Meet the Success Team
Carrie Gregg
Success Coach Director
Carrie served as LCC’s Fostering STARS coordinator before joining the success coaching team. She began her education at LCC before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in counseling from Oakland University. She worked as a forensic interviewer and then executive director for the Child Abuse Prevention Council[KT1] in Shiawassee County before developing and accrediting the Small Talk Children’s Assessment Center in Ingham County. She returned to LCC in 2015, where she helped develop the Fostering STARS program.
Shalonda James-Garza
Success Coach Manager
Shalonda is a Lansing native with 18 years of extensive professional experience serving Lansing and its surrounding areas. She began her career journey at Lansing Community College. Shalonda wholeheartedly believes in the benefits of individualized student planning through coaching, mentoring and customized support as it has been instrumental in her own personal achievement. She transferred from LCC to Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and later went on to earn a Masters of Arts degree in School Guidance and Community Counseling from Spring Arbor University. Prior to working at LCC Shalonda was a Mental Health Therapist and Wraparound Facilitator at Community Mental Health for a combination of 10 years. She served at The Department of Health and Human Service for 6 years where she participated in the launch of a "One Stop Family Resource Center" collaboration between Lansing School District and DHHS under the direction of the Governors Children's Cabinet. The team was responsible partnering and combining resources as an effort to upgrade and boost academic achievement while assisting student’s families with addressing basic needs and increasing stability.
When Shalonda is not at LCC, you can find her: Spending as much quality time as possible with her family and enjoying music. Her favorite Quote: If you are going down a road and don't like what's in front of you, and look behind you and don't like what you see, get off the road. Create a new path! ~Maya Angelou
Sarah Garcia-Linz
Success Coach Manager
I have been working in higher education since 2003 while earning my M.A. in Student Affairs Administration from MSU. I attended a small liberal arts school for my undergraduate education which inspired me to work with students and continue my own learning. I worked at MSU, University of New Hampshire, and Brown primarily in the areas of residential life and academic advising.
In 2010 I moved back to Lansing and joined LCC, first as a Program Coordinator for a federal training program and then as an Academic Success Coach for students in the ePathways program. ePathways helped adult learners gain skills and employment in Information Technology and Computer Science. I am excited to join the college-wide success team and continue working with our LCC Stars!
I have lived in Lansing intermittently for most of my life, but have also spent time in New England and Wisconsin. Outside of work I spend time with my family and pets, enjoying music, biking, trying new things, and continuously learning. "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you" (B.B. King).
Tami Marsh
Academic Success Coach
I am originally from the Detroit area, from a small stretch of land south of the city that some of us call "Downriver". I moved to Lansing, MI in 2010 to pursue my undergraduate degree at Michigan State University. During this time, I worked with students in MSU's Residential Education and Housing Services. In 2014 I obtained my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. As an undergraduate I also earned minors in Sociology and Spanish, and consider myself to be proficient in conversational Spanish. In my first year of graduate school I was fortunate to pilot a program in Puebla, Mexico with the goal that the program would enable future graduate students to complete their internships abroad. Through this pilot study I was able to work at a residential home for foster children while also working to strengthen relationships between our host agency and the University. I have been privileged to work with migrant and seasonal farmworkers returning to school and assisting them towards their goals of earning the GED. I have also had the pleasure of doing mental health counseling with MSU students through my training at the MSU Counseling Center. In 2016 I achieved my goal of obtaining my Master of Social Work, also from MSU.
In my free time I enjoy spending time traveling and reading. I am a self-taught crocheter and enjoy making blankets for my family and friends as I watch my favorite shows on Netflix. I am passionate about student success and look forward to working with each of you to assist you in reaching all of your goals!
Duane Portee
Academic Success Coach
Duane Portee is a native of Lansing, MI. He began his post-secondary education at Lansing Community College where he earned an Associate's Degree in Media Technology. After years of starting and growing a family, he later resumed his education and earned a Bachelor's degree from Siena Heights University.
Over the last 11 years he has worked for 3 non-profit agencies at Capital Area Michigan Works! He worked 3 years with New Way Inc. as a Job Developer and Case manager with the state's pilot Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative (MPRI) program. Over the next 5 years he was employed with Cristo Rey Community Center as an Employment Specialist under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program providing career assessment and guidance to Dislocated and low income workers. His last 3 years were spent working for Peckham, Inc. as a Career Coach under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ACT (WIOA) program assisting Dislocated and low income workers with training for careers in high demand occupations. During his years at Michigan Works! he completed a variety of human services trainings including Global Career Development Facilitator training.
