Faculty, Administration, Advisory Comittee
Vice President and COO
Vice President and COO
Dr. Salazar holds a Master’s and Doctoral degree in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. Since 1988, he has worked in the substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS, and mental health fields as a counselor, health educator, community organizer, researcher, and administrator. He has been the primary translator (English to Spanish) of various research studies and has co-translated The Wellness Guide published by the UC Berkeley Center for Community Wellness. He is also the co-author of Essential Spanish for Social Services, a Living Language/Random House publication. During his career Dr. Salazar has served as the Project Director/Principle Investigator (PD/PI) on various programs funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), CA Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS), and LA County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) with an emphasis on delivering the full continuum of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services ranging from prevention to medical detoxification/maintenance. He is currently the Director of SUD/MH program that serves youth in LA County and also oversees two Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTP’s) and Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) programs designed for both adults and youth. Dr. Salazar regularly conducts trainings and classes on SUD counseling and new and emerging behavioral health trends, evidence based practices (EBP’s), current research in the SUD/MH field, and provision of SUD and MH treatment services to special populations such as youth, women and older adults. Since 2014, Dr. Salazar has held a Lecturer position with the California State University of Northridge (CSUN) and has taught various healthcare leadership and public health courses, including those on SUD, to both undergraduate and graduate master’s level students. Dr. Salazar has served on various non-profit boards, private education boards, and currently serves on CSUN’s MPH Program Community Advisory Board which provides guidance and support on matters related to curriculum development.
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.
Deputy Provost
Haben is an individual driven by her ultimate goal of empowering students throughout their educational journeys. She actively participates in the efforts of Tarzana Treatment Centers College (TTC College), as the Deputy Provost, an institution dedicated to providing education and support to individuals affected by Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and related issues. At TTC College, Haben passionately works towards creating advocate leaders who can educate and empower others on matters related to SUD, while simultaneously reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse.
Haben’s dedication to helping others extends beyond her academic pursuits. She is actively involved in working with re-entry populations, recognizing the vital importance of providing support and opportunities to those currently incarcerated. By assisting individuals during their transition back into society, Haben strives to aid them in rebuilding their lives and successfully reintegrating into their communities.
Additionally, Haben has devoted herself to supporting underrepresented and marginalized students. Her involvement in college readiness programs allows her to provide valuable guidance and support to empower first-generation and low-income students. By addressing their unique challenges, Haben helps these students navigate the educational system and achieve their goals.
Haben’s commitment to advocacy has also led her to collaborate with various youth non-profit organizations in the greater Long Beach and Southern California areas. Her work focuses on creating safe environments for students, promoting mental health awareness, amplifying voices, advocating for quality education, and encouraging physical activity. Through her efforts, Haben strives to ensure that all students have access to the necessary resources and support systems they need to thrive.
With her expertise in program development and evaluation, Haben has successfully designed and implemented multiple curriculums, programs, and events for non-profit organizations. By tailoring her initiatives to address the specific needs of the communities she serves, she has made a significant impact in empowering individuals and fostering positive change.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Haben finds joy in embarking on adventures, traveling to new places, spending quality time with her family, and immersing herself in the pages of exciting books. These activities allow her to recharge and maintain a well-rounded perspective on life.
Through her unwavering dedication and commitment, Haben continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals impacted by SUD, re-entry populations, and underrepresented students. Her multifaceted approach to education, advocacy, and support exemplifies her passion for empowering others and creating positive change within the community.
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.
Dean of Workforce Development
Jessica Galura, MPH joined the Office of Workforce Development to provide leadership to the intern, practicum, and mentoring components of Tarzana Treatment Centers College (TTCC). As the Dean of Workforce Development, Jessica is responsible for centralizing agency interns and creating systems to support community members, community partner organizations, and schools interested in a wide variety of healthcare careers.
Jessica first joined TTC has a health educator to address barriers affecting SUD treatment in Latinx communities. She previously provided administrative support and leadership for reentry programs at TTC. Jessica earned two degrees from California State University, Northridge. She received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education.
