ASK SUCCESS MENTORS

What is a Success Mentor? And how can they help me, as a student?

•  A Success Mentor is a personal mentor assigned to students in the ASK program.  Each Success Mentor assists students in a subject area, such as math, English, Psychology 210, or Anatomy & Physiology. In addition to offering subject-specific tutoring to students, mentors are also trained to refer students to the various services that Cerritos College offers, such Financial Aid, counseling, food insecurity, student health services, and many others.  Mentors will inform students of the program’s services and refer them to the appropriate department or person, offering a personalized hand-off to that program or individual.

 

Meet our ASK Success Mentors: 

 

 

Cisco Avila:

     Hello Cerritos Falcon! My name is Cisco Avila, and I’m a math mentor for Cerritos College. My hobbies are stargazing, reading novels, and cooking pancakes! I’m also passionate about helping others understand mathematics. My major is physics and currently I’m learning how to code. 

 

Jonathan Coronel:

     I am an English MA student at CSULB.  For my undergraduate degree, I earned my BA in English along with a minor in Linguistics.  I have over 3 years of experience in tutoring and mentoring college-level students and aspire to be a college professor.  In my spare time, I like watching films and reading sci-fi/fantasy graphic novels.

 

Rafael Sanchez:

     My name is Rafael, and I am a mentor with the ASK Program.  I have served as an English tutor for almost three years now.  I graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Long Beach State.  Currently, I am doing a post-baccalaureate (“post-bacc”) program, and I’m interested in pursuing a career in medicine.  I want to specialize in family medicine or geriatric care.  My areas of expertise and interest include criminology, policing, microbiology, conservation ecology, and chemistry.   I love spending time with my family, watching documentaries about crime and science, and riding motorcycles.  My goals as a mentor with ASK Program are to inspire and empower students to become their best selves and pursue their passions.

 

Meriem Bensalloua:

     My name is Meriem Bensalloua. I am a statistic major. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in statistics at university of science in Algeria where I worked as a math instructor for 5 years. An assistant professor not only needs to understand the subject matter he or she teaches, but also communicate at both the level of the teacher and of the student. I have dedicated my career to helping students of all levels master the math skills and concepts they need to go on everyday life beyond college and would love to continue that path. Since October 2019, I have been a math tutor at Cerritos College. There, I not only strengthened my own understanding of all levels of math, but also learned to communicate effectively to other students to help them learn. This experience will be invaluable to me as a classroom instructor. I come from a long line of educators, so teaching is truly in my blood.

 

Frances Chua:

     My name is Frances, a Success Mentor for math with a specialty in statistics. As an aspiring educator and former student, I understand that there are many factors to why students struggle in school. I believe a student can get through any class if they work hard enough, but at the same time I understand that some students have to put in more effort than others. My philosophy for academics is that good academic performance stems from good mental health. While my main job is to guide students through their classes, I am more than happy to listen to students discuss non-academic issues, and point them to the right resources, if necessary.