Chief Academic Officer
James B. Golden is a Los Angeles based Learning & Development Specialist with over 10 years of organizational development experience in training methodology, design, executive coaching, systems improvement, motivation, cultural competence, and inclusion. Dr. Golden is a natural leader with compassion and emotionally intelligent praxis. He has several years of business consulting experience along with assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of major programs and events for non-profits, corporations, and government departments. Golden regularly presents research and data at national conferences including: The National Council of Black Studies, the American Psychological Association, the National Hip Hop Political Convention; and he has been invited to speak at colleges including: Howard University, Pepperdine University, University of California at Los Angeles, Sierra Nevada College, and Cal State University, Northridge.
Golden earned a Doctor of Psychology degree from Phillips Graduate University, a Master’s of Humanities from Tiffin University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Cal State Northridge. He has worked as a curriculum advocate, K-12 teacher, and developer of educational programs. He has published several articles for leading magazines/publications such as The Root, LinkedIn, Vibe, and Clutch; as well as four books including an NAACP Image Award winner.
Chief of Staff
Zenaida Mejia joined our team as an Administrative Assistant/Clerk II for TTC College (TTCC). Zenaida works as the Personal Assistant of Dr. James Golden, the Chief Academic Officer, and all the Staff of the TTCC. She also reaches out to the students to have a one-on-one meeting with Dr. Golden for a follow-up on the progress of their school program. She handles all the office supplies needed by the staff and works on the timesheets to prepare and submit in the main office.
Zenaida earned a degree of Bachelor of Elementary Education in Manila, Philippines, she is also a certified Phlebotomy Technician (May 2021), U.S. Colleges, Van Nuys, CA. She joined TTC College because she likes the advocacy of giving a chance to all the students in having a better future. She likes to travel and see the wonder of the world.
Counselor I
Justin Lawrence has joined Tarzana Treatment Center (TTC) as a Counselor I for Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) program for our Central location. As a counselor, Justin plays a vital role in promoting and educating the community on the purpose, benefits, and the risks associated with MAT services. Through his own personal experience with addiction and recovery, he utilizes his experience as a means for additional support and guidance necessary to overcome active addiction. Justin is also a proud Alumni of Tarzana Treatment Center College.
SUD Counselor/ Case Manager
Rachel Sandoval earned her AA degree in Addiction Studies and Social & Behavioral Sciences at Los Angeles Pierce College (2019), a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree at California State University, Northridge, (2020), and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at California State University, Northridge. Rachel has worked as an SUD counselor and case manager in the outpatient level of care for five years with a diverse population here in the San Fernando Valley. Rachel began her practicum with Valley Women’s Center in 2017 and was hired to continue as a SUD counselor. She continued in the field with Tarzana Treatment Centers as a case manager and counselor in 2021 and received her CADC-I certification at the end of that year. She has a passion of working in the field and has been highly dedicated with her patients. She has strived to guide addicts and alcoholics through their time in treatment and currently works with various people in the community to empower them through their recovery.
Counseling
After Warren’s recent retirement from being a National Insurance Broker specializing in Risk Retention for small and medium-sized industrial companies in 2019, he was looking for some interesting work that had some philanthropic qualities. His friend informed him of a position at Tarzana Treatment Centers that work with independent housing for HIV and AIDS clients in a night ward capacity. Warren took the job and found and felt a great sense of fulfillment talking and counseling those in the residential housing. He was in control of the attendance and reporting of the nightly housing activities.
At the peak of his interest, Warren decided to enroll in Tarzana Treatment Centers College to learn about the addiction counseling field and to apply his current skills without reinventing himself. Warren found the curriculum at TTCC to be both challenging and enlightening.
Upon Warren’s graduation from TTCC, he was offered an advancement to Counseling 1 position within TTC to the SAMHSA MAT- PDOA program working under Dr James Golden and his remarkable team. The position he has now continues to supply him with the pleasure of working in a purposeful environment and with a great group of people.
Academic Specialists- Project Open Doors
Dani has joined the TTCC team as the Academic Specialist for Project Open Doors. In her new role, Dani will be supporting the logistical needs for the program. She will be working closely with the POD Chair, Alisia Thompson to enroll students and support their matriculation through the program.
Dani Feldman received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Innovation at the American Jewish University. She is a community builder and adult education specialist. During her undergraduate experience, Dani’s passion for helping others developed into an ambassador role as a liaison bridging the gap between students and faculty. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and is passionate about sports.
Faculty
Cathy Rusch has worked in behavioral health, almost exclusively with Tarzana Treatment Centers, for the best part of 25 years. This has provided her with a unique experience and understanding of the Substance Use Disorder field, more specifically allowing her to appreciate growth in its capacity to serve diverse community needs and integrate with other healthcare fields. Currently, Cathy is the Senior Trainer for staff and community training, acting as the liaison for iStart, a grant addressing the service gaps for STD and HIV testing in partnership with California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and developing curriculum for TTCC.
