McNair Staff

Notes: Staff images goes here, name, title, email link without showing email address, description of what they do.

Michelle Waiters has worked with TRIO programs for over 12 years-- helping students who are traditionally underrepresented in universities achieve their academic and personal goals. Prior to her current position, Michelle was the program coordinator of Student Support Services at Santa Ana College, where she also taught interpersonal communication and public speaking courses. Michelle received extensive experience in academic advisement, teaching, and marketing university programs while working at California Lutheran University and California State University, Los Angeles. Michelle Waiters graduated from California State University, Los Angeles earning an M.A. in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Organizational Communication and a B.A. in Social Science.

Marissa Tamayo Rivas, Program Coordinator

Marissa Tamayo Rivas holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Dance and another Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcasting with an emphasis in Telecommunications & Film. She studies many different dance forms, has been a dance instructor, and has performed professionally. Her passions other than dance and film include her son, Luka, her husband, Julio, family, friends and her yoga practice. Marissa wears many hats as one of the McNair Program Coordinators. She enjoys her place in the McNair family because she admires the focus and determination the students have at the undergraduate level for a Ph.D.

Brandilynn Villarreal, Program Coordinator

Brandilynn Villarreal is currently earning her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She completed her B.A. in Psychology at UCLA with a minor in Women’s Studies. Brandilynn has worked with students from the high school to university level. She has been a teaching assistant for various courses including Advanced Research Methods in Social Psychology, Human Sexuality, Health Psychology, and Community Psychology. Brandilynn has recently presented research on aphrodisiacs at CSUDH’s Student Research Day, Western Psychological Association Conference, and the SSRIC Student Research Conference. In her spare time she enjoys watching movies, playing video games, reading, and scrapbooking.