NEW Location:

Clark Hall - 1st Floor

Debra Griffith

• Director

• Debra.Griffith@sjsu.edu

Debra is the Interim Director of EOP at San Jose State University in Northern California. Ms. Griffith is a recognized professional in the field of Higher Education & Student Affairs having over 11 years of experience in Student Conduct and Residential Life. In addition, she has extensive experience in conducting diversity trainings, leadership consultations, coaching and student development.

An alumnus of Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus), Ms. Griffith received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She then went on to study Counseling and Student Personnel at San Jose State University and was awarded a Master of Arts degree. Currently she is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership at Argosy University.

Connie Hernandez Robbins

• Assistant Director for Guardian Scholars

• Connie.Hernandez-Robbins@sjsu.edu

Connie is the Assistant Director for Guardian Scholars at San Jose State, which was initiated in July of 2005 as the Connect Motivate Educate Society. She has been at San Jose State University since 1997, and has over 30 years of Student Affairs experience.  Prior to working with Guardian Scholars,  Connie was in a university housing administrative role for many years at San Jose State and at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Connie has had a strong commitment to access to higher education for all and has been active throughout her career in outreach to first generation college students.

Connie’s extensive experience in student affairs administration and student development has helped her to connect many foster youth in Santa Clara County with the attainable dream of reaching college.  Connie has been active in coordinating the CSUs and UCs in Northern California as a consortium of foster youth support programs.   Connie holds a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific and a Masters of Education degree in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University.

Steven Guagliardo

• Administrative Assistant

• Steven.Guagliardo@sjsu.edu

Steve Guagliardo joins the EOP at SJSU after working a number of roles at the UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley. Prior to that, he helped increase transparency, collaboration and accountability across government using web 2.0 technologies and traditional engagement techniques as a Research Associate with the National Academy of Public Administration. While at the Academy, he implemented a program to raise college student's awareness of fiscal responsibility and the national debt at campuses across the country and successfully secured a grant to bring that program to historically black colleges and universities.

Steve has also worked in government at both the local and federal level. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2008 with a B.A. in Politics and a minor in Literature.

EOP Academic Advisors

*New Alpha Breakdown effective 08/01/11*

Anna Wisholek

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• Anna.Wisholek@sjsu.edu

Anna received her Master of Science degree in Student Personnel Administration from the State University of New York,  College at Buffalo. Ms. Wisholek’s higher education background includes Residential Life and working with special projects in the Registrar’s Office.  In 2009, she joined the EOP team as an Academic Advisor.

Joe Bucher

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• Joe.Bucher@sjsu.edu

Joe has been working at San Jose State University since 2004. He comes to EOP after working for 5 years as a Career Counselor, where he focused on students who pursued internships, resumes, interviewing, career planning and developing social media. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development and a Master's degree in Counselor Education both from San Jose State University.

Veronica Mendoza Hand

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• Veronica.Mendoza@sjsu.edu

Veronica’s most recent work involved working as an Educational Counselor in the Counseling Department at San José State University. As an Educational Counselor she met with undergraduate as well as graduate students to help them successfully complete their degrees and to continue to achieve their goals after graduation.  She is an alumna of SJSU and received her B.S. in Journalism, with a concentration in Magazine Journalism in 2004. 

Veronica received her M.A. in Education with a specialization in higher education from Stanford University in 2005.  Veronica is also currently pursuing an M.A. in Counselor Education at SJSU.  Her passion lies in access to higher education for low-income, first-generation college students and the retention of these students in an institution of higher education.    

Gerard Johnson

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• Gerard.Johnson@sjsu.edu

Gerard was born and raised in Fresno, California.  He attended the California State University of Fresno and graduated with his B.A. degree in Psychology. While earning his degree he was a member of the Music Scene, a student organization that coordinated on-campus concerts. He also served on the executive committee for Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and worked in group home for adolescent males. 

After graduating he worked as a counselor for non-profit social service agencies for five years in Fresno and Sacramento California. He decided that he needed a change in work environment so he worked for school districts in Sacramento and San Jose for two years.

Working in an educational setting sparked a passion within him for helping students achieve, which led him to pursue a Masters Degree in Educational Counseling from San Jose State University. Now he is a graduate of the Educational Counseling program, whom has enjoyed working as a Career Counselor intern for the SJSU Career Center for the past year. Gerard brings with him a solid counseling background, creativity and above all else a passion for serving the population of students who are enrolled in EOP.  

Emanuel Melgarejo

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• Emanuel.Melgarejo@sjsu.edu

Emanuel was born in Hollister, California.  He attended the University of California, Davis in 2002 where he pursued a B.S. in Community and Regional Development with a double concentration in Organizational Management and Educational Counseling. While attending UC Davis, he worked with various non-profit programs, educating disadvantaged high school students on university requirements and financial aid. In 2006, he became the coordinator of the Educational Opportunity Program at UC Davis, which inspired him to seek a career in higher education.  

In 2007, Emanuel began his career at San Jose State University (SJSU) as an Admissions Counselor and Recruiter. His three years in the Student Outreach and Recruitment Office gave him a vast knowledge of SJSU admission policies and procedures. He is currently pursuing an M.A. in Counselor Education at SJSU. Emanuel looks forward to supporting EOP students in their academic, career, and personal goals.