Bethlehem Campus
Ross Bandics
Counselor
Ross provides academic, career, and personal counseling. He is an Academic Probation Counselor and teaches College Success 101.
- Ross provides academic, career, and personal counseling. He is an Academic Probation Counselor and teaches College Success 101.
- 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
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
James N. Colon
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 retired art therapist and professional counselor. Students who work with Laura can choose traditional talk counseling or art-making as their therapeutic intervention during sessions. She provides counseling to students experiencing anxiety, depression, and challenging transitions. She specializes in helping people who are neurodivergent, including those on the autism spectrum. She is also a certified P.E.E.R.S, provider, and teaches students social skills specifically designed to improve their confidence in social interactions.
- 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.
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.
Pocono 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
Maranda Hammerstone
Counselor
Maranda (She/Her) is a licensed Social Worker in PA as well as an alumni of NCC Pocono and has been practicing Social Work for over 8+ years. She provides personal, academic, crisis and career counseling to all students in various issues such as grief/ loss, anxiety, depression, communication, adjustments, among others. She embraces the idea that counseling can assist in fostering growth, self-discovery, and positive change in an individual’s life. Maranda uses a non-judgmental approach with students to help them reach their goals and achieve an understanding of themselves that best fits their needs.
- Favorite ways to reduce stress: crafting, puzzles, movies, being outside, spending time with family, traveling
- Favorite foods: Halal, Sushi, Chinese, Hispanic/ Caribbean
- Something Surprising: I currently own 4 pugs and 2 cats all of but 1 have been adopted.
