Crisis Care
For Life Threatening Emergencies:
Call 911
Or go to your nearest Emergency Room
_________________________________
For other crisis needs 24/7:
- Call UCI Counseling Center at (949) 824-6457
♦ Or 1-866-817-9842
♦ Text “Home” to 741741
- Call or text 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8
- Call UCI Campus Police at
(949) 824-5223
Support Staff
Tracee Dones
Assistant to the Counseling Center Director
Jamie Jones
Counseling Center Coordinator
Rosa Elena Leon
Administrative Assistant
Sofia Men
Administrative Assistant
Nam Nghiem
Credentialing and Compliance Manager
Jenna Ryan
Financial Analyst 2
Olivia Sheppard
Clinical Applications and Information Systems Analyst
Victoria Tibbetts
Administrative Assistant
Heather Schmidt, LCSW
Front Desk Manager/Assistant to the Clinical Services Directors
Jenna Ryan
Financial Analyst 2
BIO
Hello Anteater Community, my name is Jenna Ryan, and I am thrilled to be the Financial Analyst 2 with the great team at the UCI Counseling Center.
My journey in higher education began more than 14 years ago at the College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with students, faculty, and staff in the lively college environment. I am a fierce advocate for mental health wellness and services and am delighted to support a critical resource on the UCI Campus.
I love traveling with my family, taking long walks with our sassy golden retriever Rose, and enjoying a good meal surrounded by friends.
Elizabeth Perez
Temporary Front Desk Assistant
BIO
Hello and welcome to the UCI Counseling Center! My name is Elizabeth Perez and I am currently studying to be a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. I have always had a passion in helping people and as a front desk staff I am grateful to be a part of this team. The UCI Counseling Center has great mental health support and resources for students that may need assistance. Please don’t hesitate to reach out! We are here to help!
Tracee Dones
Assistant to the Counseling Center Director
BIO
Coming Soon
Heather Schmidt, LCSW
Front Desk Manager/Assistant to the Clinical Services Directors
BIO
It’s an honor to work at the UCI Counseling Center. Prior to my current role, I worked as a Clinical Social Worker here at the Counseling Center for five years. I have also held previous Program Coordinator and management roles in several different community-based organizations. I am passionate about improving access to mental health care and continuous quality improvement of our systems to enhance the student experience. I look forward to assisting you!
BA in Sociology, Biola University; Master’s in Social Work, Cal State University Long Beach
Jamie Jones
Counseling Center Coordinator
BIO
Jamie Jones is the Counseling Center Coordinator and has been with UCI since 2004. She provides administrative support to the Counseling Center staff and is happy to assist students, staff and others with questions regarding the services offered by the Counseling Center. Jamie is also Green Dot certified and believes that UCI can be a leader in reducing violence on college campuses using proactive violence prevention strategies and good bystander intervention. Jamie also facilitates HealthRHYTHMS drum circles for various departments on campus for teambuilding and stress reduction. She has a B.B.A in Marketing from Texas Tech University and has many years of experience working in Academic settings here and abroad. She has also held positions working for large corporations and small businesses. She is happy to use her organizational, business and support skills to assist students and staff here at UCI.
Sofia Men
Administrative Assistant
BIO
Hello and welcome to the UCI Counseling Center, Anteaters! As a proud UCI alumna with a BA in Psychology, I am honored to serve you. As a first-generation, low-income, Asian American, navigating higher education was difficult for me, however, the counseling center provided me with the guidance and resources that I needed to thrive and succeed. I was able to learn crucial skills to navigate my interpersonal relationships, overcome anxiety, and healthy coping skills to deal with stressful situations. I am eager to help other students who may also be struggling. I feel so privileged to be able to give back to the campus and community that transformed my life. Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding our counseling services or campus life, I would love to help you!
Rosa Elena Leon
Administrative Assistant
BIO
Welcome to the UCI Counseling Center!
My name is Rosa Elena Leon and I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing team. I graduated in 2020 from California State University, Chico with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. I am looking forward to continuing my education and playing a part in helping guide students. As a first-generation student myself, I understand the many transitions and obstacles many of us have had to face. The idea of counseling can be daunting to some but here at UCI we are more than ready to provide support and resources to anyone.
By being a part of this team, I am here to help eradicate any negative stigmatization regarding mental health and outreach resources. Please never hesitate to seek help.
Outside of work, I enjoy being active outdoors, hanging out with friends/family, and watching LA Galaxy soccer games.
Olivia Sheppard
Clinical Applications and Information Systems Analyst
BIO
Hi all! I’m Olivia, Clinical Applications and Information Systems Analyst here at the UCI Counseling Center. After a few years developing a background in social services and community healthcare, I’m thrilled to be back on a college campus. I have a strong appreciation for public institutions, especially universities, where the density of resources is unparalleled and my value of information and resource accessibility is shared. It’s important to me that students from all backgrounds feel comfortable with and entitled to every resource the university has to offer. I look forward to contributing to this and to students’ academic and personal success through the work we do here at the Counseling Center. Zot.
Victoria Tibbetts
Administrative Assistant
BIO
As one of the Counseling Center’s front desk staff, I enjoy getting to interact with all the students who call us or come through our doors, and to help them find the type of services that are right for them. Feel free to reach out to us if you’re ever in need of a little help; that’s what we’re here for!
Nam Nghiem
Credentialing and Compliance Manager
BIO
Hi Anteaters! It is a privilege for me to serve the UCI community. Ever since I was young I always dreamed of attending this prestigious school and now I get the opportunity to be on campus every school day! I am an exercise science graduate from CSULB and love to do fitness activities such as table tennis, hiking, and lifting weights. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this community! Be sure to use the counseling center because it is an amazing resource for all students and staff!