Ms. Rusch’s academic background is in both Sociology and Healthcare Administration. For the past 8 years, Cathy has been a Professor of Health Sciences at California State University, Northridge. teaching for the Department of Health Sciences Program for both Health Administration and Public Health. She brings a wealth of experience and passion to the SUD Certification Program of TTCC.
Adjunct Faculty
Carroll J. Brown III graduated from Phillips Graduate University (2018) where he obtained his Doctorate degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Organizational Management and Consulting. He is a a proud Matador Alumni, with a B.A. in Pan African Studies. Dr. Brown currently sits on the board of the USU at CSUN as the Alumni Representative, and President of the Black Alumni Association.
Working in mental health for over a decade, he is a program coordinator with a strong commitment to serving the community in Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley area.
Dr. Brown has a passion for helping individuals develop as leaders to improve organizations efficiency. In his free time, he spends time with friends, family and my new wife Dr. Kristyl JL. Brown and being an advocate for speaking about Black Men’s Mental Health.
Adjunct Faculty
Richard Taylor earned a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and African American Studies and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in 2005 and 2010. Richard has worked in the field of Mental Health for the past 15 years. Richard is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in substance use treatment with the chronically mentally ill. Also, Richard serves as an adjunct professor at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). Richard works closely with the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) and the BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences) as an item writer and subject matter expert. Richard is passionate about cultural competency, diversity, socioeconomic justice and equitable mental health and wellness opportunities for all. Richard is originally from the Bay Area. Richard loves sports and he is a lifelong Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers fan. He enjoys spending free with his wife and two daughters, going to church, listening to music, shopping, exercise and indulging in spicy foods.
Adjunct Facutly
Richard is originally from Rialto, California, but has spent half of his life as a San Diegan. He attended San Diego State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication and a Master’s in Counseling in 2005 and 2011 respectively. He went on to work for SDSU as a Student Life Advisor for 4 years before transitioning to Southwestern College in 2015 where he currently works as the Student Activities Coordinator. He is responsible for all things student development including co-curricular activities like the Student Government, Clubs & Organizations and on/off-campus events, trainings, retreats, and conferences. He has taught courses on identity development and navigating higher education at the high school level and has created/delivered dozens of presentations and workshops on topics ranging from conflict resolution and personality assessment to bias, anti-blackness, equity-minded leadership.
As a talented orator, equity-minded activist for social justice, educator and trained Anti-Bias facilitator (via the Anti-Defamation League), he is passionate about finding engaging, innovative ways to teach, support and advocate for students at all levels of education. Richard is a champion for student success and is always excited to see the light in students’ eyes as they have their “ah-ha” moments. When he is not helping students grow and develop, he enjoys traveling, movies, sports and spending time with friends and family including his best friends; his awesome, beautiful wife, Kendall, his 3-year old daughter Riley Rae and his ferocious, energetic, 10-pound Malte-Poo, Megatron.
Adjunct Faculty
Kendall is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who focuses on supporting children, family, parents, and maternal mental health at all stages of a family’s journey. She finds that it is important that we understand that every family and individual is different and every journey is different. There in not one path and It is an honor to help clients understand the path they are on and how they can embrace, or change, and grow their journey.
Kendall is also a healer by nature and a therapist by trade. Having received her bachelor’s in Psychology from San Diego State University and Masters in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University she has found herself to have expanded on the ability to meet people where they are. In addition to healing mental health she has also found herself on the path of healing through social justice. She is an advocate, an interrupter, an organizer, and person supporting people. She supports people who are learning to heal from social injustice and address Anti-Blackness as it impacts all aspects of the world we live in.
Adjunct Faculty
Janice Boafo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and valley girl whose professional life is informed by her lived experiences as well as over 25 years of work in human services and behavioral health. She believes in engaging the whole person, liberatory practices and the importance of being authentically seen and heard. Janice graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC).
In all spaces, Ms. Boafo is dedicated to culturally responsive practice, community healing and the transformational power of story sharing. Her interests include educational equity, culture & identity formation, public child welfare reform, pedagogy as activism, and exploring the intersections of art, culture & social justice. When she is not teaching, Janice is a mother, nature lover, volunteer and writer who sees beauty in struggle and finds power in community.
