Meet Our Team by Programs and Services
Lauren Ford, Ed.D, Dean of Strategic Parternships and Workforce Development
Dr. Lauren Ford currently serves as the Dean of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development at Skyline College. Throughout her 10+ years in higher education, Dr. Ford has held positions in both public and private universities and colleges in California and Texas and has focused on supporting multi-college completion program implementation, development of college access programs and PK-14 partnerships, and supporting students with post-college employment.
Dr. Ford’s dissertation was a multi-case study focused on learning from the educational experiences of college students who are former foster youth to better support equitable systemic redesign within the California Community Colleges.
Safa Zaghdoudi, Division Assistant, SPWD
Amani Goddi, Office Assistant II, SPWD
Claudia Paz, Visual Communications Coordinator, SPWD
Claudia serves as the Visual Communications Coordinator for the Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development Division at Skyline College. She earned a Master's degree in Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University in 2022, a Bachelor's degree in Visual Communications Design from San Francisco State University in 2015, and an Associate of Science in Web Design from Skyline College in 2012. She previously worked as a Student Assistant in the English Language Institute and the Marketing, Communications and Public Relations Department at Skyline College over the past years. Her expertise and passion in graphic design make her develop innovative designs for the Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development by promoting a variety of career technical education programs among Skyline College and high school students.
Walter Manuofetoa, Program Services Coordinator - Strong Workforce Program
Walter serves as the Program Services Coordinator for Strong Workforce in Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development at Skyline College. He is a former SMCCCD/Umoja/Mana student alumni, having graduated from the College of San Mateo with an Associates Degree in Communication Studies. He then earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies. Walter has previous experience working across San Mateo County within the nonprofit sector focusing on workforce development, job readiness and career training.
Angelique Fuentes, Interim Project Director, Dual Enrollment Program
Angelique Fuentes is the Interim Project Director for the Dual Enrollment Program with Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development. She has worked with Skyline College as an Energize Colleges Program Coordinator in the Science, Math, and Technology department from 2016 - 2018 and later returned to Skyline College as a Special Projects Expert in 2021 within the Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development Division. Angelique is passionate about helping students gain confidence in their academic and career pursuits and believes in a holistic approach to catering to their needs. Her goal is to help the Dual Enrollment program’s efforts towards creating a level-playing field for high school students to access higher education by providing individualized support for students and helping them navigate their own path to academic success. Angelique earned an Associate’s Degree in Music, Liberal Arts, and Psychology from Skyline College and a Bachelor’s degree in Intensive Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Darren McKay, Program Services Coordinator, Dual Enrollment Program
Darren currently serves as the Interim Program Services Coodinator for the Dual Enrollment program at Skyline College. He has worked in educational equity and youth development fields for almost two decades. Darren started his career as an academic tutor in Los Angeles spending his summers leading wilderness service-learning expeditions for Adventures Cross-Country in California, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador/Galapagos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. After five years as a Youth Enrichment Specialist at a rural non-profit in Virginia City, Darren traveled to Nepal to open up Namaste Childcare Center and volunteered at an international community in Auroville, India. Darren returned to the U.S. and began working with Lake Tahoe Community College advising low-income/first-generation TRIO students. He then took a position as a youth program specialist at Truckee Meadows Community College before starting work at the Tesla Gigafactory. Darren made the move to the Bay Area and took a position as a Case Manager at Carondelet High School assisting students with disabilities before making his move to Skyline College. He holds a M.A. in Educational Leadership from UNR and a B.A. in Science, Technology, and Media from Pitzer College. Darren lives in San Francisco, where he enjoys outdoor adventures and has recently become engaged.
Shruti Ranade, Program Services Coordinator, Dual Enrollment Program
Iveth Lopez Obeso, Counselor, Dual Enrollment Program
Iveth Lopez Obeso is the Counselor for the Dual Enrollment Program at Skyline College. Prior to this role, Iveth worked with the General Counseling Department and the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services at Skyline College during the 2023-2024 academic school year. In the recent past years, Iveth worked with the San Francisco Unified School District College and Career Team where she found her passion for supporting high school students to learn about and plan their transition into higher education. Iveth is focused on increasing access to education and resources for students and their families.
