Meet ATPA Coaches and Staff
ATPA's director, program coordinators, and full-time academic coaches are available to help you connect to MC's academic coaching program.
Email: nik.sushka@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-479-1039 (cell)
Office Location: Rockville Campus, MK 342
Email: marie.arthus@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 301-802-1330
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SB 102A
Coaching Mindset:
To equip students with knowledge and resources to help them succeed at Montgomery College and beyond.Defining Coaching Moment:
I find listening to student testimonies on reaching their educational goals and expressing gratitude to ATPA for their success to be very fulfilling.
Biography:
My professional background is Counseling and Social Work. I am currently working as a program coordinator for ATPA.While I Was in College:
I was an F-1/ international college student who had very little knowledge about the College experience. It was very challenging in many ways. I surrounded myself with a group of friends, staff, and professors who were very supportive. Having their support was the key to my success in College.
Hobbies:
Music, writing, wellness, travelling, coaching, literacy, education, humanitarian effortsEducation:
MA, Eastern UniversityBA, Eastern University
Email: Soheila.ebrahimian@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-678-7488
Office Location: Germantown Campus, BE 119
Email: Raymond.Fermo@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-749-1837
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SC 217
Coaching Mindset:
"There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them."
Defining Coaching Moment:
The first time a student told me that she got into the program of her dreams at her
top choice of schools, thanks to a recommendation I wrote for her.
Biography:
I received my bachelor's degree in Physics and Computer Science from the University
of Florida (Go Gators!) and my doctorate of philosophy in Physics from the University
of Maryland (Go Terps!). Since then, much of my career has been in research, as a
theoretical plasma physicist, where I got to study space weather, solar physics, and
the farthest reaches of the solar system explored by man. I've been at Montgomery
College since 2017, and now I am a full time Embedded Coach for the Achieving the
Promise Academy, serving Physics and Engineering students across all campuses of MC.
While I was in College:
I fulfilled my grandfather's dream of completing university. He left his father's
farm because he promised his mother that he would be the first in his family to finish
high school. He never finished college himself, but through his example, he instilled
a love for learning into his children and grandchildren.
Hobbies:
Music (all genres), sports (especially playing tennis), getting people excited about physicsEducation:
PhD, University of MarylandBS, University of Florida
Email: andrea.herman@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-676-0145
Office Location: Rockville Campus, SB 102B
Coaching Mindset:
Building trust and connection is the foundation for taking small steps toward big, bold goals.Defining Coaching Moment:
At the very start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I helped one of my students apply for much-needed emergency funding. Without that financial support, she would not have been able to continue her studies.
Biography:
I am a lover of stories, so it's not surprising that I've worked as a book editor, a writing tutor, and an English professor. As an academic coach, I listen when my students share stories of failure and success, barriers and big dreams. What I say, and what we set out to do together, can change the trajectory of their lives.While I was in college:
I began working with my student peers as a tutor in the Writing Center and as a teaching
apprentice for ENGL 102. I also did research at a local Montessori school, volunteered
as an adult literacy tutor, and worked in the campus dining hall.
Hobbies:
Swimming, camping, running, playing board games
Education:
MA, Georgetown UniversityBA, Ithaca College
Email: theo.holt@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-931-8365
Office Location: Germantown Campus, BE 111
Office Location: Rockville Campus, MK 342
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, P4 110
Who are MC's academic coaches?
Meet some of the academic coaches that support students here at Montgomery College. Our coaches include MC alumni, cancer researchers, entrepreneurs, computer scientists, nurses, engineers, high school teachers, a tattoo artist, an opera singer, published writers, and so much more!
When you request a personal academic coach for course success, our staff will get to know more about your academic and professional goals and connect you to an academic coach who can help you achieve them.
If you're in a class with an embedded academic coach for course success, you'll have access to their specialized academic support for the entire semester. They can also connect you to more academic support resources for that subject or even career development opportunities in that field.
Coaching Mindset
Coaching is enabling a student to realize their capabilities and building upon them, while showing them that they are not alone.Defining Coaching Moment
I worked with a student who struggled at midterm and passed the course with an A because she continued to attend the study sessions.
Biography
I am an English professor in the Montgomery College English & Reading Department at the Germantown Campus and at Hood College. In addition to embedded coaching, I work in the Germantown WRL Center.While in College
While in college, I raised three sons as a single mother. I was part of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and National Society of Leadership and Success.
