Meet our DREAM Team
The DREAM Program was established July 1, 2015 to meet the needs of undocumented student
population at Mt. SAC. It was created to provide services for Undocumented Students
and ensure their success, personal growth and development throughout their educational
journey. Our DREAM team is comprised of committed and compassionate professionals
who have navigated the educational path that our students go through. We are here
you achieve your goals at Mt. SAC and beyond. We encourage you to come by and meet
our team in person or remotely.
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Dario Fernandez Program Director
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Laura Muniz Counselor/Professor
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- About Laura
My name is Laura Muñiz, and I am a first-generation Latina college student. Having emigrated from Mexico
at the age of five years of age, I understand first-hand what it is like to be a Dreamer.
I started in community college just like you. I transferred to Cal State Fullerton
and earned a BS in Human Services. I later earned my MS in Counseling from the University
of La Verne. I have worked at Mt. SAC for over 25 years. I am excited to introduce
you to the basics of being a college student. I know how overwhelming starting college
can be and I am here to help you have a smooth transition. My goal is to offer you
one of the most valuable learning experiences and develop a safe and caring learning community where you can fully participate
and be academically successful. I am excited to get to know you in the next couple
of weeks and begin this wonderful college journey together!
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Carmen Macias Adjunct Counselor
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- About Carmen
I was born in Ocotlan, Jalisco Mexico and migrated to the United States at the age
of 3. I was raised in East Los Angeles California and attended East Los Angeles College.
I earned and Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies from ELAC and transferred to the University
of California Santa Cruz where I earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology. Then I earned a Master of Education in Counseling from the University
of Southern California. I am currently working on my Doctorate of Philosophy in Education at Claremont Graduate University. I am a first-generation DACAmented student and professional. I am passionate about promoting higher education to immigrant
communities because I know that we have the ability to accomplish our dreams despite our immigration status. During my free time I explore
southern California by hiking different trails. I also love dancing and reading, both help me stay grounded in
my work.
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Maria Rodriguez Adjunct Counselor
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- About Maria
My name is Maria Rodriguez. I was born in Mexico and raised in the central valley
— Reedley. I received my Master's degree in Educational Counseling from USC and hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Intensive Psychology and Minor in
Education from UC Santa Cruz. As an undocumented, first-generation student, I faced
a myriad of obstacles, such as, poverty, deportation, and inadequate and unequal educational
opportunities. Despite these obstacles, I excelled and never lost sight of where I
was going and although I feared education, I knew I wanted it more than I feared it.
My counseling and teaching philosophy is student centered, holistic based approach.
I hope to motivate you to think about your success at Mt SAC and beyond. I warmly
invite you to make an appointment with me to learn about each other and how I can
further support you with your personal and academic goals.
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Giovani Bautista Educational Advisor
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- About Giovani
I was born in Morelia Michoacan, Mexico. In Mexico, I learned the importance of education
since I was not able to get one as a result of poverty and the need to work to support
my family. I crossed the border with my mother in 2005 and began to attend school
in 6th grade. Learning the language was easy, but the hard part was adjusting to the
culture of this country, especially as an undocumented individual. I began navigating
the education system prior to the CA DREAM Act and DACA, so going to college and graduating
from college was never in my dreams or goals. However, thanks to my community, counselors
and educators I was able to attend Community College, graduate and transfer to UC
Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, I graduated with a Bachelor's in Mass Communications/Media
Studies. Currently, I am in my third and last year of my Master’s Program in Counseling.
I hope to become a transformative Community College Counselor in the near future.
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Maria Ruiz Tejeda Program Specialist
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- About Maria
My name is Maria Ruiz Tejeda and I was born in Acapulco, Mexico. I attended Mt. SAC
and transferred to the University of Southern California (USC), where I received my
Bachelor's in Sociology and a Minor in Gender and Social Justice.
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Paola Gutierrez Financial Aid Specialist
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- About Paola
I was born in Michoacan, Mexico and came to the US at the age of 6. My higher education
and professional journey began at UC Santa Cruz where I earned my Bachelor’s degree
in Legal Studies. I went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration from
CSU Long Beach. Fast forward to 2023 and I now have over 10 years of financial aid
experience, supporting students in various roles from Peer Advisor to Cal Grant Coordinator.
Currently, I’m excited to be a Financial Aid Specialist at Mt. San Antonio College.
As a first-generation student, I understand the impacts of financial aid and how the
complex process can deter students from applying. The application itself can be quite
intimidating for some, therefore, my goal is to remove the barriers students and families
face in order to make higher education a reality. I’m more than happy to support students
with the financial aid process, stop by and let me know how I can support you!