I graduated from Springall Academy in 2005. In addition to being a peer mentor at CEL I work at Hollywood Video and JC Penney. I like to go to the movies, go shopping, and buy CDs I also like to visit family members and go out of town and visit different cities. I like being a peer mentor and helping other people. 

PEER MENTOR WANTED

 Peer Mentor Application

Angelina, Ambassdor

My name is Angelina and I am currently working at CEL as an Ambassador. I am 18 years old and I graduated from San Diego High School. I live in San Diego County, and I like music, and cats and going to the movies.

Emily, Ambassador

I am 21 years old and have been living with my family in Poway, California for the past ten years. I was born in Maryland, then moved with my family to Northern Virginia when I was 3 years old and remained there until we moved to Poway in 1998. I have had Tourette’s syndrome since the age of 8.  I enjoy traveling internationally with my family, volunteering at the American Cancer Discovery’s Retail Shop in Rancho Bernardo and working with my mother on landscape designs for clients. I love engaging with people. It has been said that I can walk into a room filled with strangers and 30 minutes later leave with a room full of friends. 

Lucas, Ambassador

Hi, my name is Lucas. I became a peer mentor in 2005 to help people with disabilities learn how toadvcate for themselves. Now I am an ambassador, and will be making public speaking presentations. In addition to having an extensive background in self-advocacy, I'm very active in my community. I have a job as a security guard for the San Diego Chargers. I'm also working on an Associate's degree at Grossmont College; majoring in Disability Services Management. I hope to open up my own consulting business someday. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

Rebecca, Ambassador

After graduating from San Marcos High School in 1998, I entered San Diego State University, in order to take classes in political science.  My decision to major in Poli-Sci grew from my desire for people with disabilities to be better included in all aspects of society.  In high school, I proudly insisted on having the final say in every facet of my education, including my IEP meetings.  My first real experience in collaborating with people who have different disabilities was in 1996, when I attended a science and technology program in Washington State, called DO-IT.  Since then I have made a conscience effort to stay informed and involved with the community of people with disabilities.  I felt honored to be involved with CEL as a peer mentor during its implementation and I am excited to continue the work of Project LEADERS as an Ambassador for CEL.

Christopher Pirino, Lead Mentor

Contact: cpirino@interwork.sdsu.edu

I graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1996, then continued to Miramar College where I studied Child Care.

I have been a Peer Mentor with CEL at San Diego State University/Interwork Institute for two years. I also work on Interwork's Project LEADERS. Recently I have been promoted to Lead Mentor. I really like mentoring people and feel I can use my life experiences as a person with a disability and more importantly living on my own in an apartment. Over the past few years I have learned how important it is for me to listen and ask good questions when mentoring. I enjoy watch people grow as they learn about their disability and helping them find ways to express themselves and become more independent and productive.

Marjorie Olney, Ph.D., CRC, Project Director
Contact: molney@mail.sdsu.edu

Phone: (619) 594-6883

Dr. Olney’s teaching, research and service activities focus on improving employment opportunities for individuals with psychiatric and developmental disabilities. In her prior career, Dr. Olney worked in the disability field as a direct service worker, counselor, supervisor, administrator and advocate. Her knowledge of, and passion for the field inform her academic activities. Dr. Olney is the Program Advisor to the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificate and the specialization in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, a training grant funded through the Rehabilitation Services Administration. She is also Project Director for the Center for Emerging Leadership (www.interwork.sdsu.edu/cel) and ProjectLEADERS, programs which provide peer-to-peer information, training and mentorship by and for individuals with developmental disabilities.  

     An active researcher, Dr. Olney uses multiple methodologies to explore disability issues related to identity, service utilization and employment outcomes, and barriers to employment specifically as these impact individuals with cognitive and psychiatric disabilities. She has had 35 articles, chapters, books and reports published, and has presented her work at over 40 state and national conferences.  

