Susan Yee (she/her), Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Coordinator
I am happy to offer students EMDR therapy, a mind/body technique for that can help heal trauma and other mental health concerns, in addition to other therapy modalities. I’m a second generation Chinese American, Oakland native/OUSD grad, I am passionate about the integration of physical and mental health. I also believe in the power of community and connection to help us heal. I’ve been a teacher, manager, social worker and therapist in Oakland for almost 30 years and am grateful to all the students and colleagues I have learned from along the way. I now coordinate the Laney mental health services, provide consultations, individual therapy, groups and workshops, and work closely with our student navigation team. You can listen to me talk with Laney President Besikoff about mental health on the President’s Podcast!
Email: syee@peralta.edu
Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays 8am-4:30pm, Thursdays 9:30am-6pm
Maria Mosqueda, (she/her), Licensed Marriage Family Therapist
I am a bilingual therapist of Mexican background with over 15 years of experience working in the mental health field. I have accumulated 10+ years of experience working with adolescents and young adults in school-based health centers. My clinical training is focused on immigrant mental health, nutrition for mental health, DBT, and creative expression among other modalities. I enjoy nature, dancing, and baking!
Email: mmosqueda@peralta.edu
Hours: Mondays 8:30am-4:30pm, Wednesdays 8am-1pm
Alicia Mandac, (she/her), Associate Clinical Social Worker
I have 15+ years of experience providing academic counseling, mentorship, and coaching at colleges and universities. I am passionate about helping nurture personal growth by providing a compassionate space for people to feel seen and heard. As a therapist, I work in collaboration with the client to discover their own path towards healing and transformation. My approach is trauma-informed, grounded in mindfulness and acceptance. I earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and I am working towards a License in Clinical Social Work.
Email: amandac@peralta.edu
Hours: Tuesdays 8:30am-4:30pm, Wednesdays 8am-12pm, Fridays 8:30am-4:30pm
Branden Valentine, (he, him) Temporary Student Support Specialist, MSW Graduate Intern
My name is Branden Valentine, I am from Oakland, California. As a barber I have been an informal therapist for the last 11 years, in 2021 I decided to take my passion for helping others a step further and start the journey of getting my MSW (master’s in social work). I am committed to helping all my clients reach their goals. When partnering with someone to improve their mental health I believe the client is the expert in knowing which direction is the best. My goal is to create a safe space for everyone to heal. My approach is based on mindfulness, anti-racist, and anti-oppression theories. I love musicals, video games and cooking. Outside of being a therapist my life goal is to become a food writer or publish a food travel book.
Email: branden.valentine@peralta.edu
Hours: Monday – Friday 8am-4:30pm
2024-2025 MENTAL HEALTH TRAINEES
Flavia Rodrigues, (she/her), Marriage Family Therapist Trainee
I was born in San Francisco but have had the pleasure of living in many places across
America. My family is from Brazil, and I love to visit whenever possible. I did my undergrad in
psychology and gender studies at UCLA and am currently in my last year in SFSU’s Marriage
and Family Therapy program.I am excited to be here at Laney College because of my passion for helping the young minds of my community have access to consistent and reliable mental health care. I look forward to getting to know the students here and providing support as we navigate the school year.
Email: flavia.rodrigues@peralta.edu
Hours: Monday & Wednesday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-3pm
Karina Hsieh, (she/her), Marriage Family Therapist Trainee
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, I care deeply about our incredible community. I am passionate about wellness, self-love and compassion, and want to help my clients deepen their sense of belonging and safety in themselves and the world. I am in my final year of my Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy. My approach is informed by Narrative, Mindfulness, Humanistic, and Trauma-Informed theories. Outside of training as a therapist, I am starting a company to help couples lovingly break up. I love writing poetry, dancing, singing, and unmasking miracles hidden in plain sight.
