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Meet Our Staff

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"Cyndi is a product of the CA community college system, she attended LACC and transferred to UCLA. She was a student-organizer with the undocumented student-led group, Improving Dreams, Education, Access, and Success (IDEAS). She graduated from UCLA with a B.A.in Political Science. In 2013, Cyndi graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with an M.A. in Higher and Postsecondary Education. During her time at Teachers College, she was a Graduate Research Fellow at the Institute for Urban Minority Education and worked with middle-school and high-school students who were part of the Harlem Children’s Zone. She returned to her alma mater as the Assistant Director of the Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars Program at UCLA. In addition, she collaborated with the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies to create the UndocuScholars Research Program. With the support of campus partners, they developed the first research program at UCLA, intentionally supporting undocumented undergraduate students to prepare them for graduate school. Serving community college students has always been my passion, and I transitioned to the role of Student Equity and NASA initiatives project manager at Santa Monica College. Prior to coming to Rio Hondo College, I was the Director of the Empowerment Programs (EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Inspire Scholars, and the Undocumented Resource Center) at College of the Canyons. My leadership style centers student-equity, asset-based high-impact practices, and always centering student voices. Cyndi firmly ascribes to the equity definition by Dr. Veronica Keiffer-Lewis, “equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful”, we must center the students who have been historically excluded, who are incredibly resilient. I’m excited and look forward to meeting all of you! Go Rio and thank you for choosing EOPS/CARE!"

Cyndi Bendezu Palomino

Director

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Rocio Saenz

Evaluator

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My name is Sofia Tortoledo, I am an EOP&S/CARE Rio Hondo alumnus. During my time as a student at Rio Hondo, I was also a Peer Advisor for the EOP&S program. During this time, I found my passion to serve in the higher education community. After graduating from Rio Hondo, I transferred to Cal Poly Pomona where I received my BA in Sociology. I have now returned to Rio Hondo to serve the students in which I can see myself most in. I am honored to be the Senior Secretary for the EOP&S/CARE program, and am dedicated to working with our team to help students succeed in their higher education journey.

Sofia Tortoledo

Senior Secretary

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Laura Verdugo

CARE Specialist