About

Geraldine (“Dean”) Sare was born and raised in So. California and is a proud CSUN alum. She attended graduate school at Pepperdine University and earned a M.A. in Psychology. Her professional advising career began at Woodbury University. She returned to CSUN as part of the Liberal Studies advisement team. Later, she began advising international undergraduate students and coordinating programs and events toward international student advocacy. She has been with the Hub since it formed in May 2019. Dean appreciates her work in helping first year freshman and believes in a positive advising experience as an integral part of student success. Besides cheering for the Dodgers and reading, Dean enjoys traveling and time with family and friends.

Hi! My name is Amanda Bradstock-Waitz. I have been advising full-time since 2010, starting in the Nazarian College of Business and Economics SSC/EOP Satellite and now at The Hub. I love helping students in a holistic way, meaning that I believe all academic paths are influenced by personal, financial, psychological, and physical factors. I especially love helping students explore their career and academic opportunities. I have earned my Masters in Science in Counseling, option in College Counseling and Student Services as well as my Graduate Certificate in Career Education and Counseling at California State University, Northridge. Prior to my graduate school experiences, I graduated from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelors of Arts in Human Development and a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology (specializing in Biological Anthropology), as well as a minor in Psychology. All these experiences and more have brought me here to The Hub, where I am happy to help others embark on their college and career journeys. Welcome to CSUN and I hope to assist you while you are here! 

I live in Simi Valley, CA. I am from Philadelphia, PA. I received my doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in Higher Education Administration. Previous work experience includes CSUN (since 2003), the University of Maryland, College Park and Lincoln University. I played NCAA DIII women’s basketball in college.

Soudabeh Faghihi is a CSUN alum. She completed her master’s degree in cultural anthropology with a focus on intercultural dynamics while she was working as a research assistant and ESL tutor at CSUN. She worked for two years as the Administrative Support Assistant for Gender and Women’s Studies and Asian American Studies Departments. Now, she is the office manager at Matador Advising Hub. She enjoys learning about other cultures and languages and she highly values diversity. She is a nature enthusiast and loves hiking.

Hello, my name is Ivania Fictoria, and I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I am a proud CSUN Matador alum, and received my Master’s degree in Counseling, option College Counseling and Student Services. As a graduate student at CSUN, I gained valuable experiences such as serving as a mentor for University 100 and experiencing graduate internships in the Career Center and Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES). I enjoy working with students to help them navigate the college journey, assist them in discovering their interests and strengths, learn about their unique experiences, and overall provide ongoing support. My counseling philosophy follows a student-centered approach in meeting students where they are in their learning and development. During my free time, I love spending quality time with my 9-year-old Pitbull/Terrier mix. I also very much enjoy attending LA sports events and look forward to the next world series win for the Dodgers! 

Antonio is a proud CSUN alum. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 2004. He has a combined advising experience that expands over 20 years, which started in 2001 as a student peer mentor/advisor, then as a professional advisor in 2004 working at UC Irvine. Since his return to CSUN, he has worked with students in Liberal Studies, the College of Humanities, and the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. He now advises new F-1 international students at the Hub and coordinates their advisement services. When advising students, Antonio believes in a holistic student-centered approach and values the opportunity to support students in reaching their academic goals.

Hi! Welcome to the Matador Hub! My name is Jocelyn Guerrero, and here are some fun facts about me. I was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. I graduated from Manual Arts High School and began my post-secondary education journey at Los Angeles City College (LACC). After years of hard work and dedication, I was able to transfer to my dream school, CSUN, as a Chicano Studies major and Gender and Women’s Studies minor. I’m a proud MATADOR for life, and as the say goes, “Once a MATADOR, always a MATADOR!” After graduating from CSUN, I went to graduate school and obtained a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Mount Saint Mary’s University. Over the years, I’ve truly enjoyed being able to support students in various avenues, including transfer students and new and returning community college students, and look forward to supporting our awesome CSUN scholars. Working in higher education has been such a rewarding experience, especially seeing students fulfill their goals and accomplishments. As a CSUN student, I faced various challenges, and for a brief moment, I just wanted to give up. However, with the support of my awesome advisors and university resources, I pushed through until the very end, and here we are. My goal as an advisor is to provide the necessary and essential tools and resources for students to feel supported and encouraged during their time at CSUN. My advising philosophy and approach is to provide compassion and empathy when supporting students, but most importantly, to provide a safe environment. During my self-care time, I enjoy going on walks with my fur babies Oreo and Ozzy, spending quality time with my sisters, cooking with my family, and painting on canvas using acrylic paint.

Gael Farajian McDermott is a native of the San Fernando Valley. She brings to the team her extensive experience and impressive background in business operations, physical and facility management, budgeting and employee management within the entertainment industry. Gael began her career at CSUN in the College of Humanities Dean’s office as Special Events and Programs Liaison and is now Operations Specialist for the Matador Advising Hub. Gael is key in assisting with the collaboration, set-up, organization and process management in the establishment of department operations. She is a recent graduate of the University of Redlands with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She also received her certificate in Project Management from the University of Redlands as well as a certificate in Human Resource Management from UCLA. Gael is passionate about philanthropy and is very involved in the community.

Hello! My name is Debby Picado. I was born and raised in L.A. but now live in the Northridge area. I am a proud Alumni of CSUN! I received my B.A. in Child & Adolescent Development and my M.S. in Counseling with a specialization in College Counseling & Student Services. At first, I wanted to work with children but later on my passion grew for the population of college students. I enjoy seeing students discover themselves and their own passions. Whether it be in academics, personally, professionally or spiritually. I believe an all-encompassed approach is key to support students. CSUN has a special place in my heart because it is where I found my true passion both professionally and personally. At CSUN I worked in various departments from the Career Center, Student Involvement and Student Housing. My goals were to help students find their place at CSUN and pursue their goals. On my spare time I am also the College Ministry Advisor of my church Good Shepherd Fellowship, also a Christian club here at CSUN. In this role I advise and mentor students through both challenging and rewarding life experiences. Now as an Academic Advisor at The Hub. I want to continue giving back to CSUN, in hope that our first-time freshmen will feel welcomed, supported and encouraged. On my spare time I enjoy hiking, traveling, singing, movies, cooking, all with my beautiful baby girl, husband and all our family.