Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

About Adam Clark

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, I am a first-generation college student. As a former Yes to College student, I am so proud and privileged to have now been working with the Yes to College program for over 15 years. I truly love working with students and families to help them see the possibilities available at PCC via Yes to College.

About Darwin Crabtree

Born and raised in Oregon, I am a first generation college student in my family. I have been involved in education for over 20 years with experiences ranging from teaching middle school science to helping homeless youth in social work settings find employment. It’s important to me that I stay involved with the community that has provided me so much. Currently, I am working at the Sylvania campus as the high school diploma College Success Coach.

About Amy Curry

I started teaching math in 2003 at a community college in Illinois. I have been with Yes to College since 2018. My overarching goal is to make my classroom an enjoyable and calm environment for students who have had bad experiences with school and/or math in the past. We can all improve our mathematical skills if we are open to putting in the effort. I am here to assist when things get frustrating or confusing, which happens to everyone when learning something new.

About Jazmin Dzobo

Born and raised in California, I attended college in New York before beginning my career working with freshman and transfer students at NC A&T State University and UNC Greensboro. After moving to Oregon, I’m excited to call the PNW home. I love working with students and helping them discover strengths, explore their interests, and find a path that feels right for them. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me getting creative in a ceramics studio or exploring the outdoors with my husband and our dog.

About Katrina Eerkes

Our Data Analyst is a first gen, former dual credit student, and a Warner Pacific Graduate from Whidbey Island, WA. They manage all of our data and work with management to complete stakeholder reports at the end of each term and school year. Reach out if you have any questions about data – she’d be happy to help!

About Susan Iversen

I began teaching in the YES program in the spring of 2004. I have two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in education. I love the YES to College mission–to help at risk students succeed and earn college credits while completing their high school education. My philosophy of teaching is that the class is for learning, and we all make mistakes when we are learning new skills. Learning is a process. If students do the work, they will be successful. It is my passion to help facilitate the process and prepare students for success in college classes.

About Jane Larson

I have loved working with PCC Yes to College students earning their high school diploma since 2006. Recognizing that there are different kinds of learners and finding resources for all is my thing. I enjoy sharing those resources and empowering students to make decisions that impact their own future. Watching them succeed or try again is what I am here to support.

About Chon Madrigal

As an Oregon native, and first generation college student, I know first hand many of the uncertainties students face as they begin their educational endeavors. Being part of a team that embraces students as they begin their transition into the world as young adults is both compelling and humbling. Since graduating from the PACE program at Portland State University in 2012, I have been working with distinct student populations for more than 14 years, and working with high school students has been an unexpected yet liberating twist. Outside of work, you will likely find me consumed in more than one book, especially on a rainy day.

About Rhonda McLeod

My name is Rhonda McLeod, and I am a first-generation college student born and raised in Portland, Oregon. I am the Senior Office Assistant and Enrollment Specialist. Since 2014, I have proudly worked with Yes to College at the Southeast Campus, where I manage the front desk for our SE Office. I graduated from PCC in 2017, with my degree in Criminal Justice. I am deeply passionate about the work we do to support our students. The most rewarding part of my role is interacting with students every day, building relationships, and helping create a welcoming environment. I also enjoy supporting our staff and managers with a variety of tasks to help our office run smoothly.It is no secret that this role is truly my happy place. I am grateful to be part of a team that is dedicated to empowering students and making a positive impact in our community.

About Joshua Mead

For nearly 25 years, I’ve worked with young people in the Portland area to find success in school, their careers, and in life. I recall the supportive relationships that helped me find success or a path forward through some challenging times. I love supporting both students and staff, and one of the most rewarding parts of my work is celebrating students as they earn their GED, high school diploma, or reach their ESOL goals. Watching them cross that stage is a meaningful reminder of why I do this work, and I’m grateful to be part of their journey.

About Tracie Memmott

I’m an Oregon native & first generation college graduate. I’ve spent 30 years supporting teenagers & young adults with their educational & career goals. I’m grateful to be a small part of their life’s journey!

About Cristian Mendoza-Villa

I’m originally from California but have lived in Oregon for over 15 years. I am a first-generation hispanic college student and a former Yes to College student. I have had various roles in Yes to College but by far this is my favorite. I get to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, help them get connected to our program to be able to reach their goals and aspirations. Outside of work you’ll find out on a trail with my dog or reading a book or two.

About Katie Morgan

As a College Success Coach, I am dedicated to serving students and helping them pursue their academic and career goals. Growing up in the same community as my students, and as a first generation college student, I have a deeper understanding of barriers to success. My lived experience has given me an opportunity to support my students with kindness and compassion while navigating them towards success.

About Hanna Nuño

As a first-generation Mexican American college student who entered higher education without a roadmap, I love guiding high schoolers as they take their very first steps in college. Asking teenagers to make adult decisions can be overwhelming, but watching them embrace those challenges is amazing. I love helping students become independent learners who fully believe in their own capabilities and grow into their potential.Through holistic support, I empower students to develop lasting confidence, draw on their strengths, and take full ownership of their higher education journey.

About David Shultis

I grew up in Seattle. My family has been in the Pacific Northwest for four generations. I hold an MA in Counseling Psychology from St. Martin’s University (Lacey, WA), a Post-graduate Diploma in Modern and Contemporary Poetry from the University of Bristol (Bristol, England), and a BA in the Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA). I have been working with youth and families since 2004. I have been a licensed clinician since 2014. To me, education and therapy are acts of self-liberation that demand resilience, courage, empathy, and some constructive rebellion. That’s why I’m so grateful to be part of Yes to College; where students can achieve academic success, cultivate self-reliance, pursue what has meaning to them, and make meaningful contributions to our shared community.

About August Stockton

My name is August (they/them) and I am proud to have been working as a Yes to College Success Coach for 9 years. I work at both Cascade and Southeast campuses, primarily supporting students taking ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) classes. I am passionate about supporting students using a holistic approach, making sure they feel empowered and celebrated in their academic journey.

About Marlo Urbina

I’m an Oregon native and a first-generation college graduate. When I started at Oregon State University, I was completely lost and overwhelmed. If a professor hadn’t encouraged me to take her class, I’m not sure I would have made it through my first year.
While working on my undergraduate degree, I tutored college athletes and saw firsthand how life-changing the right support and community can be for students who are struggling. I graduated in 1996, and more than 30 years later, I still love helping students discover the opportunities a college education can create—and connect them with the resources they need to succeed.
Over the years, I’ve had opportunities to work in other college programs, but I always come back to Yes to College/GED. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching students earn their GED, realize they can keep pursuing their education, and start dreaming big again. Being part of that journey as they discover what’s possible through PCC’s Yes to College program is the best part of my job.
I truly believe there are many paths to fulfillment and success. Our Yes to College/GED students inspire me every day with their resilience, determination, and creativity as they navigate paths that may look different from the traditional college experience.
My love for the GED program even found its way into my personal life—I married a GED instructor! Together, we’re raising two teenagers, and I feel grateful every day to do work that I care so deeply about.

About Lauren Zavrel

I have taught, tutored and coached GED students in English and Spanish since 2010, mostly in prisons and jails. My doctoral research was focused on the lack of adequate GED teacher training in American prisons. In addition to training teachers and tutors, my biggest passion in my role at PCC is helping students learn that they are, contrary to what they often believe, worthy and capable of academic pursuit.