Dean of Academics
Dr. Alisia Thompson is an educator with over a decade of experience teaching in K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, teacher training, program development, and assessment. Dr. Thompson earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Neuroscience from the University of Southern California and began her career as a high school biology teacher. As a classroom teacher, she developed a passion for curriculum development which led her to pursue a Master of Arts in Education (MA.Ed) in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Thompson spent 5 years building teacher preparation pathways in Orange County before coming to Tarzana Treatment Centers College in 2021. During her time with the college, she has served as an adjunct faculty with the Substance Use Disorder program and the Chair of Project Open Doors before being promoted to Dean of Academics. In 2023, Dr. Thompson earned her Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. Within her role, she is committed to providing meaningful learning experiences and holistic support for all students.
Dean of Public Relations
Oscar Mendoza has joined Tarzan Treatment Centers College as the Dean of Public Relations. He has commissioned himself to engage the community with integrity through multimedia platforms, showcasing the innovative excellence at TTC College to drive the affirmative action of motivated intersectional student enrollment in all programs. In addition, Oscar has a more specific aim to promote Tarzana Treatment Centers College as a leading educational institution for certified SUD counselors. His goal is to support the recovery community by advancing the production of innovative SUD counselors with a 21st century education.
He has more than 20 years’ experience in social services working in and around substance abuse patients advocating for social change to underrepresented populations. His experience with the SUD community has intersected with populations such as mental health patients, developmental disability patients, geriatric patients, sex offender juveniles, human trafficking survivors, parolees, and probationers. His field experience includes providing long term comprehensive integrated behavioral health care at Tarzana Centers, Inc., and in rapid treatment settings as an SUD/MAT Service Counselor in the emergency department at Glendale Adventist Hospital, where he consulted ER physicians about acute medical treatments for opiate use disorder patients. Oscar is passionate about social justice and providing the most innovative approaches to integrated medical and behavioral evidence-based treatments for substance use disorder patients. He is an advocate of intersectional representations that promote cultural responsibility to all cross sections of communities affected by substance abuse.
Oscar completed his undergraduate education at California State University Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and qualified his SUD certification as a part of TTC Colleges’ first cohort in 2021. He is also currently on track to completing his MSW at Our Lady of the Lake University where he will soon after also qualify to become certified California State licensed LCSW.
Executive Assistant
Devonte Mayden is San Fernando valley native and service Veteran. He and his family have been supporting his community with lived experience in the valley for over 15 years by doing community outreach, education on homelessness, and leading those who need support to a better direction in life where professionals can lend a hand. In the process of receiving a bachelor’s in social work from CSUN, he has completed multiple programs for public health and has joined the TTC team after completion of the Mentored Internship Program under the guidance of Haben Berhe. Devonte is now working under Dr.Golden and his team as his Executive Assistant to apply his learned skills and better support his community with care, patience, and trust. He is passionate about serving his community and learning more ways to do so. Devonte enjoys hiking with his dogs, roller blading, and doing holistic therapy.
Dean of Health & Wellness
Sebrin Yousef joined our team as the Development Coordinator for TTC College (TTCC). Sebrin will be primarily working to oversee the Student Affairs Department and the programs that are running at TTCC. As the Development Coordinator, Sebrin helps with student success by planning events for students with the Outreach Recruiter, providing support to the IT Specialist and Student Services Representative. She will also be leading the 2023 Advisory Committee Board for the new school year.
Sebrin graduated with her Master of Public Health with an emphasis on Community Health Education at the California State University, Northridge. She also has her Bachelor’s in Public Health from California State University, Los Angeles. Previously, Sebrin interned with non-profit organizations in the areas of domestic violence and mental health as well as with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in their Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division. At CDPH, she focused her work on Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) by reaching out to stakeholders, researched more on Title V funds, and collecting data on home visiting and CYSHCN.