Email: karina.hsieh@peralta.edu
Hours: Monday, 11 am – 4 pm, Tuesday, 9 am – 4 pm, Wednesday, 9 am – 1 pm
Kenny Purizaga Orejuelo, (he/him), Professional Clinical Counselor Trainee
I’m Kenny Purizaga (he/him/his), a third-year graduate student at San Francisco State University specializing in clinical mental health, focusing on higher education counseling. I earned my BA in Comparative Ethnic Studies with a minor in Disability Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. My clinical work is grounded in strength-based approaches, holistic healing, and addressing multicultural and intersectional trauma, with a strong commitment to social justice, Latinx mental health, indigenous practices, Spanglish counseling, and family challenges. My passion lies at the intersection of higher education and mental health, particularly in supporting first-generation college students navigating challenges like imposter syndrome, familial expectations, and cultural barriers. I am a dedicated advocate for cultural competency and a decolonized lens in mental health services, promoting accessibility and understanding with an awareness of how factors like disability, race, legal status, LGBTQ+ identities, and social class impact mental health. I’m excited to continue supporting the well-being of diverse student populations and advocating for their unique needs and challenges.
Email: kenny.purizagaorejuela@peralta.edu
Hours: Wednesday, Fridays 8:30am-4:30pm
River Greenblatt, (they/them), Marriage Family Therapist Trainee
I went to Laney and am excited to be part of the community again. After 25 years in social services, I’m now finishing my Master’s in Counseling Psychology. I am passionate about building connection and community. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and non-judgmental. How I work is based on mindfulness, narrative, and liberation theories. You are the expert on your life. I listen deeply and support you to heal and grow so that you can build the life you want. Along with my work as a therapist, I manage a mental health nonprofit and teach wilderness leadership. I love adventures, dance, and creative projects.
Email: jill.greenblatt@peralta.edu
Hours: Tuesday 9am-4pm, Wednesday 9am-2pm, Thursday 10am-6pm
STUDENT WELLNESS AMBASSADORS / MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATORS
Jocelyn Gallegos – bio coming soon
Sophia Nguyen – bio coming soon
Randi Cross (she, her)
ALMUNI STAFF
Danielle Burroughs, (she/her)
Christy Sangpolsit – (she/they)
Kyla Kelley (she, her)
Cassandra Milspaugh, MFT Graduate Intern, University of San Francisco (she/her/ella)
Linda Bui, MSW Graduate Intern, California State University, East Bay (she/her)
Eliseo Lopez – (he/him)
Edgar Valladares (he, him)
Lauren Nieraeth (she/her)
Sam Ho (they, 他, él)
Danielle Martinez (she/her)
Indra C. Thadani, Health Services Coordinator, RN, MSN (she/her)
I have been a nurse for 42 years and have worked at Laney for 21 years! I love working with students and assisting them towards college and life success! I am a first generation college graduate; I obtained my AS from Napa Valley College, then went on to SFSU and then to UCSF! In my spare time, I hike, play with my pups, spend time with my son, dance, and teach dance! I am half Japanese and half East Indian, my son is African American. I look forward to meeting you! www.salsa2wellness.com
Luc Nguyen, Health Intern (he/him)
History of Peralta Student Health Services
Circa 1980s – a nurse position was created at College of Alameda and Laney
1980s to 1989- there were masters prepared nurses at Laney, Merritt, and College of Alameda
1999-2010
- Three masters prepared nurses/health services coordinators: one at College of Alameda, Merritt and Laney (these nurses provided public health services, got TB supplies from a Doctor at Alameda County Health Services TB program, and did flu shots through Visiting Nurses Association).
1999-2002
- The nurses at Laney (Indra Thadani) and Merritt(Karen Bougae) advocated having a health fee passed with their College administration, (since most colleges in the California Community College system had a health fee and offered more health services, including mental health counseling), but was unsuccessful.
2002-2009
- Nurses at Laney worked with Trustees: Linda Handy, Abel Guillen, and Nicky Gonzalez-Yuen to get the health fee passed. Trustees Handy and Gonzalez-Yuen visited student health services off-site at local high schools and SF City College Health Center.
- Alameda County Health Services Deputy: Alex Briscoe also assisted in the process of bringing more student health services to Peralta. Trustees Handy and Gonzalez-Yuen sat on board subcommittees for planning student health services along with the nurses and other interested participants.