Hobbies
Helping students succeed; Writing poetry; Spending time with my sons and dogsEducation
AA, Montgomery College
BA, English major and Journalism minor, University of Maryland University College
MA, English and Creative Writing, Southern New Hampshire University
Email: jane.smith@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-753-4607
Coaching Mindset:
I believe that guiding students to make their own decisions and helping them to become
self-advocates are invaluable life skills.
Defining Coaching Moment:
The best moments of coaching for me are when my students transfer or graduate from
MC because it's their reward for hard work.
Biography:
My career as a business development professional in Information Technology was very
rewarding. One of the best parts of my career was experiencing the rapid evolution
of technology.
While I was in college:
My best college experience was as a student at MC. I attended the UMD as a freshman
but didn't take my education seriously, until I was academically dismissed. MC became
a bridge to academic success!
Hobbies:
Voracious reader, golfing, knittingEducation:
MBA, University of Maryland Global CampusBA, The American University
AA, Montgomery College
Biography
I have 12 years of instructional and administrative leadership at community colleges
in Iowa and Ohio. I enjoy connecting students, faculty, and staff to internal and
external resources that help edify our learning community. As a life-long learner,
I'm committed to learning from our students insight and experiences.
While I was in College:
I'm a proud First Generation college student, Pell Grant, and Work-Study alumnus!
I really enjoyed my college experience and thankful for all of the help I received
to graduate.
Hobbies
Golf (Playing and Course Maintenance), Travel, and Performing ArtsEducation
MA, The Ohio State UniversityBSS Ohio University
Email: Sarah.Bluth@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 301-602-5533
Email: vani.chauhan@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-478-8816
Email: Juan.EsparzaTrujillo@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 202-495-8137
Email: Elizabeth.Feldman@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 301-646-8551
Email: Ved.Gupta@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 202-495-9052
Email: damon.hillman@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-478-8811
Biography
I have a broad background in physics, engineering, and law.Hobbies
Reading, TravelEducation
BS, Alabama A&M University
MS, Fisk University
JD, Miles Law School
Email: Gail.Hoelscher@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 301-717-0798
Email: Sheryl.johnson@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 301-367-5747
Email: Hon.Lam@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 301-602-6479
Email: Sandra.Menzies@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-328-4413
Coaching Mindset
“Students are whole and capable. My role is to help them see this for themselves.”
Defining Coaching Moment:
Coaching a student who previously was on academic probation achieve 4.0 while in the
ATPA program. Being the sounding board and providing support.
Biography
Sandy has held quality-related and project management positions at Biocon, Inc.; Otsuka
Maryland Research Institute; TherImmune Research Corporation; and the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Sandy is also a yoga instructor, a certified coach, and a mindfulness
advocate and practitioner.
While in College:
I worked and attended classes. I put myself through college. It was hard, yet taking one day, one assignment at a time allowed me to succeed.
Hobbies
Yoga, mindfulness, biking, running, arts and crafts, speakingEducation
AAS, Blue Ridge Community CollegeBS, Biology, James Madison University
MS, Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University
Coaching Mindset
Coaching is essential to academic and personal success. One must never stop learning and coaching, because life never stops teaching.
Defining Coaching Moment
One of the most impactful coaching moments for me was when a member of my team shared
that they would not have made it through their first year at Montgomery College if
I had not been their guide on the side.
Biography
I am a facilitator of learning for students in grades PreK-20. As an educator with
over 30 years of experience, I cherish this opportunity to learn from, learn with,
and teach students the importance of raising their critical consciousness to have
a greater impact locally, nationally, and globally.
Hobbies
I love spending time with my family and especially enjoy the beach!
Education
Ed.D, Bowie State University
MA, Bowie State University
BS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Phone: 301.529.4906
Coaching Mindset:
Allow space to give students' personal growth to lead the coaching conversation - Listen, be a resource and an advocateDefining Coaching Moment:
Coaching one of my students to overcome a fear of public speaking to observe her become confident, assertive and a self advocate.
Biography:
I am an Academic Coach and teach Accounting when my time permits. I am also a real estate finance and development professional and run an affordable housing business. I am a member of Together Women Rise and Vision on Africa.While I Was in College:
I participated in community building plans and activities. I co-founded the African Students Association at GW University.
Hobbies:
International Folk Art, Traveling, Cooking and ReadingEducation:
MBA, University of RochesterBA, George Washington University
BA, American University in Paris
Credit and Real Estate Development, Citigroup Center of Global Finance
