Student Services
Team Leader Biographies
Anthony Cervantes
Dean, Enrollment Services, Admissions & Records
Anthony Cervantes was born and raised in the Central Valley. As a first-generation
college student, he learned how important it is to create a welcoming, supportive,
and seamless experience for students at the start of their college journeys. Anthony
is an alumnus and graduate of Stanislaus State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts
degree in criminal justice and then a Master of Arts degree in counseling from San
Jose State University. Since 2010, he has worked in higher education, overseeing recruitment,
advising, retention, and enrollment management. Anthony loves working directly with
students and learning from their experiences so that he can continue to improve administrative
and support processes as our world changes around us. He aspires to earn his doctorate
and show students that investing in themselves will only improve their futures.
Dr. Roosevelt Charles
Dean, Counseling
Dr. Roosevelt Charles earned his bachelor’s and Master of Public Administration degrees
from two public universities in Louisiana, and as a first-generation college student
who grew up in a working-class community with multigenerational families, creating
a sense of belonging in learning environments for minoritized students, while ensuring
organizational excellence in student choice, are at the core of his work as an administrator.
He holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford,
and Dr. Charles previously worked as Director of Student Support and TRIO Programs
in the Student Success and Engagement Division at Prince George’s Community College.
As Foothill College’s Dean of Counseling, he brings more than 15 years of professional
experience—in Student Success and Services—at several higher education institutions
to the campus. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, reading,
and spending time with family and friends.
Alexis Donato
Department Chair, Psychological Services
Alexis Donato grew up in Southern California and received her associate degree in
American sign language from Saddleback College as a first-generation college student.
She then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in deaf studies, with a psychology minor,
from CSU Northridge. Alexis continued her educational journey, completing her Master
of Arts degree in clinical psychology from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
A Californian at heart, Alexis settled in the Bay Area, providing therapy to deaf
foster care youth and working in community mental health as a licensed therapist.
Since arriving at Foothill College in 2015, she has been committed to reducing the
stigma of mental health on campus. Alexis thoroughly enjoys connecting with students
from all backgrounds, working closely with and witnessing them achieve their personal
wellness goals through counseling and workshops. When she’s not working, you can find
her geeking out on current wellness trends or baking something delicious with her
family.
April C. Henderson
Director, EOPS/CARE & FYHS
April C. Henderson is a San Francisco native who returned to college 15 years after
high school. Her educational goals were affirmed by the mentoring she received from
counselors and faculty at De Anza and Foothill College. Recognizing this supportive
experience would have made all the difference when she initially attended college,
April decided she wanted to make that difference for others. April received her degrees
while employed full-time at Foothill, married, and raising a family. Influenced by
the historical legacy of Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, the emphasis
of her master’s degree examined systemic barriers fostering disadvantages in education
based on ethnicity, class, gender, and disability. April believes her non-traditional
educational journey connects her most deeply with the mission of EOPS. A lover of
music and dance, you can often hear diverse genres of music coming from her office,
and with a soulful beat playing, you might catch her dancing at college events.
Patty Mendoza
Director, Financial Aid
Born and raised in Nicaragua, Patty migrated to California at 11 years old. She is the first in her family to attend and graduate college. Patricia has worked with underserved students, education, and resource development communities for over fifteen years. Patty has her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University, and has a Master’s in Social Work.
Previous to Foothill, Patty served as the Interim Financial Aid Director at Berkeley City College (BCC). While at BCC, Patty served on the President’s Leadership Team. Patty worked to leverage the work of Financial Aid at the institutional level while continuing to center on students and Latinx student success. Using high-impact practices and culturally relevant interventions, she designed, developed, and implemented financial aid programs to support all college students, including the first-generation, undocumented, and Latinx populations. Previous to BCC, Patty worked as a Financial Aid Technician at Skyline College. Patty is committed to serving the community she comes from and is excited to making a positive impact at Foothill College.
Catalina Rodriguez
Dean of Students, Student Affairs and Activities
Dean of Students Catalina Rodriguez was born and raised in San Jose CA. As a first-generation nontraditional college student, she learned how important it was to utilize student services for her success and the success of all students. She has made it her mission to support students through the knowledge of college resources. As the Dean of Students, Catalina focuses on maximizing student learning by developing positive student culture and structured, supportive environments. Catalina received her master's degree in business administration and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology. She earned her degree while working full-time and raising a family, and after 15 years of working in financial education, she decided she wanted to make a difference in students in higher education. When she is not working, she travels with her family, is out hiking, loves to cook, and dance, and participates in community organizations such as Fresh Lifelines for Youth as a mentor and the Santa Clara County K-12 Racial Equity Committee.
Dr. Laurie Scolari
Vice President, Student Services
Dr. Laurie Scolari grew up among the lettuce fields of the Salinas Valley. Her mother
immigrated to California from Mexico and cleaned houses for a living. To teach her
a lesson on the importance of pursuing her education, she often helped her mom clean
local bars at 4 a.m. before school. The lesson worked: Dr. Scolari now prides herself
on being the first in her family to obtain bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
She began her career as a counselor at UC Berkeley. Dr. Scolari also formerly served
as the Dean of Counseling and Student Support Services at City College of San Francisco
and worked at UC Santa Cruz for 10 years in multiple leadership roles. Today, she
is the Vice President of Student Services at Foothill College. Additionally, Dr. Scolari
is a lecturer at San Francisco State University, where she teaches policy and law
in education courses.