Academic Achievement
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Staff Information
Welcome, the below information will help you connect to one of the TRIO Student Support Services Program staff. If you need to make an appointment with your advisor and you do not know who your advisor is look in MyCWU under the Student Center tab, in the sidebar labeled advising. Once you have clicked on the appointment link, it will take you into a program to choose what kind of appointment you need to make and for how long. This will set you up with a Zoom or in-person meeting and remind you by email. If you have a question or technical issues, please call the office at 509-963-2026; we would be glad to assist you.
If you are not a member of the TRIO program and have landed on this page looking for academic advising, please follow this link to contact academic advising.
Name: Maria Sanders
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
Title: Director
Office Phone: 509-963-2027
Email: maria.sanders@cwu.edu
Brief Bio: Maria is a native of the Burien (southwest Seattle) area, though she could call much of the West Coast home. Maria started her career in higher education as a film and video studies lecturer at CWU in 2006 before moving up to Associate Professor and finally Director of the film program in 2018. Maria has experienced the impact of supporting traditionally underrepresented students and tailoring learning experiences to suit a wide variety of learners, and brings that expertise and fierce defense to the TRIO SSS team. In her spare time, Maria enjoys basking in the wild and varied Washington wilderness, introducing her fantastic 14-year-old son to her favorite sitcoms and movies, and finding new ways to live mindfully.
Make an Appointment with Maria
Name: Andrew Ulstad
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His
Title: Program Support Supervisor
Office Phone: 509-963-2074
Email: andrew.ulstad@cwu.edu
Brief Bio: Andrew was born and raised in Washington and has called Ellensburg home for over ten years. Andrew has worked in several areas of campus as a student, most recently as a Fiscal Assistant in Student Engagement and Success and as Photo Editor for The Observer. Andrew brings experience planning and hosting events, guiding young professionals towards their academic and professional goals, and researching federal and state regulations to the TRIO team. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys photographing the beautiful Kittitas Valley landscape, watching shows and movies with his wife, and playing video games with friends.
Make an Appointment with Andrew
Name: Giselle Cortez
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Title: TRIO SSS Academic Advisor
Office Phone: 509-963-2015
Email: clarissa.cortez@cwu.edu
Brief Bio: Giselle attended Eastern Washington University (EWU) earning her Master of Social Work in 2023 and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Spanish in 2020. Giselle is a proud Latina, First Generation College Graduate. After graduate school Giselle worked at a hospital as a social worker for a year. Giselle is now a TRIO Student Support Services Academic Advisor; she began this role in June 2024. Giselle’s professional interests include mental health, and helping underrepresented college students achieve higher education. Giselle has lived in Washington her entire life. When Giselle is not working, she likes to play with her French Bulldog, cook Hispanic meals, and watch TV series’.
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Questions? Contact Us.
Academic Achievement
Bouillon Hall Room 232