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Meet our new School of Education advising team

At the CU Boulder School of Education, we are excited to welcome our new advising team. Meet them below, and please join us in welcoming them to our school and community.

 

Vikki Otero
Vikki Otero, Interim Director of Student Success and Advising

With nearly two decades of experience in higher education and student/youth mentoring, Vikki has filled multiple roles in transition while pursuing their Master of Arts in Higher Education. Vikki is passionate about improving access to, success in, and outcomes after higher education for marginalized students. Vikki holds a BA in anthropology from Rice University and a JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

Fun fact: Vikki is a Latinx first-generation college student, and some of their passions include their dog, Sparkle, The Phantom Tollbooth, David Bowie, The Facts of Life, and the Irish National Rugby Team!

 

 

 

 

Sat Sonecha
Sat Sonecha, Academic Advisor

Sat Sonecha previously worked as an academic advisor at Houston Community College. He has an MA in Psychology (with an emphasis on behavioral neuroscience and education) from the University of Houston. His current skill sets include academic advising, teaching, and educational leadership. Outside of work, Sat loves playing drums, watching sports, spending time with his friends/family, and eating out at local restaurants. He also looks forward to attending some CU basketball and football games. GO BUFFS! 

Fun fact: Sat loves to play the drums, eat chicken wings, and explore the CU campus (he recently moved to Colorado from Texas)!

 

 

 

Barbara Mendez
Barbara Mendez, Academic Advisor

Barbara has a diverse professional background in higher education. She lived and taught English in Paris, France for many years and enjoys learning about other cultures. She is an artist and “Altarista” and seasonally displays her work in museums and libraries. She is from Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona and completed her degrees at Colorado State University and Northern Arizona University as a first-generation student. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, discovering Colorado and spending time with friends.

Fun fact: Even when Barbara had a car, she hitchhiked across Europe, more than once, for the adventure!

 

 

 

Sam Long

Sam Long, Academic Advisor

Sam previously worked in Residence Life before joining the School of Education. She obtained her BA in Sociology with a Women and Gender Studies minor from Sonoma State University in 2018. Born and raised in California, she is happy to be in a place with seasons! She is finishing up her MA in Higher Education with the School of Education and is happy to be supporting the school that she has learned so much from during her time here. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, baking, and playing with her dog.

Fun fact: Sam is a registered yoga teacher. On her days off, you can usually find her sleeping in, cuddling with her dog, catching up on her favorite shows and baking or cooking some fun new recipe!

 

 

 

Natalie Koster

Natalie Koster, Graduate Programs Coordinator

Natalie previously worked in the Office of Admissions at CU Boulder, and is also a proud CU Boulder alumna (International Affairs/Germanic Studies). Outside of work, Natalie enjoys living the best life of a kindergartner with her son (Simon) as well as playing board games and hosting elaborate DIY dinner parties. She has only ever run the Bolder Boulder in full costume.

Fun fact: Natalie is bilingual (English and German) and is raising her son bilingually (her husband is chugging along with Duolingo).

 

 

 


Meet the faculty, staff, students and friends who make the School of Education what it is today at colorado.edu/education/people.