Bethlehem Campus
Ross Bandics, Counselor
Ross provides academic, career, and personal counseling. He is an Academic Probation Counselor and teaches College Success 101.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking
Favorite TV show: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Favorite food: chicken paprikash
Matt Bartholomew, Counselor
Matt is a licensed professional counselor in PA. He provides personal, academic, and career counseling to all students experiencing a wide range of issues. He believes nutrition plays a major role in mental health and will help students who want to explore this. He also counsels students on Academic Probation.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: all types of exercise and getting outdoors with his wife and kids
Favorite TV show: The Office – his favorite character is Dwight Schrute
Something surprising: has been a huge fan of Professional Wrestling since the 1980s
Ziona Brotleit, Counselor
Ziona is a licensed psychologist who assists students with a variety of issues, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, parents and relationships, women’s issues, and LGBTQ+ concerns. She provides stress management and relaxation techniques. She also provides support and guidance for a range of academic concerns, including study skills, test anxiety, professor and class management concerns, selecting a major, and career decisions. She speaks both English and Spanish.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: hiking on trails in the woods, watching movies, and contra dancing - "Contra dancing? Ask me about it!"
Elba Carides, Counselor
Elba counsels students on personal, career, and academic skills and assists students in the development of their individual educational plans and goals. She provides outreach advocacy and support for students experiencing academic difficulty. She teaches College Success 101-150 and leadership development. She speaks both English and Spanish.
Favorite way to reduce stress: exercise, like Zumba, Salsa dancing, and walking outside
Favorite food: "I can eat lasagna every day if you let me!"
Favorite animal: her Miniature Schnauzer, Suki
Stephen Compos, Counselor
Stephen is a licensed professional counselor who provides general counseling and specializes in sexual dysfunction, relationship issues, and LGBTQ+ concerns. He also counsels students on Academic Probation.
James N. Colon, MHSC (Master of Human Service Counseling), Counselor
James is a Spanish-English bilingual counselor. He assists students with personal life issues, such as depression, anxiety, parent and family issues, relationships, and LGBTQ+ concerns, and provides stress managment and relaxation techniques. He provides support to students on Academic Probation. He is also an instructor of College Success and Study Abroad.
Beatriz Messina, Counselor
Beatriz is a licensed social worker who provides personal counseling to students struggling with a variety of issues. She facilitates personal counseling and other services to students experiencing Substance Use Disorders (SUD). She facilitates NCC’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), a campus group set up for students in long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorders who want support in their academic journey. She is also skilled at connecting students to public benefits and community resources. She speaks both English and Spanish.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: running and Zumba
Favorite animals: her two cats, Sophie and Sammy
Unusual skill: has never fallen off a treadmill, despite reading and running at the same time
Laura Salley, Counselor
Laura is a board-certified art therapist and licensed in art therapy and professional counseling in NJ. She provides counseling to students experiencing anxiety, depression, and challenging transitions. She specializes in working with people who are differently abled including Autism.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: yoga, gardening and making art.
Favorite TV show: The Expanse.
Something surprising: taught English in Nagano Japan for 2 years.
Iris Kish, Counseling Intern
Iris is a counselor-in-training interning with the NCC Counseling Services at the Bethlehem campus. She's geared toward helping those who struggle with anxiety, depression, self-expression, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. With a focus on attending to the present moment, Iris likes to guide people on their unique journeys to mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: Yoga & meditation, Journaling, Playing with dogs, and SUP (standup paddleboarding)
Favorite TV show: Community
Favorite food: Vegetarian Pad Krapow (Thai basil stir-fry)
Monroe Campus
Ariane Medero, Counselor
Ariane is a Board-Certified Art Therapist, Certified Grief Counseling Specialist, and Licensed Professional who specializes in using creative arts therapy and supportive counseling techniques to assist students to cope with grief and loss, stress, adjustment, and a variety of personal life challenges. She provides an integrative approach when helping students to increase insight and self-awareness into individual wellness, challenges, academic and career goals by promoting active and creative problem-solving. She also speaks both English and Spanish.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: painting, visual art journaling, experimenting with art, nature walks, listening to lofi, playing video games, and watching anime
Favorite foods: Puerto Rican, Indian, Thai, and Japanese foods
Favorite animal: cuddly cats
Something surprising: jumped over a wall of fire during a 5k mud run
Sarah Stone, Counselor
Sarah provides personal counseling to students struggling with a variety of issues. She facilitates personal counseling and other services to students experiencing substance use and abuse issues and connects students to public benefits and other community resources.
Abigail Charles, Counselor
Abigail is a National Certified Counselor. She assists, and provides coping tools to, students experiencing depression, anxiety, issues related to transitions, grief and loss, and relationships. She also provides stress management and relaxation techniques. She takes a holistic approach in her therapy to fully understand how she can best provide counseling and support to students.
Favorite ways to reduce stress: Exercising, long walks in nature, listening to music, cooking (and eating) good food.
Favorite foods: Thai and Korean food
Favorite TV show: “The Office”
Favorite animal: Big dogs that think they’re tiny lap dogs
Waleska Salgado, Counselor
She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the College of Staten Island, CUNY. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Strategic Leadership and Administrative Study at Marywood University. Her background includes extensive experience in, residential administration, counseling and is bringing her passion for student development.
Favorite way to reduce stress: Horseback riding & Traveling
Favorite food: Italian
Favorite TV show or movie: Modern Family
Favorite Animal: Dogs and Horses