Lutheran University.  He also has his Master of Science degree in Higher Education from CSU Fullerton.

Zach is passionate about student engagement and facilitating opportunities for students to create community at SDSU.  In his role, Zach supports the development and implementation of events on and off the SDSU campus, in particular those related to Aztec Nights, Summer Nights, and the SDSU Go! field trip program.  When not working, he enjoys gaming, trying to make bread, and going hiking with his dog.

Alba Alonzo | she, her, hers
Administrative Support Coordinator
[email protected]  |  619-594-3526

Alba is the Administrative Support Coordinator for the Student Life & Leadership Department at San Diego State University. Alba was born in San Diego but raised in the small town of Culiacan SInaloa Mexico. She attended the University of Baja California and earned her bachelor’s degree in International Business under the first generation of the NEXUS program with San Diego State earning her MS in Business Administration.

Alba performs all the administrative duties in support of work unit operation and coordination work activities including setting up and maintaining office procedures relate to specific academic programs or administrative office; developing documents involving the use of software features such as charts, tables and graphics, providing lead work direction and coordinating unit workflow’ performing administrative duties and/or project work direction and coordination related to programs, policies and procedures’ organizing and arranging special events and related activities.