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Student Success Center Services & Campus Resources
About the Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is located in Solano 3000. There are both Professional Staff as well as faculty advisors that provide holistic support services to aid in a student's university experience. If you have any of the following questions and more, please schedule an appointment if you:
- Need Major Advising for Health Science (the new pathway to Nursing)?
- Need guidance in selecting a major?
- Facing challenges and barriers within your major?
- Have questions about the programs within the College of Health and Human Services?
The Student Success Center is here to address your questions and provide the following services:
- Academic Planning
- Basic Career Exploration
- Faculty Mentoring
- Major Program Exploration
- Major Advising for Health Science (the new pathway to Nursing)
- Referrals to Campus Resources
- Tutoring
Meet Our Team
Raquel Quirarte, Ed.D.
Director of Student Success for the College of Health and Human Services.
quirarte@csus.edu
Dr. Raquel Quirarte brings over 22 years of student – centered experience. As Director of Student Success for the College of Health and Human Services she brings her unique blend of perspectives as one who has held the positions of student, staff, and faculty at Sacramento State. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, and her Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership, all from Sacramento State. Most recently, she developed the HHS Student Success Center into a thriving resource for students, families, and faculty, serving over 6,000 people annually and counting. She is truly “Made at Sac State” and strives to make Sac State a stronger destination for student success.
Janette Hernandez, M.S.
HHS Student Success Center Coordinator
j.hernandez@csus.edu
Janette joined the Sac State team in Spring of 2022. Before coming to Sac State, she served undergraduate students as a dedicated academic advisor at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). Prior to her position at CSUMB, Janette held positions with two consecutive institutional grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program at California State University, Fullerton. She earned her Bachelors in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine, her masters in Clinical Psychology from CSU Fullerton, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Sac State. She is proud to be part of the Sac State family and serving Sac State students through the College of Health and Human Services’ Student Success Center.
Joanna Sampanis, M.A.
College Advisor & Retention Specialist
sampanisj@csus.edu
Joanna Sampanis has joined the College of Health and Human Services as an advisor and specialist in the Student Success Center. She brings an extensive background in student services that includes academic advising, transfer credit articulation, and degree completion solutions. Joanna is “Made at Sac State” with degrees in Philosophy and English but her post-baccalaureate pursuits include educational technology, instructional design, and popular media. She enjoys working with students toward achieving their professional development goals through thoughtful academic planning and advocacy. Please feel free to check-in with her and share whatever interests you!
Kristen McCarroll, M.S.
College Advisor & Retention Specialist
mccarroll@csus.edu
Kristen first joined the hornet family as a graduate student, earning her MS in Career Counseling, and has been on campus ever since. After completing internships in both the Career Center and Academic Advising Center, Kristen joined the Academic Advising Center team as a professional advisor in 2017, and worked as an Integrated Advisor in the College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies Student Success Center before joining the College of Health & Human Services as a College Advisor & Retention Specialist. Kristen is proud to be Made at Sac State, and enjoys working with students to help them navigate their academic experience at Sac State, and reach their personal, academic, and career goals.
Adam Lau
Administrative Support Coordinator I
alau2@csus.edu
Adam Lau has joined the College of Health and Human Services team in 2024 as an ASC 1 for the student success center. Before graduating from CSUS with his degree in Sociology, he transferred from Sacramento City College and Cosumnes River College. He has a great amount of experience working with students, staff, and faculty from his previous position in Human Resources and other settings of administration. His goal in his new position is to see the success of the students who need any help or guidance from the CHHS office. He is proud to be a CSUS alumni and proud to be a part of the CSUS campus that helped him succeed.
Departmental Academic Advisors
The College of Health and Human Services has professional advisors for five of the academic programs, you may reach out to them directly for more information related to their specific majors.
Destiny Effiong, MS
Advising Center Coordinator, Division of Criminal Justice
crj-advising@csus.edu
Heidi Travis
Admissions Advisor, School of Nursing
rntobsn@csus.edu
Heidi Travis joined the Hornet Family in spring 2006 and officially became “Made at Sac State” in spring 2010 with a degree in Sociology. She started the beginning of her career in the School of Nursing as the front receptionist in the fall 2012. She has worked her way to her current position as the School of Nursing’s admissions advisor. While working in the nursing department she has been part of the Admissions Criteria Task Force, helped with the process of the two main nursing accreditation bodies (BRN and CCNE) and is currently a part of the Sac State’s Advising Council. Heidi takes pride in being a part of the hornet family and has a passion for helping and connecting with the students. Stingers up!
Melissa Timpson
Student Services Professional II, Physical Therapy
mt2334@csus.edu
Melissa first joined the hornet family in 2008 as an undergraduate student, earning a degree in Ethnic Studies. As a student, she became a Student Ambassador for the Admissions and Outreach office and conducted tours to perspective families and provided outreach to students over the phone, email and did site visits. Melissa left the Admissions and Outreach office in 2012 and joined the School of Nursing at Sacrament State in 2013 where she managed the different programs for Nursing and supported the admissions for the RN to BSN and MSN program. In 2023, Melissa joined the Department of Physical Therapy as their Admissions Coordinator for their Doctorate program. Melissa gets joy form her job knowing that her admissions advising contributes to graduating wonderful students in the field of healthcare. Stingers Up!
Troy Nichols
HHS Faculty Student Mentor Coordinator, RPTA
troy.nichols@csus.edu
Troy Nichols, affectionately known throughout the Sacramento region as “PT,” is proud to be Made at Sac State, graduating with a degree in Recreation Administration in 2007. Upon graduation, Troy went on to acquire a Master’s in Business Administration before returning to the Hornet Family in 2015 as a Lecturer in the College of Health & Human Services (RPTA). From 2020-2021 he worked on the campus-wide Antiracism & Inclusion Plan, serving as the co-chair of the Mattering and Affirming Planning Group. He continues to be passionate and committed to ensuring all students have equitable access and are empowered to engage with the full educational experience at Sac State to achieve their personal and professional goals.