With her background, Sebrin is interested in mental health overall and to break the stigma among the marginalized communities and being an advocate to provide more resources for mothers in maternal mental health. In her spare time, she loves to read and try new foods.
Chair of Recovery Support Services / Program Coordinator
Monica Castro has joined Tarzana Treatment Centers College (TTCC) as Chair of Recovery Support Services / Program Coordinator. As the Program Coordinator for the SAMHSA MAT Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction program at Tarzana Treatment Centers, Monica provides leadership to the MAT-PDOA team by supporting initiatives around providing case management, education, and counseling support to Los Angeles County patients with a history of substance use. Monica is working on identifying and training community-based providers on Opioid Use Disorder, hoping to support the growing needs of special populations, including re-entry, people experiencing homelessness, and LGBTQ+.
Monica earned her B.A. in Psychology at Lewis & Clark College as a first-generation graduate. She is working toward a Master of Science in Public Health from Tulane University.
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.
Chair of Peer Support Specialization
Ashley McGowan (she/they) has joined our team as the Chair of the office of Peer Support and currently oversees the administration of the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training Program. They work closely with the Lead Instructor and Academic Specialist to ensure the application process, enrollment, scheduling, scholarships, and instruction run smoothly for our students. She also supports data collection and curriculum development for the program.
Ashley received her B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and a minor in Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She previously worked for TTC’s We Exist program which was dedicated to getting LGBTQIA2-S+ youth connected with essential resources in LA county. In addition to her role at the college, she also participates in Tarzana’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Committee to support efforts in creating an affirming environment for both patients, and employees at TTC.”
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.
MLK- Health Educator
Jaela Holmes joined our team as the Information Technology Specialist for TTC College (TTCC). Jaela was primarily working to managing all our social media platform plans, provide general technical support, ensure that TTCC runs smoothly online (TTCC website, Moodle student portal, & ProQuest), overseeing the virtual reality program, and providing expertise in graphic designs. She also was the administrator for all our TTC College podcasts. Now Jaela is located in Watts, at our newest outpatient services MLK Behavioral Health Centers as our Health Educator.
Jaela Holmes currently graduated with her BA at California State University, Long beach, majoring in American Sign Language Linguistics & Deaf Culture (ASLD). Jaela has worked as a Personal Tax assistant for VjP Tax Services for 2+ years, providing marketing expertise and Social Media Content to increase engagement and followers. Jaela worked coaching youth in athletics, discipline, developmental skills, responsibilities, accountability and helping them foster relationships. Whether working on academics, being out in the field, extracurricular activities, or professional projects, Jaela has amazing teamwork, leadership, communication, and creative thinking skills.
Student Services Representative
Isaac Leon joined our team as the Student Services Representative for TTC College (TTCC). Isaac will help manage the college as a team member by answering student questions regarding the programs we provide. The main responsibilities he holds are following up with prospective students by emailing/calling them to provide them with information about our Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling Certificate Program, scheduling interviews, assisting with enrollment documents and ensuring that they are using the resources we have while they are in the program.
Isaac will be graduating with his Master’s in Public Health with a focus in Health Marketing in May 2023 from Benedictine University. He has a B.S. in Public Health from CSUN. His previous work includes being a laboratory administrative assistant for a COVID-19 testing company for Sony Pictures and NBC Universal. There he focused on COVID-19 kit sales, establishing relationships with new clients and creating standard operation procedure manuals for the company.
With his new degree, he hopes to be a voice for his community by creating health education workshops that lead to healthy habits for healthier lives.”
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.
PSS Academic Specialist
Kimberly Corpeno was raised in the San Fernando Valley. She graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. While finishing her undergraduate studies she was able to complete the Mentored Internship Program at Tarzana Treatment Centers College! This is how Kimberly started her journey with TTCC. Kimberly is now working alongside Ashley McGowan and Benita Anvieh in the Peer Support Specialist Certification Program. Her ultimate goal is to create programs to help educate underserved communities. Health education and care should be accessible to all with the highest quality regardless of socioeconomic status. Kimberly enjoys eating sushi, roller skating, and going to the beach.
