Caring Campus Members
Bridge Builders
Rubina Ghazaryan
Mane Atanesyan
Arpi Amirian
Greta Hovsepian
Arlet Markarian
Lori Milligan
Iveta Vardanyan
CARE Pilots
Irina Shumakov
Patrik Namagardi
Leticia Estrada
Terry Flexser
Alissa Magana
Ilona Movsesyan
Iveta Ovsepyan
ChatGCC
Agnes Eisaghalian
Sevada Avakian
Patricia Chamroonrat
Tirsa Chavez
Silva Gharabetian
Talia Guiragossian
Zelma Jacobs
Natalie Landivar
Nonah Maffitt
Groups & Mission
Bridge Builders
The Bridge Builders Team is dedicated to improving the student journey and overall
experience at Glendale Community College. Our mission is to support smooth student
transitions, enhance campus navigation, and build a strong sense of belonging for
all students-traditional, online, and adult learners. We do this by improving access
to clear, accurate, and user-friendly information, listening directly to student voices,
and collaborating across departments to create meaningful connections, effective communication,
and supportive campus services.
Our team conducted a campus signage audit and removed outdated signage to improve
navigation. We installed “Steps to Success” signage in key locations, which highlights
important student resources, academic deadlines, and ways to stay engaged in campus
life. We also added elevator signage with QR codes to provide clear visual guidance
and quick access to campus map and offices. Additionally, we established a Signage
Committee which include administrators and managers to ensure that these efforts continue
and remain up to date.
CARE Pilots
Our mission is to strengthen student success and employee effectiveness at Verdugo
and Garfield by centering student voices, identifying evolving student needs, and
building supportive, inclusive systems of care. Through intentional listening, collaborative
problem-solving, and innovative initiatives such as pilot navigators for welcome events
and comprehensive onboarding for new employees. We aim to improve the student college
experience, enhance campus belonging, and inform college administration with the knowledge
and tools needed to better support students. By embedding Caring Campus principles
into our practices, we strive to create a welcoming, informed, and student-centered
campus culture across all semesters.
We assisted with the Fall First Week event for students and assisted students in finding
their classes or the resources they need. We helped set up stations around campus
and pass out waters, candy, GCC swag, maps, and resource sheets. Through this participation,
we were able to talk to students and see what they want to see, the challenges they
face, and any issues they see with getting started with the semester or finding their
classes. During our Caring Campus retreat we were able to be a part of the budget
talk with Dr. Andriassian and discuss what funding is needed and move forward to establishing
a budget for Caring Campus.
ChatGCC
ChatGCC was created to centralize shared departmental knowledge and strengthen warm
handoffs between faculty, staff, and students. We have developed a Resource Guide that’s accessible to faculty and staff that consolidates information gathered directly
from campus departments through an interview process. This resource includes key services,
direct contact information, and practical insights that are not always available on
the public-facing website, with the goal of improving efficiency, accuracy, and consistency
in how employees support students.