Faculty
Dr. Schwab is a retired police chief and hostage negotiator who found great passion in studying psychology and substance abuse to educate herself during her career. Dr. Schwab started her educational journey at Penn State University, and has since earned a Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology, Master’s degree in Applied Clinical Psychology, and Doctorate Degree in Neuroclinical Psychology specializing in Trauma, PTSD, and Traumatic Brain Injury. She has also conducted significant research on SUD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Neurological issues. In her free time, she volunteers as a K9 Search and Rescue Member for the CA Governors dog team CARDA and enjoys the great outdoors.
Program Coordinator
Fasiat Agaba is a program coordinator at Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. (TTC) coordinating two SAPC (Substance Abuse Prevention and Control) programs, one targeting overdose prevention education and technical assistance for providers called ODHRTA (Overdose Prevention & Harm Reduction Technical Assistance) and the other focusing on recruiting community members into Tarzana Treatment Centers College’s Substance Use Disorder Certification Program called TIP (Tuition Incentive Program). Fasiat’s journey at TTC started in the year of 2019, after graduating from California State University, Northridge with her bachelor’s degree in public health. It was then when Fasiat joined her first program (MAT Youth Expansion) as a Health Educator, training youth and young adults on opioid awareness and MAT medications in LA County. It was also at this time that Fasiat grew a passion for program development and training the community on harm reduction and substance use prevention. What was most fascinating to her was the impact of something as seemingly simple as a training presentation and what that can do for communities who don’t have access to the information or resources that can save their very own friends and family who are most impacted by the opioid epidemic.
Fasiat continued her professional development at TTC in the Health Educator II position, training high school aged youth using curriculum-based drug prevention courses as part of TTC’s youth services, Adolescent Prevention Services Program or APS. Now, as program coordinator of ODHRTA and TIP, Fasiat is dedicated to successfully implementing overdose prevention trainings and technical assistance in naloxone distribution as well as making sure students feel motivated enough to complete their SUD certification to help make a difference in so many people lives who are going through recovery.
MIP Program Coordinator
Clara has taken the role of MIP’s Program Coordinator and will be supervising MIP’s operations. She is currently finishing up her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Administration at California State University, Northridge. She originally joined TTC College as a behavioral health intern under the MIP program. Clara has honed her skills at the College and through work experiences & volunteer work at CSUN’s Food Pantry and the Health Sciences Department’s Peer Mentorship program.
Clara will be overseeing the interns & their day-to-day activities and collaborating with mentors to ensure students are able to gain the most from their internship experience. She aims to provide interns with the proper tools & knowledge to focus on their professional development and succeed in the workforce.
Chair of Field Experience
Hello! My name is Victor Magaña (he/him/his). I am the Chair of Field Experience at TTC College. I strive to be a service-oriented leader who will drop everything to be present with the people I work with. I have an open-door policy and will do my very best to be responsive when you come knocking or call or email me. Let’s work together and have a few laughs while we’re at it!
I have a background in Psychology, neuroscience, substance use research, and public health. I have an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from CSUN and am currently working on an MPH from SDSU. I have experience teaching intro to drugs, dependence, and treatment at SDSU. I also have years of experience working within the education system at CSUN wherein I learned how academic programs run and the dynamics of the people who work within it. I have a background in Psychology (clinical and neuroscience) and community-based healthcare and research. I previously gained much experience working with community stakeholders, researchers, and community members in San Diego, CA toward the goal of self-empowerment in the area of public health. Throughout that time, I worked with substance using populations, trans women, people living with HIV (PLWH), and the harm reduction movement on various levels.
SUD Academic Specialist
Nathan Lee has joined our team as the Academic Specialist for the SUD program. He graduated from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Policy. His role as an Academic Specialist is to run the SUD 100 course which helps students become assigned to an accrediting body and offers educational support to students to be successful. On his spare time, he enjoys video games and spending time with his friends.
MLK- Program Coordinator
Lissette (she/her/hers) has joined Tarzana Treatment Centers College as Program Coordinator of the Outpatient Treatment Services at Martin Luther King Behavioral Health Center. Her role includes engaging with the community of South Los Angeles and creating partnerships with organizations that will bring substance use resources to greater populations. She has over 6 years’ experience in the healthcare field, as a certified nursing assistant, case manager, learning & development trainer, and program coordinator. Has connected with individuals experiencing homelessness, high utilizers of hospitals, adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorder, and recently incarcerated and transitions to the community. Her goal is to bridge gaps in health, and break barriers by connecting them to resources in LA County. Lissette is passionate about connecting with her community, advocating for health promotion, and learning to grow to help serve the Los Angeles community.
“My goal is to be present in the community, an advocate, collaborate with organizations in our community and become more knowledgeable and innovative to work together.
Self-care is very important to me! I love going on weekly hikes throughout California, a new one each week to complete a 2nd 52-week challenge. I enjoy planning camping getaways and going to National Parks. I am also trying to learn a new hobby, last year it was roller skating, this year it is reading.”