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.
Tuition Services Representative
Vanessa Garcia was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She is the first in her family to ever pursue a higher education. She graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Vanessa also participated in the Mentored Internship Program at Tarzana Treatment Centers College as an undergrad and then shortly started her journey at TTCC.
Vanessa works in the Business Development Department alongside her mentor Catherine Duehren and with other amazing individuals. Vanessa oversees processing and creating invoices for funding of the college. On her spare time, she likes to spend time with her two dogs with friends and family.
MIP Coordinator
Tiffany Rabbani is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been a part of Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) since 2017, where she first began as an MSW intern. Tiffany currently serves as the Lead Clinician for the mental health department at the Northridge location, where she oversees MSW clinical interns, conducts bio-psycho-social assessments, provides individual therapy, and provides clinical support to the mental health team. Tiffany also currently serves as a Site Supervisor for the Mentored Internship Program (MIP) at the TTC College, where she places interns with mentors throughout the college and works collaboratively with the post-HS, bachelor level, and graduate level interns alongside their mentors to help in growing the intern’s professional development. Additionally, Tiffany assists interns in finding employment throughout the organization in an effort to help fill the ever-growing need in behavioral health care.
Tiffany received her Master of Social Work from California State University, Northridge in 2018 and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Queens College, City University of New York. Tiffany is passionate about mental health, reducing stigma around mental health, and reducing barriers by providing resources and support to underserved communities.
Health Educator
Erica Amaya graduated from California State University, Chico with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Public Affairs. Erica continued her educational journey at the California State University of Sacramento where she received her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Through her professional career she has maintained providing an array of public services to communities who need them most as her core driver. Erica began her professional as a first-generation mentor at Chico State then moved onto a program coordinator position for a nonprofit agency in Sacramento called Alliance for Education Solutions. Erica then moved onto working for New Beginnings Counseling where she hosted group sessions for court mandated individuals concerning domestic violence, child endangerment, anger management and substance use/addiction. Erica’s current position at Tarzana Treatment Centers College is a health educator and community outreach organizer. Through her new position Erica has completed overdose prevention training, fentanyl test strips training, MAT training, and has gained knowledge regarding the Los Angeles area along with how substance use affects Los Angeles communities at a high rate. With this knowledge she has been able to further her understanding to be able to better serve the greater Los Angeles area regarding substance use. Due to her experience of having worked with an array of populations in different areas of California she has been able to witness the connection between the need and the actual support communities are attaining. Erica is passionate about allocating resources to communities that need them most.
Academic RecordKeeper
Mahbubur Rahman is one the few senior supervisors at Tarzana Treatment Centers. He joined the organization as a graduate intern. Since then, Mahbubur has been actively engaged in event management, online learning systems, curriculum development, contract compliance, data management, audit reporting and evaluation. He has been a mentor for the students of Public Health and Health Administration programs from various public and private universities. Mahbubur earned his MBBS & MS in Nutrition from the University of Dhaka and MPH from CSU Northridge.
Mahbubur is a registered medical practitioner with the Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council and regularly attends overseas health camps serving people with minimal or no access to care. He is a life member of the Dietetic Association of Bangladesh and a former Rotarian. In 2022, the Royal Society for Public Health, UK awarded him with their fellowship.
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.
Communications Specialist
Alicia Sullivan has joined Tarzana Treatment Centers College (TTCC) as the Communications Specialist. She will be working in the Public Relations Department. Her role includes expanding and branding the college to the community. She finds it important to inform communities about resources and services that are available to them. Alicia is passionate about giving back to her community and has done so through her many years of non-profit work. She has worked diligently with individuals that are low-income, first-generation college students like herself, minorities and underserved populations. Her goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals through her career work.
Alicia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice studies with a minor in Communications from Cal State University, Northridge. She is currently working on her MSW (Master of Social Work) at North Central University.
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.”