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Meet the Team
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Office: Tivoli 311
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 303-615-0220
Location: 900 Auraria Parkway | Tivoli Student Union
About Student Care Center Staff
Sonia Falcón joined the Student Care Center in 2021. She grew up in New Mexico and earned her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Washington. Sonia spent 15 years in the Seattle area, and while there worked with youth, young adults, and families in juvenile justice, mental health, and higher ed settings. She relocated to Denver in 2018, and since joining the Student Care Center team at MSU Denver, has been thrilled to return to supporting students throughout their educational journey!
Shelly Ann joined the Student Care Center in August 2023. She was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Shelly earned her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of South Dakota. She worked at Casper College with students that experienced homelessness, aged out of foster care and were first generation college students. Shelly has a passion advocating for vulnerable Populations regarding social justice issues. She loves working with and empowering students!
Becca Rathburn, SNAP Coordinator and Case Manager
She/her/hers
Becca Rathburn joined the Student Care Center as a SNAP Coordinator & Case Manager in 2022. Becca was born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado and attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she earned her degree in Nutrition and Food Science and Political Science. She has a deep passion for fighting food insecurity and other barriers that reduce access to health and prevent student success. With lived experience navigating SNAP, Medicaid, and other public assistance programs, Becca wants to be a resource and advocate for all students that need access to these programs!
Connor recently joined the Student Care Center November of 2023. Connor is from Rockford, Illinois but attended University in Bozeman Montana studying Fish and Wildlife Management before finding a joy and career in Student Affairs. He has a large interest in connecting students to community and to resources that will help grow and expand their support network while taking the large step into higher education. Working in student residence halls prior to joining the MSU Denver Team, Connor has experience working alongside students to navigate life hardships that arise in the first few years of college. He also has experience as a camp counselor and enjoys spending time outside, hiking, running, or reading.
Ben Cooper joined the Student Care Center in 2021. Ben has an M.A. in counseling psychology and a Psy.D. in child and family mental health. Ben has spent his career dedicated to the well-being and education of children, adolescents, and adults. Following his education, Ben has worked as an affiliate faculty at MSU in the Department of Psychological Sciences, as a child and family psychotherapist, special education teacher, and elementary school principal. Ben is a native of Colorado and enjoys all of the outdoor adventures Colorado has to offer. Ben currently lives in Boulder, CO with his wife, Cath, and their dog Lucy.
Taryn Gawronski is a Colorado native who received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Colorado State University in 2020 and joined the Student Care Center in 2022. Prior to graduate school, Taryn worked in community crisis services and in residential treatment centers, supporting youth by providing mental health and substance abuse counseling. More recently, Taryn has worked in some of Denver’s neighborhoods, helping people with significant employment barriers find stable and high paying jobs. Taryn loves getting to walk alongside individuals, learning their strengths and helping them navigate next steps. Taryn is thrilled to join the Roadrunner family, and has loved seeing the motivation and resiliency among the MSU Denver students. In her free time, Taryn loves to garden and walk her very large dog.
Vian Saeid
She/Her/Hers
Joined SSC and DOS 07/15/2022 as an Office Manager for Student Care Center, and Dean of Students Office, I am from Kurdistan, North of Iraq. I grew up in Iraq, Kurdistan. I have lived in Turkey, and Germany for a few years. I and my family came to the USA in July 2002, and have lived in Denver most of my life, earning my master’s in Business Administration, and MBA in 2017. My life support is my family and friends. My passion is to help others in addition to traveling and vising other countries. I speak multiple languages, and am fluent in Arabic, Kurdish, and speak Turkish as well.