We are located on the 2nd floor of the Saulsbury Campus Center
Virtual Advising Hours are Mon.-Thurs. 8a-7p, Fri. 8a-5p and Sat. 9a-12p.
Call us at 432-335-6433, email us at advising@odessa.edu or contact your Academic Success Coach directly.
- Email from your OC email account (@myoc.odessa.edu)
- Include your full first and last name.
- Include your 7-digit student ID number.
- Include detailed class information: semester, prefix, number, and section (17/FA, 1st 8-weeks, ENGL 1301.F01C).
Student Completion Secretary
Miranda Ramirez, Secretary to Advising, joined the Odessa College team in the Spring of 2023. She was born and raised in Odessa and attended Odessa College to receive her associates degree in General Studies. She always had an interest in skincare, so she also obtained her Esthetician license. In her free time, she enjoys baking, being with family and friends, traveling, attending concerts and playing with her dog Otis. She has a passion for helping others and is excited to help guide students with their college journey!
Phone: 432-335-6433 | Email: mkramirezodessa.edu
BAAS Program Coordinator
Lisa Aguilar, Lead Academic Success Coach, BAAS, joined the OC Family in February 2023. She received her Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences at Odessa College and went on to get her Master’s in Business Administration. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 15 years and their 3 children. Traveling, shopping and spending time outdoors are some of her favorite things to do. Lisa is passionate about helping students succeed and is looking forward to assisting and guiding them through their college journey!
Phone: 432-335-6461 | Email: laguilar@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Meet your Academic Success Coaches!
School of Health Sciences
Iris Castro, Lead Academic Success Coach, Received her M.A degree in Administrative Leadership from Angelo State University . She graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso with a B.I.S in Early Childhood Education and received an A.A.T in Special Education with an emphasis in 4-8 grade from El Paso Community College. Iris is from El Paso, TX (Go Miners!), and has been with OC since March 2021. Her favorite thing about Odessa College is working one-on-one with students and helping them accomplish their professional and personal goals. Iris shares that she did not have the best college experience. She recalls visiting numerous offices within student services back in her college days, and unfortunately, never receiving the best guidance. Therefore, her goal is to help and guide students in ways in which their OC student experience is nice and smooth. Iris shares the following words of encouragement with her students: " Odessa College should always be your Safe Space, and as your academic success coach, I aim to be your number one mentor. Never let anyone or anything define your value or limit your dream." "¡Sí se puede!"
Phone: 432-335-6846 | Email: icastro@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
London Gordon, Academic Success Coach, is originally from Houston, TX, and joined OC in the Summer of 2021. She received her bachelor’s degree at Texas Tech University in General Studies with an emphasis in Human Resources Management, Communications Studies, and Psychology. London then obtained her Master’s degree in Communication Studies at Texas Tech University. Go Red Raiders! For fun, she loves to explore new coffee shops, go shopping, travel, and try new foods/restaurants! She is excited to help lead students in being successful at Odessa College!
Phone: 432-335-6745 | Email: lgordon@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Ramsha Javed, Academic Success Coach, joined Odessa College July 2022. Born and raised in Texas, she obtained her Esthetician License in Midland, Texas and went on to receive an Associates in Biology and General Studies from Odessa College. She then moved to Boston to receive her Bachelor's in Health Science at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. It is from there she is also currently completing her Masters of Public Health online. Ramsha recently moved back to Odessa to be closer to her husband and family, after getting married in March 2022. Her husband, Aun is a Physician at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center of the Permian Basin. Ramsha enjoys spending time with family, shopping, trying new restaurants and cuisines, attending community events, and learning about new hobbies when she isn't working or studying. Ramsha is excited to help students at Odessa College work towards their goals.
Phone: 432-335-6438 | Email: rjaved@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
School of Liberal Arts & Education
Alyssa Hinojos, Lead Academic Success Coach, Alyssa is a native Odessan who currently serves as Lead Academic Success Coach for the School of Liberal Arts & Education at Odessa College. She has worked at OC for eight years and loves serving the students in the Odessa community. Alyssa is a graduate of Odessa High School and Odessa College where she was an active member of each cheer squad. She earned her Associate’s Degree from Odessa College and Bachelor’s Degree from UT Permian Basin. Alyssa continued her higher education earning her Master’s Degree in Education from Sul Ross State University. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys volunteering for Keep Odessa Beautiful, Special Olympics West Texas, the OC Wrangler Food Pantry and Wrangler Pantry Garden.
