EAC Faculty and Staff

Leo Orange, Coordinator EAC & Vet Center

LOrange@vcccd.edu

Leo Orange is the Coordinator of the Educational Assistants Center and the Veteran Resource Center. He is a person living and working with severe disabilities and has dedicated his life to his family, friends, and serving people with disabilities. As an educator he has had the pleasure of working as an Interim Dean of Student Services and before coming to Oxnard College was an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Los Angeles for six years teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in counseling and rehabilitation services.

He is a passionate reader and writer and has authored and co-authored 20 book chapters, 8 referred and 9 non-referred articles. The proud recipient of 16 awards and the 2007 H. B. McDaniel Hall of Fame Award at Stanford University, for outstanding contribution in the field of Counseling and Guidance.  He believes that once someone finds purpose in their life, they have the opportunity to empower themselves and others and to be happy and productive.

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday: 8:00a - 5:00p
Friday: 8:00a - 12:00p

Della Newlow, Instructional Faculty/LD Specialist

dnewlow@vcccd.edu

Della Newlow is a Learning Disability Specialist at Oxnard College. In her classes at Oxnard College, she encourages her students to reach out and try, and then try again. She believes in every person’s ability to push through their discomfort and anxiety related to learning to find joy, fun, and meaning as they pursue their education.

On campus, she is an active member of the Academic Senate fiercely advocating for students with disabilities. She currently is the Sabbatical Chair. In the past, she has served as co-chair of the Campus Use and Safety Committee and as an Academic Senate Treasurer.  

Office Hours

TBA in the Fall

Patricia Cowan, Instructional Faculty

PCowan@vcccd.edu

Patricia has been a Professor at Oxnard College for eleven years. She takes joy in teaching, and it shows. She has an effective manner of interacting with students and meeting them where they are to help them experience academic success and achieve their academic goals. Prior to Oxnard College, Patricia worked as a school administrator for an alternative high school and taught elementary school for twelve years.

Patricia has a Bachelor's Degree from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon where she studied Communications and a Master's Degree in Education from Claremont Graduate School. 

Office Hours

By appointment only. Please contact Patricia directly to set up an appointment to meet.

Steve Turner, Instructional Faculty

STurner@vcccd.edu

Steve Turner has been a tenacious supporter of diverse individuals with disabilities for more than two decades. Beginning his teaching with community nonprofits and various government agencies, Steve supports equity, access, and inclusion universally. Steve is known for finding individual strengths, providing increased access, and for his patience in connecting with students.

Steve has his Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and sees the tremendous benefits of working in the community and providing access to higher education by helping students break down barriers at Ventura College and Oxnard College.

Office Hours

By appointment only.  Please contact Steve directly to set up an appointment to meet.

Joanne Chang, Instructional Faculty

Joanne_chang1@vcccd.edu

Joanne Chang is an Oxnard College Alumni and has been working as a Part-Time Professor for the Educational Assistance Center (EAC) since 2017. She has also concurrently worked as an Educational Specialist Teacher at Adolfo Camarillo High School since 2003. Joanne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Human Resource Management, a Master's in Public Administration, and a Master's in Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities. She also holds an Administrative Services Credential.

When she’s not working, she volunteers at local Food Share agencies and helps with food distributions. She enjoys spending time with families and her two pet parrots (Sky and Little Rascal). Joanne’s favorite quote by Pablo Picasso is: “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away.”

Office Hours

By appointment only. Please contact Joanne directly to set up an appointment to meet.

Jennifer Ruppert, Counselor

jruppert@vcccd.edu

"Hello and welcome to the EAC Department at Oxnard College. I am honored and privileged to have chosen a career where I get to assist students every day. My area of expertise and passion is assisting individuals with disabilities gain equal access. Although I have 24 years of experience with counseling students throughout K-12 and college, my time at OC is where I feel most at home. I enjoy the collaboration with other departments and the community of lifelong learners.

"I am available to help guide and assist you with obtaining your goals. I assist students with dual enrollment, earning an AA/AS degree, certificate of Achievement, transfer to a university, or career technical pathway. I can guide you with course selection, creating education plans, and making sure you receive the accommodations you need for success. I look forward to meeting with you and assisting you in any way I can."