     Dr. Olney developed the certificate, specialization, curriculum and courses in Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She teaches graduate courses including psychiatric rehabilitation, job placement, foundations of rehabilitation counseling, and counseling theories. Dr. Olney's courses combine theory and practice, demanding critical thinking skills, independence and mutual respect in the classroom. Dr. Olney encourages lively intellectual exchange of ideas and attempts to provide a safe and supportive learning environment, motivating students to both apply their learning and to seek more knowledge.  In addition to classroom teaching, Dr. Olney regularly provides training to rehabilitation counselors throughout California and its neighboring states on working effectively with individuals who have psychiatric disabilities, counseling methods, supported employment and related topics.

     Lastly, Dr. Olney serves the community and profession on various university, local, state and national committees and boards. She is the Chair of the Program Development Committee of the Board of Directors for Employment and Community Options, an organization in Southern California that provides job placement and support for individuals with developmental and other disabilities. She is a Consulting Editor for the journals Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Olney is active in promoting psychiatric rehabilitation within the rehabilitation counseling community through participation in committees with the US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) and the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE).

Janice Goforth, M.S., CRC, Project Coordinator
Contact: jgoforth@interwork.sdsu.edu

Phone: (619) 594-1758

     Janice began her educational journey by obtaining her Associate of Science degree in Disability Services Management from Grossmont College in 2000. From there, she transferred to San Diego State University and continued up Interwork Institute’s Career Ramp to receive her Bachelor of Vocational Education in 2001 and her Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2004. In addition, Janice was voted the College of Education’s Outstanding Student for 2004, at San Diego State University. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and has a certificate in Rehabilitation Technology.

     As a graduate student, Janice served as the Focused Technical Assistant for Interwork Institute’s Project Success: Capacity Building Online for Minority Entities and Institutions, providing online technical assistance to project participants in relation to internet based instructional material and lectures.

     She now works as an Assistive Technology Specialist on Interwork's Higher Education project, and Project Coordinator for Project LEADERS, along with serving as the Project Coordinator for Interwork Institute's Center for Emerging Leadership: Peer to Peer Mentorship by and for People with Developmental Disabilities.

     Janice is an online instructor of Health Science 110- Disability and Society, and facilitator for Health Science 150; two of RCEP’s Disability Service Management Program courses developed for Grossmont College, and delivered through SDSU’s Distance Learning Center. Prior employment includes more than eight years of experience working with the San Diego Community College District’s Acquired Brain Injury program at West City Center.

Carol Gucwa , Graduate Assistant to Peer Mentors

Contact: cgucwa@interwork.sdsu.edu

     My name is Carol Gucwa, and I will be starting my third semester this January 2008 in the Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s degree program.  I enjoy working with people with developmental disabilities, and my work experience in the field includes working as a special education instructional assistant, and in a group home with young adults.  I am committed to seeing people with disabilities treated with respect and experience inclusion in all areas of life including, educational, vocational and recreational.

     I live in Poway with my husband, Lance, and my son, Michael, who is also a student at SDSU, working toward a Master’s degree in City Planning.  I also have a son, Jimmy who is majoring in Molecular Biology at UCSD and lives in Claremont.  I love animals, especially cats, and have a cute orange and white cat named Tails.  I hope to own a therapy dog in the future that I would use to visit people in nursing homes.  I enjoy playing tennis, sailing, walking, and going to Padres games.  I look forward to working with everyone in CEL as a Graduate Assistant to the peer mentors.   

Elizabeth Littlefield, Graduate Assistant to Ambassadors

Contact: elizabetzy@yahoo.com

     Hi, I am Elizabeth Littlefield. I am working toward my Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at San Diego State University. My employment experience includes working with adults with developmental disabilities in fine art, creative writing, food safety, supported employment and person centered planning. I look forward to supporting the people I work with in making the most of their lives, and assisting them in getting out to educate people in the community about how to interact respectfully with people with disabilities.

     I live in El Cajon with my husband, Randy, where I enjoy spending time with my step children and our 4 dogs. I enjoy swimming, yoga and horseback riding.