Phone: 432-335-6823 | Email: ahinojos@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Isabel Quintela started her higher education at Odessa College and was a transfer student to The University of Texas Permian Basin. She got her Bachelor’s Degree in Children & Family Studies and is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She taught Early Education for four years, then worked with a community outreach program at UTPB called the First 5 Program. Throughout her career path, she has grown a passion for encouraging the community on the importance of higher education. In her free time, she likes to watch movies, play Mario Kart with her husband and son, and go out for evening walks.
Phone: 432-335-6657 | Email: iquintela@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
April Linares, Academic Success Coach, participated in Upward Bound and completed Dual Credit classes through Odessa College during her high school years at Odessa High School. She started her academic journey as a first-generation student at Odessa College in 2012 while also working as a student worker for the Advising Center. She graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2014. April then transferred to the University of Texas Permian Basin, where she graduated with her Bachelor’s in Criminology and a minor in Sociology. She is currently working on her Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration through UTPB. She loves to spend her free time with family and friends. She looks forward to assisting students through their academic journey and celebrating their educational goals alongside them.
Phone: 432-335-6877 | Email: alinares@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
School of Business & Industry
Destiny Singh, Lead Academic Success Coach, began her career at Odessa College in June of 2019. Destiny grew up in Downey, California and moved to Texas, in 2017, where she attended Odessa College as a student herself. After earning an associate’s degree in Speech and Rhetorical Studies, she then completed her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology at the University of Texas Permian Basin. Before joining OC, Destiny worked as a behavioral therapist for children on the autism spectrum, banking, and in the mortgage industry. On her free time, she enjoys reading, finding new restaurants, traveling and spending time with her wonderful pet family.
Phone: 432-335-6756 | Email: dsingh@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Rodney Hernandez, Academic Success Coach, began his career at Odessa College in 1988, having served the college for the past 33 years in various Student Services areas, including part-time Faculty Adjunct for the Psychology department. Although native to West Texas, Rodney grew up in Southern California and Silicon Valley for a good part of his life, eventually moving to Texas after living in Arizona and New Mexico for several years. Rodney earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and his Master of Education degree in Counseling/Psychology. Before moving to Odessa to work at Odessa College, Rodney worked as a Counselor for the Noah Project in Abilene, a shelter for battered women and children, the Taylor/Callahan/Coleman County Restitution Center, and the Texas Workforce Commission. Rodney enjoys spending time with his wife, a Special Education Teacher at Permian High School, and his twin daughters.
Phone: 432-335-6357 | Email: rhernandez@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Cynthia Patterson, Academic Success Coach, joined the Odessa College team in the Fall of 2022. Cynthia grew up in Hobbs, New Mexico and moved to Odessa in 2011 to attend UTPB where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Marketing. She is also now working on her Master's in Digital Marketing at WGU. Upon completing her Bachelor’s degree, she went on to work for the City of Odessa and then to do nonprofit work for a local Midland organization. She loves to spend time with her friends, family and of course her fur-baby, Chloe. She is excited to be a part of the OC family and to work with students to help them reach their goals!
Phone: 432-335-6704 | Email: cpatterson@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Meghan Abila, Academic Success Coach, joined Odessa College in the summer of 2022. She grew up in Odessa and received her Bachelor's of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook Em!!!) and her Master's in Business Administration from the University of Texas Permian Basin. She likes to spend her free time shopping, traveling, going to concerts, and hanging out with her friends and family. She is passionate about higher education and serving others, and is excited to watch students grow and reach their educational goals.
Phone: 432-335-6409 | Email: maabila@odessa.edu | Schedule An Appointment
Joanne Villarreal, Academic Success Coach, moved to Odessa to attend Odessa College (OC) and pursue an Associate's Degree in Child Development. While studying, she became a full-time employee at OC’s Children’s Center and her journey shifted as she sought to help students in a different capacity. Joanne began assisting students at OC’s Wrangler Express Center, the later moved to the Financial Aid Department, and is now an Academic Success Coach in Advising. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Leadership and Management-Entrepreneurship at Odessa College, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management and Leadership at WGU. She feels privileged to be part of the OC family and assisting students achieve their higher education academic goals.
Phone: 432-335-6367 | Email: jvillarreal@odessa.edu | Schedule an Appointment
Other Contacts:
Athletics | Lisa Aguilar | laguilar@odessa.edu | 432-335-6461
BAAS | Lisa Aguilar | laguilar@odessa.edu | 432-335-6461
OCA | Stephanie Galindo | sgalindo@odessa.edu | 432-335-6317
OCTECHS | Linda Granados | lgranados@odessa.edu | 432-335-6755
Mental Health Counselor | cares@odessa.edu |
Office of Special Populations | Angelica Ramos | aramosodessa.edu | 432-335-6697
Veteran Affairs | Gloria Rangel | grangel@odessa.edu | 432-335-6833
General Advising | advising@odessa.edu | 432-335-6433