WAVE Peer Educator Bios

Here you can learn about the staff at the WAVE Program! We employ students from various departments in the University as Peer Educators, Volunteers, and Staff Members! Although our team is varied, with different backgrounds and goals, we all come together to help promote wellness and education about violence and alcohol on the NMSU campus!

Debra Darmata Program Coordinator

Degree: Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology
Graduation Date: A long, long time ago.
About Me: My life work and passion has been in the field of Psychology. I have extensive experience working with women who suffer from eating disorders, substance abuse and post traumatic stress disorder. I also love to teach and worked for several years at a community college where I taught various Psychology courses.
I am from Chicago and vacationed to New Mexico several years ago. I was profoundly moved by the geographical physical beauty that is New Mexico and vowed to move here. I have a nine year old son who is the absolute joy in my life. I enjoy music, camping, hiking, working out, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.
Future Goals: To be a good mother to my son and prepare him for the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood.  
Birthday:   January 14th a long, long time ago.

 

 

Amber Carreon Assistant Coordinator

Degree: Community Health Education
Graduation Date: December 2007
With WAVE Since: August 2007
About Me:Hello!  I was born and raised here in the Mesilla Valley and love nothing more than green chile, the Organ Mountains and sunsets.  I started with WAVE in 2007 as an intern and after I graduated I took the position of Assistant Coordinator and couldn’t be happier.  I think that WAVE has an amazing group of Peer Educators and am proud to work with such a wonderful program.
Future Goals: After taking some time off from school I want to get my Masters in Public Health or get certified to do diagnostic medical sonography.   Then who knows...
Birthday: August 8th                                         

 

 

Nika Lunn Project Specialist

Degree: Communication Studies, MA
Graduation Date: May 2008
With WAVE Since: August 2007
About Me: Two years ago, I moved from NY to NM to pursue a Master’s degree in Communication Studies. I worked as a GA teaching Comm. 265 while getting my degree and started working for WAVE part-time in 2007. Having graduated in May ‘08, I am happy to be given the opportunity to work full-time for WAVE as a Project Specialist.
Birthday: October 2nd   

 

 

 

 

Jessica Crawford Certified Peer Educator

Degree:Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communications
Expected Graduation Date: 2010-ish.
With WAVE Since: August 2008
About Me: I am from the wonderful little city of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.  It is a diverse and colorful place and I am happy to call it home!  I am hoping to have a degree in Journalism soon and with that hopefully work for a magazine in the Big Apple.  What type, you ask?  Preferably one that involves writing about exotic animals.  I am not partial to any specific hobbies; I just do what makes this girl happy!  Cruising in my car, shopping (I am a girl after all), eating, and exercising to relax my tired mind are just a few to name.  I am very inquisitive and love finding out new things about myself, other people, and this world we live in.  My musical taste is pretty random to say the least, I like just about everything.  I do know for a fact that I am a die hard Led head for ever! Zeppelin rules. I also believe in the message the WAVE provides us students.  I am looking forward to my first year working here!   
                                   

 

 

 

Melissa K. Gardner Certified Peer Educator

Degree: BSW in Social Work with a minor in Spanish
Year in School: Sophomore
With WAVE Since: February 2007
About Me: I am from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I love to watch indie movies. The most important things to me are my friends and family and my betta fish, Pacey. I am also a big fan of gummy worms or gummy bears. I love to spend time laughing with my friends.   When I am home I like walking or driving through the mountains and taking pictures. I am passionate about equality, social justice and abuse prevention.
Future Goals: After I graduate (which is my primary goal for now!) I would love to work in a rape crisis center or women's shelter.
Birthday:  November 15, 1986

 

Blythe Mariano Certified Peer Educator

Degree: Pre Social Work
Year in School: Sophomore
With WAVE Since: February 2007
About Me: I am full blooded Navajo and a person of many interests such as, music, drawing, painting, watching movies, playing video games, running. I also like to go home and spend time with my mom the most, and some of my friends. When I am not doing school work I usually just hang out in my room or with my friends and try to find things to do. My favorite movie is Nightmare Before Christmas. Music is one of my biggest interests and I pretty much listen to any types and am open to different types of music.
Future Goals: After getting my degree I would like to travel and see a bit of the world with the experiences that I might not get to see later on in life. Then after completing that part of my life, I would like to work in a place where I could greatly impact the lives of people.     
Birthday: June 3, 1987

Lee Medina Certified Peer Educator

Degree:Studio Art with an emphasis on Painting
With WAVE Since: August 2008
About Me: I have lived in Las Cruces for the majority of my life, and have grown accustom to the blazing heat. I love to be active whether it's bike-riding or enjoying the wilderness. I care about the environment and the community a great deal; and I am always pushing towards a better future. I have an upbeat personality and a positive outlook for the most part. My favorite thing to do is create, art and music are my greatest passions.
Future goals:  My future goals are to get a Master of Fine Arts in Painting, as well as produce electronic music. Making a positive change in the world is a never ending goal that I will always strive for.

Angelo Ortiz-Holt Certified Peer Educator

Degree: English with a minor in Journalism
Year in School: Sophomore
With WAVE Since: February 2007
About Me: I am from Albuquerque so moving down here has been an experience. I love music and I can't stay away from the concert scene. You rarely see me without my IPod. I also love to hang out with my friends and just having a good time. In addition, I like to run, swim, and work out. I always try to find humor in everyday life. Laughter is the best medicine!    
Future Goals: There is a lot that I want to do with my life. I want to teach, go to law school, and maybe become an advertising executive.  Over all I just want to be happy with whatever I do.
Birthday: April 5, 1987

 

 

John Rivers a.k.a. Juan Rios Research Assistant

Degree: Psychology
Year in School: Senior
With WAVE Since: August 2006 (volunteered January 2006 til then)
About Me: I'm a senior majoring in psychology, with aspirations of obtaining my masters degree in secondary education. I've been working for WAVE for over two years; I try to stay involved with the activism and community awareness that the job entails. When not working, I enjoy reading, excursions into the wilderness, and watching obscure films.
Birthday: August 17, 1987

Raul Rojas Research Specialist

Degree: Government
Year in School: Senior
With WAVE Since: August 2006
About Me: I am a creature of habit and lover of randomness...yes that makes sense. I stick to a daily routine when it suits me and it usually suits me when I need to recharge my batteries and only then. I love people, plain and simple...I love meeting new ones, sharing memories with old ones, as well as completely agreeing and fiercly opposing all facets of humanity. I cannot be summed up in one word, sentence, or catchy phrase...but in the end isn't that what we are striving for. To one day be looked back at by the people who we touched and for them to just sit in awe and wonder at how we maintained sanity let alone functionality.
Future Goals: After graduating from NMSU I plan on attending Seminary to get my doctorate in Pastoral Ministry