Gina Montoya-WestJohn, RN, Director of Student Health Services
Gina is a Registered Nurse who has been on staff at SHS since 2019. She also is the Compliance Coordinator for RN, DH, RT programs, and consults MA students in their program. She completed her Nursing program in 2001, at Ohlone College in Fremont, CA. Gina started her RN career at Dominican Hospital in the Med-Surg Dept. A few years later she specialized in Pediatrics and continues her ties to home health care. Gina spends most of her free time with her family; she loves playing games, reading books, and watching her three daughters play sports!
Katie Dowling, DNP, FNP-C
Katie is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) who has been on staff at SHS since 2005. She completed her nursing school prerequisites (and also met her husband in calculus class) at Cabrillo. She then transferred to San Jose State University, where she completed both her Bachelor's and Master's of Science in Nursing (BSN and MSN)degrees. Katie worked as a primary care provider at Planned Parenthood for many years and continues to maintain ties with this and other community clinics. In her free time, Katie enjoys taming her wildflower garden, reading great books, and hiking in the Santa Cruz mountains. She loves spending time with her family.
Dianne Avelar, LMFT
Dianne is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who provides personal counseling services and administers the post-master's counseling intern program for SHS. Dianne is a graduate of Watsonville High School and completed her undergraduate work and teaching credential at San Jose State University. She then went on to receive her Master's degree from Santa Clara University, returning to Watsonville to work and live. Dianne loves the beach and is an avid traveler, camper, and reader. Her favorite authors are Rick Hanson ("Just One Thing" "Buddha's Brain") and John Medina ("Brain Rules").
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Lance Bauscher, LMFT
Lance is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in his 6th year working as a Psychological Counselor at Cabrillo College. He also has a holistic and mindfulness-based psychotherapy practice in Aptos. He earned his MA in Counseling Psychology at John F. Kennedy University in the Holistic Studies Department with an emphasis in Buddhist Psychology. He also has an MA in Humanistic Philosophy, which feeds his other interests in literature and existential philosophy. Lance is Adjunct Faculty at National University where he teaches Psychology and School Counseling. His free time tends to be joyfully gobbled up by his two children and the beautiful game of soccer.
Erin Johnson, LPCC
Erin is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in her third year working at Cabrillo. She also has a mindfulness based and integrative Teletherapy practice here in Santa Cruz. She earned her MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Holistic Health Psychology from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA in 2015. In 2009 she earned her BA in Literature from The College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara where she also studied creative writing and theater. As an alumnus of Cabrillo College Erin is excited to return to campus in service of current students. She is ready to listen and offer support for whatever might be challenging you, and does her best to honor her clients' diverse stories and experiences. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, poetry, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Osha Brodsky, Personal Counseling Intern
Osha is an Associate Family Marriage Therapist (AMFT) who is passionate about supporting students at Cabrillo to discover their strengths, and explore areas in life where growth is possible. As a former Cabrillo student, Osha knows how challenging life as a student can be. He also graduated from UCSC and completed his Masters degree in Depth Psychology and Counseling at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Osha’s areas of specialization include working through anxiety, depression, substance use, couples and relationship issues, trauma, spirituality, sexuality, life decisions, health, and holistic wellness. On a personal note, Osha is an avid surfer, lover of nature, gardener, meditator, and music enthusiast.
Isabella Vasper, Personal Counseling Intern
Bella is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) in her first year providing personal counseling services at Cabrillo College. She also provides counseling to K-12 students at Santa Clara Unified School District. Bella grew up in Santa Clara, and attended San Jose State University where she received a BA in Psychology in 2017, and returned to receive her MS in Clinical Psychology in 2020. She is passionate about working with students in college, and providing support so they can overcome any challenges they are facing at this unique stage of life. In her own time, she loves to bake, read, spend time in nature, and go to the climbing gym with friends.
Claudia Peixoto, Student Outreach & Wellness Coordinator
Claudia graduated with a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State, but spent many years in a career in Hospitality after graduation before redirected herself back to Health and Wellness. She completed the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's Health Coaching program (including advanced education in Hormone Health), Yoga Teacher Training (200-Hour, Chair Yoga and Physiology of Yoga), and a Certificate of Achievement in Community Health Work (CHW). It was through the CHW program that she began working at Student Health Services, first as a Wellness Ambassador and then contracted as the Health Education and Wellness Coach before starting her current role as Student Outreach and Wellness Coordinator. Claudia approaches health holistically and follows evidence-based practices that support both physical and mental health/wellness. She considers herself a lifelong student. She recently became a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor (Evelyn Tribole PRO Skills Training) and is currently in the process of becoming a Brain Health Licensed Trainer (Amen University). On a personal note, Claudia was born and raised in Watsonville. She is the daughter of immigrant farm workers and a first generation college graduate. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband, son, and dog. She loves to cook, spend time in nature, travel and watch comedy specials.
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Liliana Guzman, Student Health Services Program Coordinator
Liliana was raised in Santa Cruz, CA. She graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 2003 and later attended Cabrillo College. She graduated from the Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy program in 2014 and obtained a certificate of achievement.
As a medical assistant student, she completed her internship hours at the Cabrillo College Student Health Services and phlebotomy internship hours at the Watsonville Community Hospital.
She worked as an Administrative Assistant for more than 15 years and has been working at Cabrillo Student Health Services since 2014.
Liliana is a mother to four children. She enjoys spending time with her family, taking walks to the park and the beach.
In her own time, she likes to listen to music and watch movies.
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Lydia Arce, Counseling Intern
Lydia is in her first year as a counseling intern at the Student Health Services and the Accessibility Support Center at Cabrillo College. Concurrently, she is navigating the final year of her Master's program at San Jose State University, working towards obtaining her license as a professional clinical counselor (LPCC). As a Cabrillo alumna, Lydia holds a BA in Intensive Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Having previously been an integral part of the Cabrillo community as an employee, she is thrilled to return to contribute to the well-being of students in this new and impactful capacity. In her spare time, Lydia finds joy in backpacking adventures, cooking, and yoga.