In his spare time he likes to be with family and friends. He enjoys music, exercise and traveling to experience unique restaurants.
Chelsea Vann
Academic Success Coach
I am originally from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and I recently became a United States citizen and have the opportunity to change my name from Phany Sarann to Chelsea Vann. In 1997 I arrived in the United States as an international student. Ultimately, over a number of years that presented joys, opportunities for many new discoveries and much learning, and of course, challenges, I earned an Associate Degree from Lansing Community College, transferred to Michigan State University's James Madison College (public affairs and public policy). I graduated from MSU in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in my scholarly area of passion, International Relations.
Upon my first arrival in the U.S., I landed in Houston, Texas, and attended Houston Community College's intensive English as a Second Language program for two semesters. In August of 1998, I moved to Holt, Michigan, and attended Lansing Community College that fall. While attending LCC, I worked as a student aid at Student and Academic Support, Counseling and Advising Center, and at the Writing Center. While a student at Michigan State University, I also worked at the MSU Writing Center.
I feel honored and rewarded every day for the opportunity to serve students here and to give back to the community that offered so much support to me when I needed it.
I am multilingual, and I have enjoyed working with students and customers from a variety of backgrounds. My work experience also includes: Consular Assistant serving the United Kingdom Embassy's distressed clients, Bank Relationship Manager, and Professional Tutor at LCC Learning Commons where I mentored and coached students' diverse populations. With my well-rounded work experiences, I will be able to support students and help them navigate their paths to success. I look forward to working with you!
Angela Hook
Academic Success Coach
Angela has been a lifelong resident of Lansing Michigan for over 52 years and takes pride in her community and has served both personally and professionally to enhance the lives of children, youth, and families. She believes that all things are possible with commitment, dedication, and determination. Angela has a passion for coaching, mentoring and helping others to reach their highest potential in life. She began her educational journey at Lansing Community College which placed her on the path of success by providing her with quality education, work study opportunities and professional development. Angela is a first generation college student and graduated with an Associate Degree from Lansing Community College on May of 1998. Angela later graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Management from Grand Canyon University, then pursued a Master of Art Degree in Human Service Counseling from Liberty University with a specialization in Executive Leadership and graduated in December of 2011.
Angela has served in the Human Services Profession for over 20 years and prior to working at Lansing Community College she held a position with Capital Area Community Services Early Head Start Program assisting parents with goal achievement and development. Throughout her career she has served in other capacities such as the Ingham County Health Department working to decrease the infant mortality rate with children, the Mid-Michigan Recovery Services by providing Case Management Services to decrease the chemical dependency rate within families and our communities, the Advent House Ministries serving the homeless population and St. Vincent Catholic Charities serving the Refugee Population. She is a proud member of the National Association of Black Social Workers.
Angela's quality time is spent with her family, reading, and becoming a lifelong learner that wholeheartedly believes in second chances and she looks forward to providing cutting edge, pertinent, and quality support to the students that she serves at Lansing Community College.
Erin Matesich
Academic Success Coach
Erin recently moved to the Lansingarea from Traverse Cityto fulfill her passion of working with studentsin higher education asan Academic Success Coach at Lansing Community College. Prior to becoming an Academic Success Coach, Erin earned a bachelor's degree from Albion College and a master’s degree in counseling fromWestern Michigan University.
Over the past 10 years, Erin has gained experience working with at-risk youth and their familiesas an Early Impact therapist, SafeNet prevention specialist, and foster care adoption worker. Most recently, Erin worked for Bethany Christian Services where she helped to successfully establish the Post Adoption Resource Center of Northern Michigan, a collaboration between Bethany Christian Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, as the program's supervisor.As an Academic Success Coach, Erin is looking forward to helping students achieve their goals by walking alongside them and helping them to know and understand the many resources LCC and the surrounding community has to offer.
In her free time, Erin lovesspending time at the beach,feasting onItalian cuisine, binging on Netflix,and enjoying the company of her family and friends.
"Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself." Edmund Lee
Pam Jaymes
Academic Success Coach
Pam is a graduate of Spring Arbor University with a Master of Arts degree in Family Studies. She is a licensed social worker through the state of Michigan and worked for Spectrum Child & Family Services for 17 years in various family preservation programs. Pam is strength based, solution focused and her motto is Positive on Purpose.
Throughout her career the focus has been on engaging and empowering youth to obtain lifelong learning skills that will help them become successful in their life goals. Pam managed the Youth In Transition Program and was able to develop "hands on" life skills workshops that were appropriate for youth getting ready to transition out of Foster Care. She also assisted youth in enrolling in higher education and educating them on the funds available to pursue their dream of a college education. Another focused area has been teaching families nurturing parenting skills with the goal of improving child & family well-being. Pam is passionate about student engagement/empowerment and is very excited to be part of LCC's academic success team.
