On the 21 of November, Central Oregon Community College held an advising extravaganza featuring presentations with tables promoting clubs, education programs, and information on career paths.
Careers in Psychology Presentation
The main presentation shared information on careers in psychology and students’ ideas about what they have learned within the program. Sara Henson, a human development professor and Andria Woodell, a psychology professor, both at COCC, led the presentation, advising on careers in psychology, skills needed for the workforce, and how to take opportunities within the field.
Greg Pereira, COCC President, stopped by to listen to the presentation and take part in the voices being shared within the community. Pereira shared, “I was really curious to come out and see and meet some of the students and really show support for our faculty, who are doing an incredible job of piloting new ways to try and connect.”
Early Childhood Education
The Early Childhood and Education Club is for those intending on entering a career related to early childhood education or those looking for a relaxing time to do activities like arts and crafts.
Brianna Merkely, one of the club leaders, explained, “(We) learn what it’s like to be a kid so we can prepare to be educated and understand what the kids like these days.” The club aims to foster creativity and provide a stress-free environment for members to express their inner child. An exciting and upcoming activity is a movie night, showing “Zootopia 2”, on December 3.
Behavioral Health Club
The Behavioral Health Club has a bright mission to educate members about community behavioral health and broaden knowledge. Jordan Stephens, club leader, shared how joining this club would allow for “an extra opportunity to learn a little bit more about what’s going on in the community, and even be able to do some community outreach.”
Even if you are not a part of the program, there is still a benefit to learning about the logistics of addiction. Currently, the club members are working on a food drive to help with the stresses of the holiday season.
To get involved with the drive, meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, starting at noon, in Modoc 101.
Central Oregon Psychology Enthusiasts club
The Central Oregon Psychology Enthusiasts club caters to students interested in psychology and social sciences. Exploring the inner workings of psychology, the COPE club features a weekly Journal Club that discusses articles or books related to the field.
Kyly Winter, the club president, shared his interest in becoming president and shared, “I started to become passionate about trying to provide that space for other people and making sure it could continue. I think what we do is valuable in the sense that a lot of people don’t have a community to do so.” Winter described an event they are sponsoring, the Fall Campus Showcase, which presents psychology student projects, resources, and therapy dogs!
COCC Health and Human Performance Program
The health and human performance program offers at least 20 classes with a variety of options to choose from; Jenny Cruickshank highlighted courses that were offered during the winter term, including tai chi, skiing, and Pilates. Cruickshank, a professor of health and human performance, stated that “our physical health is tied to our mental health.” She believes everyone at COCC should take at least one exercise class to keep their bodies nourished and active.
Deschutes County Environmental Health
From food and water safety to air quality and animal exposures, the Deschutes County Environmental Health ensures the community stays safe through inspections, outreach, and education. Tia Lattanzio, a registered environmental health specialist, described the wide scope of her work protecting public health as an important one. Lattanzio emphasized that environmental health has a wide variety of skills needed for the career path, explaining, “Environmental health is broad… we accept people from all types of backgrounds and sciences.”
Deschutes County Behavioral Health Services
Jordan Avila, forensic peer support specialist, and Callahan Fastelin, peer support specialist at the Deschutes County Behavioral Health Services stabilization center, shared how their roles were built upon personal lived experiences. Working across different teams, they provide support for individuals in crisis, bridge gaps in treatment, and offer guidance rooted in recovery.
As Avila explained, “You’d be surprised how much just lived experience goes when it comes to working with other people.” Both emphasized that peer support is a growing field, offering students a meaningful entry point into behavioral health careers and a chance to connect personal experience with professional impact.
Thrive Central Oregon
Maya Jaquez, bilingual community outreach advocate, stated Thrive Central Oregon’s mission of connecting people with essential resources –most commonly affordable housing. “At least 80% of what we do is actually connections towards sustainable, affordable housing purposes,” said Juquez. To support this organization, www.thrivecentraloregon.com/donate has many options for different types of donations.