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday: 7:30a - 4:30p
Friday: Hours vary

America Barroso, Counselor

america_barroso1@vcccd.edu

America Barroso is an academic counselor with 10 years of experience in providing educational advisement to Ventura County’s families. Her area of expertise is working with the military-connected population, most of whom are first-generation and underrepresented in higher education. In the EAC, America supports students who are eligible for VA educational benefits and have a qualifying disability. Having America in EAC bridges a major gap that is seen across the state when trying to connect veterans with DSPS services.

Prior to working in EAC, America was the counselor at Oxnard College's Veteran Resource Center. It was there that she saw the need to connect veterans with support services to help overcome barriers to learning so they could achieve their academic and professional goals. The number of Oxnard College veteran students who receive support services has tripled in the year that America has been with EAC. 
 

Stacey Gould, LD Specialist

sgould@vcccd.edu

Stacey has been with the EAC at Oxnard College since the Fall of 2014. She has also worked as a Learning Disability Specialist at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Stacey is a Clinical Psychologist, who has worked in a variety of settings, both inpatient and outpatient. She enjoys working with the students and staff at Oxnard College and helping the students reach their academic potential.

Stacey has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from CSUN; a Master of Arts degree in Clinical/Community Psychology from CSUN; and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Children and Families from Alliant University (California School of Professional Psychology). When she is not working, Stacey enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children, and their Labrador Retriever.  Her interests include traveling, reading, and volunteering in the community.

Office Hours

By appointment only.

Nate Streeper, Alternate Media Specialist

nstreeper@vcccd.edu

Nate Streeper is the Alternative Media Specialist for the Educational Assistance Center. Prior to Oxnard College, he was the Adaptive Technology Specialist for UCSB, and prior to that, he was the Talking Book Library Coordinator for Braille Institute. He enjoys connecting students with alternate media and assistive technology, and he is a fierce advocate for universal design.

In his downtime, Nate's an avid reader/writer of science fiction and comic books, a recent fan of Gilmore Girls, and the proud father of two cats and a dog.

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday: 8:00a - 5:00p
Friday: 8:00a - 12:00p

Natalie Tolila, Administrative Assistant

ntolila@vcccd.edu

Natalie Tolila has over 20 years of experience in executive and administrative support, project and event management. Throughout her career, she has directed day-to-day operations and managed projects ranging from departmental procedures and processes to website development and full-scale live events, including organizing a 5K/10K/Half-Marathon for four consecutive years.

Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and media from California State University, Northridge, and recently became a Certified ScrumMaster®. She believes in lifelong learning and is always eager to explore new growth opportunities.

In her free time, Natalie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending concerts, and expressing her creative side through different artistic avenues, like calligraphy, oil painting, and making personalized gifts, greeting cards, and customized party decorations and favors. 

Gabriela Valdez, Bilingual Student Services Assistant

gabriela_valdez1@vcccd.edu

I was born in the San Fernando Valley and raised in the city of Oxnard, California for most of my life. I am a proud first-generation college student that earned my bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University of Northridge with a minor in business management. I have gained both work and outside community experiences during these last couple of years, having the opportunity to collaborate with individuals who are dedicated to creating a difference in our community.

I have worked for the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services as a student worker since July 2021 and transitioned to a full-time, temporary, Office Assistant. My experience working for EOPS at Oxnard College has allowed me to gain the knowledge to serve a diverse set of students and provide further guidance to help them in their academic journey to higher education. I have also volunteered as a student intern for the Santa Paula Latino Townhall nonprofit organization. During my free time, I enjoy dedicating time to self-care, spending time with my family, and going to the gym. 

I am grateful to be able to continue my career journey at Oxnard College and to give the assistance and guidance to other students that I was once given at Oxnard College.

Billy Sowers, Office Assistant/American Sign Language Interpreter

wsowers@vcccd.edu

Billy serves as an Office Assistant and ASL Interpreter. With a background in American Sign Language, he is passionate about making accessibility for everyone as they see fit. He holds an Associate's in American Sign Language Interpreting from LA Pierce College and attended Gallaudet University for one year to immerse himself in Deaf Culture. Billy has been with Oxnard since 2023 as an Interpreter and looks forward to working with everyone connected to Oxnard College.