In her spare time you can find Pam shopping, spending time with family/friends, listening to country music or at a car show in the Camaro section.
Keri Litwiller
Academic Success Coach
Keri Litwiller is a lifelong mid-Michigan native.She is a licensed professional counselor who has nearly five years professional experience, including agency work with adolescents, outpatient substance abuse, and private practice. Aside from her professional work, Keri has volunteered with many community organizations, including Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.Keri also currently sits on the City of Lansing Board of Zoning Appeals to advocate for purposeful economic development that promotes knowledge-based jobs and inclusive community engagement.
Keri began her educational journey at LCC earning her Associates degree. She earned both her Bachelor's and Master's through Siena Heights University at the University Center.Keri is excited about the opportunity to partner with students as they continue on their path to academic success!
Frank Taylor
Academic Success Coach
My name is Frank Taylor and I am delighted to be working with you as an Academic Success Coach. Frank was born and raised in west Michigan and grew up as a farm boy. He moved to Lansing, attended MSU and received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1985. Both during and after receiving his degree he spent considerable time working with persons with disabilities at the local Community Mental Health here in Lansing and volunteering at a local crisis hotline.
He returned to MSU and began working on a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, specializing in using counseling skills to work with persons with disabilities to help them identify and reach life goals like college education, employment and living with dignity in their chosen community. He graduated with his Master's degree in 1991.
For the next 20 years, he continued to work with persons with disabilities in the Lansing area, helping people identify supports in the community and making sure they were able to successfully use those supports to meet their personal goals. In 2012 he began to teach graduate level classes at Texas Tech University in their Rehabilitation Counseling Master's program. Through distance learning, he helped students learn about medical aspects of disability, assessment, and counseling skills to help others as professional counselors. His particular passion is helping individuals find clear goals and linking them with the resources they need to be successful.
In his off time, you will find him puttering around his house or building and troubleshooting computers. He also likes to read escapist science fiction and hang out in his camper in some of the beautiful state parks in Michigan.
Adriana Carreon
Academic Success Coach
My name is Adriana Carreon. I was born and raised in Mexico where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and worked several years as a counselor in the Social Rehabilitation Center for Minor Offenders, providing mental health services and teaching them social skills to ease their reintegration into society. In 2003, I moved with my family to Lansing, Michigan looking for a better life. After some years of struggling with the language barrier, in 2008, I became a student at Lansing Community College studying English as a second Language. While at LCC, I had the honor to be a Trio and LUCERO student and earn three Associate degrees: General, Arts in Spanish, and Foreign Languages. While studying at LCC, I worked as a Spanish Tutor teaching Spanish to students from diverse backgrounds in the Tutoring Center. In 2013, I transferred to Michigan State University where I obtained a Bachelor's of Arts in Social Work, and in 2017, I earn a Master of Social Work with Clinical specialization.
During my undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, I enjoyed studying abroad in Mexico for two consecutive spring breaks and serving as a student researcher in the School of Social Work and the Social Science College. I worked as Fellow Teacher/Peer Mentor for TRiO students supporting them with their transition from high school to college. I also had the opportunity to work with migrant seasonal farm workers students in the High School Equivalency Program empowering them emotionally and academically while pursuing their GED. Working with students in different capacities helped me to realize that my professional passion is serving students. Therefore, I gave a twist to my Social Work profession, and I completed a one year internship in the Center for Academic & Career Pathways at Lansing Community College. In this institution, I provided academic advising to students from diverse backgrounds that included students from the LUCERO Program. I call myself "a product of LCC" because in this institution I found the support and resources to be successful.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, cooking, and traveling. I believe that education is the bridge to success as well as it is the only possession that nobody can take away from people. I am excited to be a part of the Success Coach Team, and my goal is to support LCC students to accomplish their academic and personal goals.
Armando Arevalo
Academic Success Coach
I am originally from Mission Texas, I moved to Michigan in 2009 to complete my undergraduate degree at Michigan State University in Psychology. Being fluent both in English and Spanish allowed me to serve in multiple community service programs in Merida and Mazatlán Mexico.
