WOW Staff
Joy Vickers
WOW Lead Admissions Counselor for Delta College
(209) 667-3959 | jvickers1@csustan.edu
Delta College WOW Interest Form
Joy Vickers has over 15 years of experience working in higher education. She has worked to assist transfer students through the education process in various capacities, including evaluations, admissions and outreach, academic advising, career counseling, and teaching a transfer success seminar course.
Joy completed her Master's of Arts in Education with a concentration in Counseling & Student Personnel, and Bachelor's of Arts in Liberal Studies with a minor in Deaf Education at San Jose State University. She has also completed a Certificate of Achievement in American Sign Language from Vista Community College (now called Berkeley City College).
Joy did not have the traditional transfer experience. She started at a four-year institution directly after high school and tried living in the dorms for one semester but discovered she was not quite ready to be away from home. So she enrolled in the Peralta Community College District in the Bay Area and "bounced" between three community colleges to complete her general education and certificate before returning to San Jose State University. Joy understands what it is like to be a non-traditional college student who has attended multiple institutions and how that can add time to completing a degree and confusion to learning new campus processes and policies. She hopes to serve as inspiration that it is not always "how you start, but that you finish."
Vanessa Alvarez
WOW Admissions Counselor for Modesto Junior College
(209) 667-3817 | valvarez5@csustan.edu
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Vanessa Alvarez is a dedicated Admissions Counselor at Stanislaus State, where she contributes her expertise and passion for higher education. Her love for higher education and access to education began when she became a University Ambassador for the department of Student Recruitment and Outreach Services. Her favorite part as a University Ambassador was being able to provide the tools to navigate college to all prospective students, but specifically for first-generation college students.
A first-generation college graduate herself, Vanessa earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from California State University, Stanislaus in 2017. Motivated by her own educational journey and passion for higher education, she continued her academic pursuit with a Master’s degree in Counseling (Student Affairs and College Counseling) from California State University, Fresno. With her passion for helping others and love for higher education, Vanessa is committed to supporting students and fostering an environment of growth and opportunity. Her personal and professional experiences continue to inspire and guide her in making a meaningful impact at Stanislaus State.
Elizabeth Monroe
WOW Admissions Counselor for Merced Community College
(209) 664-6741 | emonroe@csustan.edu
Merced College WOW Interest Form
Elizabeth Monroe is a proud Central Valley native dedicated to guiding students through the transfer process and helping them achieve their higher education goals. As a former transfer student herself, she understands the challenges and opportunities that come with navigating the path to a four-year university.
Elizabeth began her academic journey at Modesto Junior College before transferring to UC Santa Barbara where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She later pursued a Pupil Personnel Services Credential at Stan State, further strengthening her commitment to student success.
Her career began in San Diego as a high school counselor. She later returned to the Central Valley to join UC Merced’s Admissions Office, where she served as Lead Transfer Evaluator and Articulation Officer. Since 2019, Elizabeth has been part of Stan State, working exclusively with transfer students as the Transfer Specialist for the ASPIRE grant and now with the Office of Admissions.
With experience supporting students at every educational level, Elizabeth is passionate about expanding access to higher education. She believes that with the right support and resources, every student has the potential to reach their academic goals and thrive in their educational journey.
Updated: November 03, 2025