The TRIO Office is in the Heiner Building room 301B, and we're open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. To get support and answers to your questions, please use the links below to schedule an appointment with our staff or send us an email. For urgent walk-in assistance, please visit the Orca Central front desk to ask about availability.
If you’d like to connect with a specific TRIO staff member, please read on to identify which member of our team can best address your needs.
Joelle Weisel (they/them), Student Completion Coach
jweisel@whatcom.edu
360-383-3132
Schedule an appointment with me: https:// .com/jweisel/30min?month=2023-01
I help with: Getting started at WCC, class registration, degree planning, study skills, accessing funding and resources, university applications and much more!
About me: As an Armenian-American, I hold my heritage near to my heart and spend my free time participating in cultural activities, including learning how to play the Duduk and speak Western Armenian. I grew up in a multicultural, neurodivergent household and graduated from Boise State University. I love helping students reach their goals at WCC and prepare for the next steps on their life’s journey.
Christopher (Chris) Sanders (He/His – They/Them), Financial Coach
csanders@whatcom.edu
360-383-3145
Schedule an appointment with me: https://calendly.com/csanders-wcctrio/30min?month=2023-05&date=2023-05-08
I help with: Financial aid, scholarships, budgeting, employment, Passport to College, and anything else related to money
About me: After nearly 20 years in business and customer service management, I decided to return to college to further my education. My interest in computers and technology led me to pursue two associate degrees in information technology before continuing on to a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Operations Management. During my time in school, I was active in student leadership with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work and education. Through that work, I spent time developing relationships with community and technical college multicultural departments across Washington, visiting local area Sikh temples to talk about higher education and cultural issues, interning for the Students of Color Conference, and working to increase access to higher education for underrepresented populations. As a first generation American, I appreciate and recognize the importance of celebrating and preserving cultural identity. I spent seven days a week in school as a child (five at a traditional public school and the weekends at a foreign language school) - yikes! In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors as much as possible. Biking, hiking, or just leisurely strolls through parks or trails are favorite pastimes. I am also a fan of reading, audiobooks, documentaries, cooking, or just spending a quiet evening with my partner and my cat.
Athena Roth (she/her), Director
aroth@whatcom.edu
360-383-3134
Schedule an appointment with me: https://calendly.com/aroth-trio/30min
I help with: University transfer, Getting started at WCC.
About me: Athena joined TRiO in April 2023 and is grateful to be a part of the team. Before coming to Whatcom Community College, she worked in higher education developing and administering programs that connected a wide range of stakeholders, including international groups, youths, and elders, along with student staff and educators-in-training.The creative arts have been a lifelong passion, including teaching dance for a school in Yellowstone National Park, and touring in a mother/daughter cabaret show. Athena also enjoys quilting, bookbinding, and outdoor adventures with her husband and son.