I come from a Migrant Seasonal Farm working family, therefore my first job was in the fields, harvesting onion in New Mexico and Colorado, Grapefruit in south Texas and Blueberries in west Michigan. I began my professional career working with teenage refugees for Lutheran Social Services, as a translator and a Youth Specialist. I was then given the opportunity to work with Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers and Farmers in the central and southeast counties as an Agriculture Talent Specialist with Capital Area Michigan Works!. In which I conducted outreach and job development throughout these counties. Later, I transitioned to a different position within Capital Area Michigan Works! as an Employment/Reemployment Specialist. Providing services to job seekers and employers in Eaton County.
I enjoy reading, strong coffee, soccer, baseball, camping, fishing, running, music, dinners with family and friends, and walks with my dog Homie.
Becky Sutton
Academic Success Coach
Becky Sutton is originally from Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Her true passion in life is people! Before coming to Lansing Community College, she worked for 6 years at Eaton Rapids High School, as an At-Risk Counselor and Girls' Varsity Basketball coach. Both roles gave her the opportunity to develop relationships and to build trust; a foundation which allowed her to help guide and support students in many different ways, specifically, in the areas of academics and social & emotional health.
Her heart has always been in higher education. After graduating from Hope College, she worked at Grand Valley State University as an adjunct professor and assistant women's basketball coach. "I quickly learned that it was the students who drove me, as opposed to the actual content or sport I was working with. Coaching and teaching were just an avenue to get me to the place I really wanted to be, which was working with people." In 2004 she returned to Hope College and began working in the Student Development/Residential Life & Housing Department as a head resident director, as well serving as the Women's Basketball Recruiting Coordinator. When her two children were born, they went straight from the hospital to their home, in the dorm and to over 200 college student “siblings” and had a combined 7 birthdays celebrated as residents of the hall. She also helped lead the Flying Dutch to the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championship! Needless to say, the college environment and culture is something she absolutely loves; all people have a story and getting to know that story and being able to celebrate the successes and support through the struggles is quite simply, one of her most cherished and favorite parts of life.
Becky has a son and daughter (and a miniature golden-doodle, Bear) who are the loves of her life! When she isn't at work, you can find Becky and her children playing board games, riding bikes, participating in 5k races and jumping on the trampoline - that is, when they aren't at soccer, basketball or cross-country practices/games/meets. The one word that describes life, for Becky, is Bittersweet; to her it is the epitome of balance. “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”
I am humbled to be a part of your home-team, during both your bitter and your sweet life moments here at LCC and beyond!
Roshanda Donald
Academic Success Coach
My name is Roshanda Donald and I was raised in Lansing, Michigan. After graduating from Lansing Everett High School I attended Western Kentucky University and Lansing Community College to complete prerequisite courses. Attending Northwood University in LCC's University Center, I completed the 3+1 program earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2012. In 2014 I earned a Master's in Business Administration from Northwood University's DeVos Graduate School of Management.
Following completion of the graduate program I was given the opportunity to work as Support at LCC's Center for Workforce Transition. In that role I had the opportunity to provide assistance with workshops, completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), course registration & Assessment testing at Capital Area Michigan Works. I later accepted a position as a Career Coach though Peckham Inc. In that role I provided tuition assistance, assistance with barrier removal and career counseling to adults and dislocated workers under the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant program.
As a first generation college graduate and Lansing Community College alum with experience in Workforce Development, I am passionate about helping students overcome barriers to reach their post-secondary education and employment goals. As an Academic Success Coach I'm excited to collaborate, build relationships, and provide mentorship and advocacy for the students of LCC.
Jess Stevens
Academic Success Coach
I grew up in a low income household in a small farming community just south of Lansing. I was a first generation college student and enrolled at Michigan State University after graduating high school. I was active in greek life, LGBT activism, and worked on campus as a student employee to support myself through college. After two years and multiple major changes at MSU, I decided to transfer to Lansing Community College to figure out what I wanted to do. I decided to major in music, which had always been an important part of my life, and explored the business world by taking a few marketing courses. After graduating from LCC, I transferred to Eastern Michigan University and graduated with a degree in marketing. I ultimately learned that, in combination with college, I had to have other life experiences to really know what I wanted out of my career.
Prior to becoming a success coach, I was a support specialist at the Center for Student Support and a customer relations specialist in the Starzone. In these roles I found my true passion--helping students struggling with both academic and non-academic barriers succeed in a college setting. I enjoy connecting students to resources that will improve their academic performance and daily lives.
In my free time I like to kayak, try new restaurants, travel, and spend time with my wife, two dogs, and lifelong friends.
Contact Us
Feel free to contact us anytime. Even if you're not sure where to start, we'll help. Email us at: lcc-successteam@lcc.edu or feel free to directly reach out to anyone on our Success Team!