Blake Cesarz,

Student Support Specialist

Role at the SALT Center: As a Student Support Specialist, I work with students to help create their Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) by collaboratively developing goals for success, incorporating academic strategies, and providing students with guidance and encouragement throughout their university experience.

Education: The University of Arizona, Tucson, B.S., Business Administration with an Emphasis in Management, The University of Arizona, B.A., Music Theory History and Critique, The University of Arizona, M.M., Musicology. The University of Arizona, Ph.D., Musicology (in progress).

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Activities/Interests: My hobbies are singing, writing, reading, hiking, skiing, dancing, swimming, body-surfing, gaming and biking, to name only a few. I also enjoy weight training and racquetball.

Michael Holm,

Student Support Specialist

Role at the SALT Center: As a Student Support Specialist, I work with students to help create their Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) by collaboratively developing goals for success, incorporating academic strategies, and providing students with guidance and encouragement throughout their university experience.

Education: University of Arizona, B.A.E., Elementary Education

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Professional Associations: NAGC - National Association for Gifted Children

Activities/Interests: As a minimalist, I appreciate simple pleasures. Watching my two children act like complete goofballs and hearing them laugh will always remain my greatest joy. I am the Founder and Manager of the AZ Mischief Baseball Club, a nationally ranked elite level travel baseball team. I continue to write and publish when possible, and find that the greatest comfort in life is a blank page and a hot cup of coffee.

Bear Down and Go Bat Cats!

Kim Valdez,

Student Support Specialist

Role at the SALT Center: As a Student Support Specialist, I work with students to help create their Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) by collaboratively developing goals for success, incorporating academic strategies, and providing students with guidance and encouragement throughout their university experience.

Education: The University of Arizona, M.Ed., Teaching and Teacher Education; The University of Arizona, BA Interdisciplinary Studies (Anthropology, Religious Studies, & Poetry); Pima Community College, AA Anthropology with 2 certificates in Southwest archaeology

Hometown: Green Valley/ Amado, Arizona

Activities/Interests: I enjoy spending time at my family’s ranch in Amado, hiking different trails and in different mountain ranges in Arizona, reading (especially 19^th century literature), playing my flute (and trying to play piano…), listening to classic rock, working on/ cruising around in my Corvette, writing poetry, baking (I have a sweet tooth and I love sharing recipes!), crocheting, and spending time with my husky.

Natalie Schleining,

Student Support Specialist

Role at the SALT Center: As a Student Support Specialist, I work with students to help create their Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) by collaboratively developing goals for success, incorporating academic strategies, and providing students with guidance and encouragement throughout their university experience.

Education:  The University of Arizona, BS in Family and Consumer Resources; Northern Arizona University, M.Ed. in Counseling; National University, MS in Educational Counseling.

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Activities/Interests: I enjoy spending time with my family, my cats, hiking, yoga, watching football and getting away to Hawaii whenever I can!

Juan Godoy,

Student Support Specialist

Role at the SALT Center: As a Student Support Specialist, I work with students to help create their Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) by collaboratively developing goals for success, incorporating academic strategies, and providing students with guidance and encouragement throughout their university experience.

Education: Northern Arizona University, B.S., Elementary Education; Northern Arizona University, M.Ed. Bilingual/Multicultural Education; The University of Arizona, Ph.D., Educational Policy Studies & Practice (in progress)

Hometown: Wilmington, California

Professional Associations: Association on Higher Education and Disability. National Educators Association. Arizona Education Association. Arizona TESOL. Phi Beta Kappa.

Activities/Interests: I enjoy spending time with my young children. I am a master at cooking on the grill. I can hardly wait every year to watch Arizona Wildcat football and basketball. I have recently become a genealogy aficionado.