April 2010
- BOT Resolution passed to start student health fee in the fall of 2010.
October 2010
- PCCD contracted with Asian health services through Alameda County to have a nurse practitioner two days a week and a patient navigator five days a week at Laney: Peralta Wellness Center for all colleges. Also, a part-time mental health counselor at Merritt and COA funded by the general funds were created. The FT nurse at Laney and COA continued, and Merritt nurse retired.
2011-2012
- PCCD brought on a mental health counselor from Asian health services and contracted with Lifelong Medical Services to provide three days of mental health counseling at Berkeley City College.
- The district created two new positions for the nurses at Peralta, one became the Director of Health Services, filled by Dr. Patricia Dudley to handle most district contracts, and the other was the Director of the Peralta Wellness Center at Laney, filled by Indra Thadani RN, MS.
- A new job description for COA (and PCCD) was created to allow mental health counselors to be Health Coordinators, since the district had a job description for minimal qualifications of a master’s prepared RN to be the district director PCCD met Title V requirements to have a masters prepared nurse to lead and develop student health services.
2013
- In the fall, the district Health Services Director went back to the college of Alameda and the position was vacant for 8 months.
2014
- The Health Services Director position was filled by the Peralta wellness Center Director/Laney nurse (.75 district, .25 Laney) Indra Thadani.
- The full-time nurse at Merritt was hired, Dr. Jon Murphy who had changed assignment from the Medical Assistant program to Student Health Services.
- A new community partner, Healthy Communities, Inc brings a nurse practitioner and medical assistant to Berkeley City College, and a health insurance enrollment person to Laney.
2015
- Spring 2015 full-time health services coordinator/mental health counselor was hired at College of Alameda, Evan Schloss.
- LANEY nurse becomes full-time Health Services Director at the district, 30 hours/week while serving students at Laney as the nurse and coordinator.
- In June, a first-time District Health Services clerk II was hired who also served students at Laney as the front desk receptionist.
- In June, the contract with Asian health services ends, an RFP was created to offer health services at each college, and Healthy Communities, Inc gets the larger contract to provide nurse practitioners and medical assistants at Laney and BCC, two days a week, and a Patient Navigator(Medi-Cal enrollment specialist).
2016
- A Peralta, 20-hour nurse masters prepared nurse hired at College of Alameda.
2017
- A new community partner, Roots is brought on board to provide nurse practitioner services at COA.
- In September, the contract with Healthy Communities, INC ends abruptly due to several factors, the most salient being the loss of their clinic license.
- In September, the Roots nurse practitioner who would have been working at COA transferred to Laney (where the need is greater) and created a new public health nurse position at Berkeley city college filled by Roots. Roots also provided a Patient Navigator 1.5 days at Laney.
2018
- District VC of Academic Affairs hires a former director of health services, and an M D consultant costing $21,000 to evaluate student health services, report available. Most salient finding: student health services are highly regarded by students despite the district being dysfunctional.
- On July 1, District Director (30 hours per week) returns to Laney College full time.
- August, Interim Director hired at 20 hours/week.
- Nurse Practitioner from Roots expanded at Laney to four days
- Roots provide NP at COA and BCC, 2 days per week
- In November, the district Health Services Director was hired from faculty at Merritt, Dr. Mia Kelly and the district clerical relocate to the district offices.
- Roots provide a health navigator to enroll students into Medi-Cal and Cal Fresh, 1 day at each college.
- The Health Service Coordinator at COA leaves.
- Laney hired a full-time mental Health Specialist, Lisa Sawadogo.
2019 -2022
- The Director of Health Services, Dr. Mia Kelly left the position in the fall of 2022.
- The full-time Health Services Coordinator at Merritt left and a new coordinator was hired, Stefani Devito.
- All PCCD personnel provided online support to students.
- COA replaced the health Service Coordinator with a new Mental Health Specialist, Lisa Sawadogo.
- In the fall of 2021, Susan Yee, MFT hired as Laney’s new Mental Health Specialist.
- Roots continued to support PCCD students at their clinic site at 7272 Mac Arthur, Oakland, and then returned part-time to campuses in the late spring of 2022.
