I am a passionate lifelong learner who believes in the transforming power of education. I bring a wide variety of experiences in education management and leadership to my role here on campus. As a Campus Director at Strayer University, I helped open campuses in Charleston, New Orleans and Dallas. At each of these campuses, I led teams that successfully boosted enrollment by creating learning environments that motivated students to set and achieve education goals.

Powered by coffee and chocolate, I am currently wrapping up a doctoral degree in Business Leadership and Administration. Married with five children, my family and I  enjoy watching movies and exploring California.

I have experience in the fields of education, college counseling, mental health for youth, sales leadership and outreach. I have held various positions in my career including the Director of Development, Admissions and Marketing for Capistrano Valley Christian Schools; a college consultant for high school students; and a mental health professional at Seneca where I partnered with school districts to help families and children with their educational needs.

I am passionate about Future Academy’s innovative approach to education because it provides solutions to students and their families and gives them hope and success. I love guiding and encouraging students on their college journey, working with parents on campus, and connecting Futures Academy with the local community. I stay abreast of what’s new in the college world as well as serve on several boards in the local area, including the Laguna Beach Endowment Board, School Power, and National Charity League. I ran local middle school science camps, traveled on missions trips to Africa and Central America to help children, and continue to volunteer with our students and parents at non-profits throughout Orange County.  I have two Bachelor of Science degrees, a MA in Counseling, and a college counseling certification from UCI. 

I have more than a decade of experience in the sales and customer service industries, creating solutions for the California Healthcare IT market. I received my Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While raising my two daughters over the past 16 years, I have enjoyed extensive volunteer experience as a girl scout leader, a Sunday school teacher, an elementary school running coach, and a volunteer in my daughters’ schools. Together, these experiences have provided me a unique insight for any family in the midst of finding the right educational path for their children.

I am enthusiastic about connecting with other families to help them on their path to finding education solutions that are the right fit for their children and inspire a love of learning. In my free time, I am learning to surf and enjoy the occasional boba tea with my teenage daughters. 

I possess a wide variety of education experience during the past eighteen years. My tenure in education started with a budding passion for guiding students early in life to be our leaders of tomorrow. My strengths include communicating with others, leading and inspiring through example, as well as being able to quickly adapt to challenges. I enjoy working with students and their families to help them find the right path to their goals. Through teaching high school college and career preparatory courses, I was called into a leadership role where I found a new passion in education: Mentoring educators and teaching others to instill the love for learning.  

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development, Master’s Degree in Education Administration, as well as, teaching credentials in Multiple Subjects and Administrative Services. Having begun my career in the classroom, I have expanded my experience to include K-12 education, advisory roles, online education, and administrative roles in both private and public school sectors. With my extensive experience working with schools throughout Southern California, I have coordinated school wide events, department retreats, and have been an integral part of leadership teams and school growth initiatives.

You can often find me spending time with my husband and two children, listening to music, and relaxing by the pool. I am grateful for the beautiful weather we enjoy in Southern California.

I am overjoyed with the gift of serving the needs of the Futures community at the MV campus. In a previous life, I earned a Bachelors of Arts in Communication and a Masters in Writing in Media Arts, both from DePaul University. For over 12 years, I taught composition and communication courses in higher education and wrote an ebook dedicated to helping life long learners reach their academic and personal goals.

Some of my adventures include running in marathons, dabbling in theater acting and giving random people full fledged smiles. But most importantly, my greatest achievement is my family. I married my high school sweetheart and am grateful to God everyday for being a mom to three rambunctious handsome young men and a beautiful girl I call "doll". 

Ashley's goal is to empower students to help them achieve success. She has dedicated several years at the California State University system as a Graduation Specialist, Psychology Lecturer, and Associate Director of Academic Advising. Her expertise lies in providing leadership in designing, coordinating, and implementing multiple high-impact programs that promote student engagement, leadership, and persistence. As an educator, Ashley believes that it is vital to be aware of environmental cues and effective teaching strategies that will contribute to the learning and education of each student. This requires utilizing research to artfully make an impact. She believes the best educators are artists!

Ashley is a proud Golden Bear and Crimson. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Harvard University. 

June is the Director of School Quality serving all 16 + campuses in California. Prior to Futures Academy,  June was a center director for Sylvan Learning Centers, and also worked as an assistant director for an after-school program. June has over 10 years of experience working with students of all grade levels. She has a passion for education and believes each and every student deserves a chance to reach his or her fullest potential. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Liberal Studies/Teacher Education from Dominican University of California, and her multiple subjects teaching credential from California State, Los Angeles.