Iveth is a proud immigrant from Sinaloa, Mexico and enjoys celebrating her culture, history, and language. She attended her local community college where she earned her Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences and transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chicana/o/x Studies and Education. Later, her passion and interest in continuing to help students lead her to earn her Master of Science in College in Career Counseling from San Francisco State University.
Laura DeKelaita, Job Placement Coordinator
Nereida Angulo, Transition Coordinator
Nereida Angulo is a Transition Coordinator with the Strategic Partnership and Workforce Development Division. Within her role, she assists Adult Education students in their transition to college and connects them with appropriate resources, as well as coordinates program planning. Nereida's experience supporting students in higher education started here at Skyline College as an intern for the Career Services Center and continued within her roles as counselor at SFSU and transition navigator for the South San Francisco Adult School. A South San Francisco native, she began her post-secondary education journey at the San Mateo County Community College District, where she received her Associate's degree in Social Science. Nereida then went on to transfer to San Francisco State University where she received her B.A. in Sociology and M.S. in Counseling. She believes in accessibility for all, and loves facilitating that process for students and the community.
Martina Center-Goodman, Director, Middle College
Martina serves as the Director for the Middle College Program at Skyline College. She earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in 2019, a Bachelor’s in Child and Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University in 2017, and an Associates of Science in Early Childhood Education from Skyline College in 2002. Before becoming the Director of Middle College, Martina was a lead teacher at the Skyline College Child Development Laboratory Center for 17 years. A quote that Martina guides her students by is: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world”- Harriet Tubman
Amber Gougis, Retention Specialist, Middle College
Amber serves as the 12th Grade Retention Specialist for the Middle College Program at Skyline College. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Language Studies from UC Santa Cruz. She previously worked as a Retention Specialist at the Skyline College STEM Center.
Sindy Murillo, Retention Specialist, Middle College
Fatima Gursul, Office Assistant II, Middle College
Kinza Tariq, Counselor, Middle College
Lora E. Rasmussen, Middle College Faculty
Biography: Lora E. Rasmussen possesses an Undergraduate and Graduate Degree in History as well as a Minor in Classics. She also possesses a Single-Subject Teaching Credential for Secondary School in Social Studies. Lora has been teaching college and/or high school age for approximately 12 years, and this is her 8th year teaching U.S. History for the Middle College Program at Skyline College.
Why I Love History: To me, history is a collection of the greatest stories one can ever dive into, and it is a collection that represents a gateway to understanding the human experience at a level few other disciplines so cohesively tackle. And, in all honesty, history is FUN!
Why I Teach and the Purpose of Understanding History: In short, I teach because I truly love teaching, because I believe the understanding of history is critical to creating a better world for both individuals and the global community, and finally, because it is the vehicle I have chosen to contribute to my community.
More specifically, I believe that the present is a creation of the past, and the future unfolds as a fusion between both the past and the present.
No culture, society, or event occurred or exists in utter isolation; all are interconnected. As members of a global community, it is essential to train our minds to critically study the past so that we will achieve a better understanding of ourselves and others and thus, we will be able to create a tomorrow that is better than today. For all of these reasons, the study of history is an indispensable practice for every individual.
For me, the ultimate purpose in teaching history is to empower students in terms of historical knowledge and discourse, as well as develop cross-curricular, life-long tools of critical analysis and thinking to promote self as well as civic advocacy. It is the history teacher's privilege and responsibility to kindle in the minds and hearts of students both an interest in, and the understanding of, key cultural and political developments of societies and exchanges between civilizations. The goal is not only to familiarize students with historical phenomena, but also to teach them how to analyze extant evidence and reach their own conclusions based on research and investigation.
Karen Vanuska, Middle College Instructor
Jessica Belluomini, Middle College Instructor
Michael Stultz, Middle College Instructor
Michael teaches 11th grade English at the Middle College Program at Skyline College Dual Enrollment Program. A 25-year educator, Michael earned a Bachelor's of Science in English Education at Ball State University (IN) and a Master's in English at Butler University (IN). He has taught in English and composition programs in California, Spain, New Jersey, and Indiana. He moonlights as a part-time editor and author of works on education, poetry, literacy, and philosophy. A retired racing cyclist, you may see his bike about campus.