AV狼

Cindy Salinas

First Year Students

 Coaching Mindset:

“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime” - Lao Tzu

Higher Education Background:

• Bachelors of Science (B.S.): Recreation with an emphasis in Youth Administration, AV狼 
• Masters of Science (M.S.): Recreation & Tourism, AV狼 

Interests and Hobbies:

• Hiking
• Traveling
• Working out
• Exploring new restaurants 
• Watching movies/shows

Top Defining Moments in Higher Education:

• Being a First Generation Chicana Graduate
• Receiving my Bachelors with Summa Cum Laude Honors
• Earning a Masters Degree

While in college, I experienced:

• Being undeclared
• Balancing 2 jobs, school, staying involved
• Being a first-generation college student
• Not feeling like I belonged
• Breaking stereotypes and barriers with my family

FAQ 

Who meets with a  Freshman Pioneer Success Coach?

As a freshman, your primary advisor (FASST) will help you pick out classes/ class schedules. Freshman Pioneer Success Coach is a specialized support who cover things past academics -- Life 101, in addition to overall planning for support and success of college.

How can I  be referred to a Freshman Pioneer Success Coach?

I work with students on a referral basis; whether you are referred by your FAST or PAC.

What are topics that a Freshman Pioneer Success Coach covers?

I cover topics like understanding Academic Probation, Financial aid probation, school and work-life balance, support programs that can range from student health center to tutoring, advocating for oneself, understanding policies and procedures, understanding the catalog and/or Degree Audit report, overall goals and supporting/encouraging you to gain skills & knowledge to be successful in college.

Testimonials

“Every time I had a meeting with Cindy she made it very easy to talk to her and was helpful with every issue I presented her with. As well as sending me information on support for DACA students on campus, it made me feel very happy to know she looks out for Dreamers and is willing to take time out of her day to make sure we have all the information needed to succeed. ” - Guadalupe

“I don’t think I would’ve recovered from school if my pioneer success coach didn’t help me out. I mean since the very first day we met, Cindy gave me advice and guided me towards getting back on track. I don’t think I would’ve made a recovery on my grades if she didn’t help me.” - Brandon

“I had a difficult time adapting to my first semester freshman year and struggled a bit with my courses, but luckily by my second semester I managed to get help from Cindy. She provided a lot of information on tutoring, checking up on how I was currently doing with classes, and helped me design the best schedule for the following semesters. She guided me with tips and advice that I've been using ever since, like using a planner to stay organized and for time management.” - Brenda