I received my degree from Cal State University, Northridge in Deaf Education but my first major was Psychology. I have a certification in Holistic Medicine and have been a sign language interpreter for the past three years. In addition, I am one of our campus' Mindshift Mentors and I love everyone I work with. My favorite thing about teaching is when I challenge my students to think outside the box and they blow me away by putting their own creative spin on assignments. 

My family is half European and half Armenian. I am the oldest of three siblings and have six pets.

Fun facts: I can see the ocean from my living room and patio. Also, I've known my husband since I was 11 years old.

I graduated from Stony Brook University in New York where I received my BA in English and my MA in Liberal Studies. I love teaching English/Language Arts because I love to make the subject matter exciting and applicable to my students' lives so they appreciate the power and value of literacy!

When I'm not teaching, you'll find me spending time with my daughter at the beach or the mountains, reading a good book and exercising.

Fun fact: I have a yellow lab named Nala.

I teach English, History, Psychology, Science and Math. I have a Master's Degree from Chapman University in Leadership Development and I have spent the past five years working with teenagers. My passion in life is to help teenagers become the best version of themselves and to be the successful leaders of tomorrow!

My cat is my best friend. His name is Kfir, which means 'lion cub' in Hebrew. I enjoy reading, watching movies, running and painting my nails.

Fun fact: I was a competitive swimmer for over 15 years. My favorite stroke is Butterfly.

I teach all levels of Mathematics. I am retired from the Computer Software Industry after receiving my M.S. in Mathematics from University of Illinois. The one-to-one model of learning here provides me the opportunity to share not only my education in Mathematics but also what I've learned through life. 

I have a daughter, son-in-law and two terrific grandchildren. I spend most of my free time going to my grandchildrens soccer and baseball sporting events. When I'm not doing the above, I work on solving math problems.

Fun fact: I love to joke around.

I am currently teaching English, Honors/AP Literature and Humanities courses. I taught in higher education at Saddleback College, Santa Ana College and Chapman University for the past 18 years. I am passionate about teaching because I am able to help students achieve their academic goals. 

My favorite hobbies are swimming and attending plays at the theater.

Fun fact: I enjoy long walks on the beach in the summer and skiing in the winter!

My background is in psychology/sociology and I enjoy lecturing about every aspect in both fields. I have taught every grade including undergraduates. My aspiration is to be a college counselor.

I love listening to music and every weekend is a family reunion (I have a huge family). I enjoy crafting and decorating for Halloween and Christmas.

Fun fact: I love improv!

 

Watching our students mature and thrive is the best part of being a teacher, my second career. My first was a 25-year career as proposal manager for a Fortune 500 aerospace company. That first career motivates me to teach skills--communication, collaboration and analytical thinking--that employers look for when interviewing prospective employees.

Raising two daughters was my most challenging and rewarding responsibility. Their successes and happiness have been mine. Being a grandmother is just plain entertaining; I get to have all the fun while their parents do all the work. Outside of family and students my interests are: friends, reading, movies, cooking, needlepoint, knitting and art museums.

I teach higher level math and science courses. Prior to this I used to teach in the physics department at Colorado School of Mines and worked in synthetic organic chemistry at University of Utah while working on my master's degree. My favorite part about teaching is just chatting about science. There are so many aspects of life you can describe with science from how sweating cools us down to why the stove can glow red hot.

I love golf and cooking. Surprisingly, organic chemistry and cooking seem to be related.

While attending Cogswell College in Northern California, I first discovered that I love teaching. I had already earned my Bachelor's of Fine Arts from Ringling School of Art, so it was natural for me to assist my storyboard drawing instructor. As a result, I was offered a teaching position and realized I really love to help people discover their creative spark. In my current position what I love about teaching is the opportunity to bring out each students' unique creative personality. I love to show students that any project can be achieved by setting goals and designing an incremental plan to develop a creative idea from rough draft to final masterpiece.

My husband and I have a 15 year old son and all three of us are musical. My son plays viola for a local Fountain Valley orchestra. My husband is a professional sitar player. I accompany him when we perform for Indian weddings. We play songs we have written together in English, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish and French. We also love to get out into the community and share our music at local farmers markets and festivals.

Before teaching I worked as a Wildlife Biologist. I managed native habitat restoration projects on Southern California Military bases. I started tutoring students in math and science and decided to make a career change. I love seeing students having 'a-ha' moments and getting satisfaction out of their understanding.

When I'm not teaching or tutoring, I am practicing taekwondo. I have a second-degree blackbelt and often times get to teach classes. 

Fun fact: My hidden skill is pottery. I love to make mugs that I can give to people as gifts.