Meet the Staff

Welcome to Student Psychological Services (SPS), where our commitment is to provide quality mental healthcare and create a community of wellness. We have a remarkable and diverse team of mental health professionals and administrative support staff dedicated to serving students. Recognizing that there are many paths to mental wellness, our goal is to offer a variety of services to help you find the approach that works best for you.

We aim to provide effective psychoeducation, community-informed outreach, and quality psychotherapy and psychiatry services. In all our offerings, we strive to cultivate a welcoming, safe, and affirming environment that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion.

In these challenging times, where it can be difficult to find a sense of normalcy, health, equity, and racial equality, we are here to support you. It is an honor to serve you! Go Toros!

Denna Sanchez, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Director, Student Psychological Services
dsanchez@egitimmalta.com

PhD in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: College student mental health, serving marginalized and underrepresented students, People of Color (POC), identity and developing the whole person.

Lupe Herrera, Psy.D. (she/her/hers)
Licensed Psychologist, Liaison, Athletics 

Psy. D. in Clinical Psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: Student-athletes, LGBTQIA2+, Latinx, peak performance, multicultural issues, Emotion Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, grief and loss

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Katie Johnson, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Licensed Psychologist, Internship Training Coordinator

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology 

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: mood disorders, trauma-informed care, interpersonal and family relationships, multicultural counseling, women and gender-related difficulties, identity exploration, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, body-image and eating disordered behaviors. 

Jerrie Jones, ASW, MSW (she/her/hers)
Psychological Counselor, Liaison, Toro Guardian Scholars 

Master of Public Child Welfare, University of California at Los Angeles 

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: Former Foster Youth 

Theodore Moore, Psy.D. (he/him/his)
Psychological Counselor, Liaison, Black Resource Center

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adler University

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: anxiety, imposterism, depression, multicultural concerns, interpersonal and family-of-origin, culturally sensitive and relational approach.

MJ Buck, LCSW, MT-BC (she/her/hers)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Liaison, Asian & Pacific Cultural Center

Master of Social Work from Arizona State University

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: complex trauma, PTSD, attachment, international adoption, adoption, Adoptee Consciousness Model (ACM), racial and ethnic identity development, EMDR Therapy, creative arts therapies, sound medicine

Jacqueline Olazaba, AMFT, APCC (she/her/ella)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Master of Science, Counseling from California State University Fullerton

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: relationships, trauma, anxiety, depression, stress management, parenting, BIPOC community, LGBTQIA+, system-impacted individuals, first-generation, person-centered therapy, solution-focused approach, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment styles, mindfulness, and inner-child work.

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Norma Quintero, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. (she/her/ella)
Licensed Psychologist & Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Liaison, Immigrant Justice Center

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute; Master in Social Work from CSULB

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: psychodynamic and client-centered approach to multicultural and multigenerational concerns, interpersonal relationships, mood disorders, and grief.

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Khiana Thomas, LPCC (she/her/hers)
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University

Clinicial Areas of Interest/Specialty: Cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical behavior therapy, severe emotionally disturbed youth and adolescents, people of color (POC), multicultural counseling, interpersonal relationships, mood disorders, trauma-informed care, interpersonal and family relationships, self-esteem and inner child work.

Bruce Sterling Wallace II, Psy.D. (he/him/his)
Licensed Psychologist

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: psychodynamic, somatic (body-centered), relational, and attachment-oriented approaches to individual and group psychotherapy; impact of oppression/trauma on self-esteem and identity development; mental health of populations of the African Diaspora, mental health and Indigenous American populations; mental health and Latinx populations; peak performance; mindfulness, and the treatment of interpersonal issues

Joseph N. Ortego, M.D. (he/him/his)
Psychiatrist

MD in Psychiatry and Neurology from Louisiana State University of Medicine. Board Certified in Psychiatry.

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: general adult psychiatry

Liliana Arevalo Jimenez, LCSW (her/she/ella)
Toro CARE Coordinator

Master of Social Work, Cal State Dominguez Hills

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: I served as a Psychiatric Social Worker II for the Department of Mental Health for 4 years in providing mental health services to CalWORKs recipients in reducing mental health barriers to employment/school and also provided individual therapy to children. I am certified in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Seeking Safety.

Language Spoken: English, Spanish

Sergio Mancilla, Psy.D. (he/him/his)
Toro CARE Coordinator

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of La Verne

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: LGBTQ+ community, first to go to college, cultural identity, grief and loss

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Erin Bealmear (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Educator

Master of Sciences in Marital & Family Therapy at CSUDH (In Progress)

Clinical Areas of Interest/Specialty: Women’s issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, personality disorders, and art therapy.

Rochelle Edwards (she/her/hers)
Administrative Support Coordinator