Counseling and Career Services

Counseling and Career Services Staff

Counseling Staff PhotoEstela LeVario Gutierrez, M.A.
Interim Dean of Student Services
Estela has been an employee of TMCC since 1992 and is currently director of Counseling and Career Services as well as the Interim Dean. She is in charge of the following departments: Admissions and Records; Mandatory Services, Testing and Orientation; Academic Advisement, Transfer, Re-Entry and Job Prep; Outreach and Recruitment; Counseling and Career Services; Financial Aid; Access Programs; and Veterans Upward Bound. She grew up in the San Joaquin Valley in California where she obtained her bachelor's degree in liberal studies and master's degree in educational counseling. Because of her passion for youth, she also works part-time as the youth consultant for Nevada Hispanic Services. Estela's community involvement includes: Hispanic Chamber as the founder of the first Latino Leadership Program; co-founder of the Latina Professional Development Program for Nevada Hispanic Services; Sparks City Charter Committee; Sparks Citizens Advisory Board; Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, 2005 Chair of Accentuate the Positive; Theatre Coalition; co-founder of Mariposa dual language school; state ESL task force; Girls Scouts Advisory; Leadership Reno Sparks Advisory; member of the Nevada State Board of Education for Displaced Homemakers; member of the Diversity State Tourism Board; the liaison to the Mexican Government; and currently a member of the WCSD Board of Trustees.
Counseling Staff PhotoDan Adams
EPY Facilitator
Dan began working at TMCC in 1978. His background is in occupational/technical education and he served as president of the Business Education Association of Nevada and President of the Nevada Vocational Association during his early years at TMCC. He spent several years in the early 90s in Colorado and upon his return he embarked on a new career direction with work-based education and the college's tech prep and internship programs. He also developed and taught the Employability Skills curriculum for the college at this time. Currently, Dan teaches the course EPY 101: Educational, Career, and Personal Development. During his years at TMCC Dan has been deeply involved in the curriculum, academic standards, and Faculty Senate committees. Dan's passions include photograph, travel, food, and most importantly, family.
Counseling Staff PhotoKristen DeMay, M.A.
Professional Counselor
Kristen is a professional counselor and tenured academic faculty member at TMCC. She enjoys helping students create and achieve personal goals in many areas such as academics, career, relationships, communication, stress and anxiety, emotional difficulty and health and wellness. Kristen is a professor of EPY 101: Educational, Career and Personal Development, a course designed to instill college success skills and enrich students academically, personally and professionally. Kristen also serves as an at-large senator on the TMCC Faculty Senate. Kristen earned a master's degree in counseling and educational psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2003 and became a counselor at TMCC in 2006. Previously, at UNR, she was responsible for coordinating and providing training in substance abuse prevention in the community and taught CEP 255: Substance Abuse Prevention at UNR. Her interests include family, friends, cooking, hiking, snowboarding, traveling, writing poems and spending time at Lake Tahoe.
Counseling Staff PhotoRuth Fiorni
Administrative Aid
Ruth began working at TMCC in 1990 and joined the Counseling Department in 1993. As the Administrative Aid, she is the front-line staff person who answers the phones, greets visitors, schedules appointments with counselors, refers individuals to other departments based on their needs, and assists students in a variety of ways through her background and years of experience here. Ruth strives to provide a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable returning; she often encounters repeat visitors who enjoy engaging with her helpful and supportive manner. Ruth has seen numerous students pursue their program degree and graduate and believes TMCC is a great place to learn and fulfill their dreams.
Counseling Staff PhotoErin Frock, M.A.
Professional Counselor
Erin is a professional counselor who provides a human-centered, holistic approach to working with students, focusing on personal counseling and career exploration. In addition, she teaches EPY 101: Educational, Career and Personal Development and is certified as an On Course trainer for EPY. Before coming to TMCC, Erin worked as a counselor for the Upward Bound program at UNR, specializing in the issues surrounding students from a low-income, first generation background. She continues that work here through the Success First Summer Bridge Program, for which she was recognized by receiving an Excellence Award from NISOD: National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development in 2010. She earned her master's degree in counseling and educational psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Erin serves on a variety of committees at TMCC including the recently-formed TAT: Threat Assessment Team. She enjoys her leisure time with family and friends, reading, mountain biking, and watching movies.
Counseling Staff PhotoKurt Hall, M.A.
Professional Counselor
Kurt has worked at TMCC since 1991. He received his master's degree in counseling and educational psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1991 and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Chico. He has received awards for teaching and advising and has very strong leadership skills. Kurt served as TMCC's Faculty Senate chair for the past four years (2005-2007) and chair-elect (2003-2005). Kurt excels in personal and academic-based counseling and through his work with the various Nevada college systems, he is adept at assisting students in navigating through the local educational environment.
Counseling Staff PhotoTamera Mooney
Administrative Assistant
Tamera has been with the Counseling Center since 1998. As the Office Manager, she provides support for the Director, Counselors, Instructors and staff. She is responsible for working with the EPY class coordinator to help build and input Counseling's course schedule in the PeopleSoft system as well as assisting the Counseling and part-time faculty for these courses. In addition, within the Student Services division, she supports seven other departments which includes monitoring the budgets and accounts payable for all the student assistant workers. Before being hired in the Counseling Center, Tamera was a TMCC student. Her background before TMCC includes working as a legal assistant for a criminal defense attorney while studying to be a paralegal. Prior to making Reno her home, she lived in Dallas, Texas. Her passions are family, swimming, reading, and gardening.
Counseling Staff PhotoMelanie Purdy, PhD, NCC
Professional Counselor
For Dr. Melanie Purdy, education and fun have always been important parts of life. She began her higher education at West Valley Community College in California, and then transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. After working in the field of public relations for a number of years, the desire for career change ensued and in 1998, she earned her master's degree in counseling with an emphasis in college student development. That year, she also began working as transfer center coordinator and counselor at the University of Nevada, Reno, providing her the experience of working with community college students. Because of her love of learning, she pursued her doctorate in counseling and educational psychology and earned that degree in 2004. Melanie has worked as a counselor at TMCC since September 2007. She teaches EPY 101: Educational, Career, and Personal Development as well as facilitates ASK workshops for students on probation. Her areas of interest and specialty in counseling include: health and wellness; spirituality; life transition issues; academic confidence; and motivation. For fun, Melanie spends time with her daughter, hikes, runs, cycles, reads and studies.
Counseling Staff PhotoMegan Van
Executive Assistant
Megan began working in the Equity and Inclusion Office and Human Resources Office at TMCC in 2006. She joined the Division of Student Services in May of 2011. As the Executive Assistant to the Interim Dean of Student Services, she provides administrative support. Megan has a bachelor's degree in Finance from UNR and worked there for 10 years as a Program Officer in the Upward Bound/Trio Program.
Counseling Staff PhotoCheryl Woehr, M.A.
Professional Counselor
Cheryl has 22 years of experience working in the Nevada System of Higher Education. She has been a counselor at TMCC since 1990 and holds a master's degree in psychology, counseling and a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Chico. She also earned an associate of arts degree from Yuba College in Marysville, Calif. Cheryl specializes in cross-cultural and career counseling and has extensive experience presenting workshops and seminars focusing on cultural diversity, American cultural values, cross-cultural communication skills and utilizing the Myers-Briggs and Temperament Sorter to determine career interests and learning, work and communication styles. She teaches EPY 101, College Success Skills at TMCC. Additionally, she teaches ETS 307, Topics in Race and Racism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Cheryl grew up in a military family, has traveled to 29 countries in five continents and lived overseas for nine years in Spain and Libya. Her interests include traveling, hiking, skiing and art.