About Us

Established in 2001, the Student Center for Academic Achievement (SCAA) is a university-wide comprehensive learning center serving and employing students from all colleges. The SCAA serves as a one-stop-shop for academic support services on the third floor of the CORE Building. SCAA provides academic skills coaching as well as subject tutoring and writing tutoring for courses across the curriculum. Additionally, the SCAA offers embedded, collaborative support through its Writing Associates (WA), Supplemental Instruction (SI), and Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) programs.

Our Values

Collaboration

Progress

Commitment

Decorative icon of a person inside of a star

Belonging

Mission

To provide AV�� students with individual and collaborative learning opportunities within an inclusive environment fostering independent growth. The SCAA strives to cultivate adaptability, self-direction, and self-confidence through peer-to-peer support programs. SCAA services help students set achievable goals, develop academic skills, and improve subject comprehension.

Vision

To provide all AV�� students with an inviting and intellectually-stimulating learning environment that fosters curiosity, independence, and critical thinking.

Core Functions

Subject-specific academic support
Writing skills development
Foundational academic skills development
Quality professional development and growth opportunities
Collaborative cross-campus engagement efforts

Impact

The SCAA team is committed to providing impactful academic support services to the CSUEB community. Please visit the SCAA Impact webpage to learn more about our assessment and evaluation processes and to view our impact reports.

SCAA Leadership Team

	RACHEL BRUNSON, Ed.D. Director, Student Center for Academic Achievement (510) 885-3147 \| rachel.brunson@csueastbay.edu I believe education is most transformative when it fosters belonging, self-direction, and agency. I ground my work in a pluralistic, anti-ableist understanding of learning that recognizes multidimensional ways of knowing, being, and growing. I strive to cultivate learning environments where students feel safe enough to unmask and where they can flourish by their own definitions of success. On campus, Rachel is a member of the Library Management Team, the Disability Community Collaborative, the Orientation Advisory Committee, the First Year Experience (FYE) Oversight Committee, and the Student Retention Action Team.
	BRANDON EVERETT, M.A. Coordinator, Subject Tutoring Program (510) 885-3932 \| brandon.everett@csueastbay.edu
	BIANCA MEZA, M.A. Coordinator, Peer Academic Coaching (510) 885-2474 \| bianca.meza@csueastbay.edu My philosophy is rooted in the values of community, learning, and possibility. I believe that authentic relationships and vulnerability are foundational to human development and I approach my work through a strengths-based, curiosity driven, adaptive lens.
	Dr. SARA SCHUPACK Coordinator, Writing Tutor Programs (510) 885-2304 \| sara.schupack@csueastbay.edu Writing and thinking go hand in hand. Passion, curiosity, creativity, and so many other uniquely human qualities of thought fuel writing and develop out of the writing process. Learning to write well takes a lifetime; this can be both frustrating and immensely gratifying. My goal is to trust the process, enjoy the ride, and help others do the same.
	MATTHEW TENER, M.A. Coordinator, Strategic Engagement & Academic Support (510) 885-3789 \| matthew.tener@csueastbay.edu Although every student will inevitably experience challenges as part of the learning process, momentary doubt need not define students' self-perceptions or limit their capacity to learn. Supporting students with evidence-based strategies and consistent encouragement helps them navigate difficulties and develop confidence and independent learning skills.

SCAA Student Leads

	ANGELES BUENROSTRO Lead, Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) Major: Biological Sciences (Nursing Interest)
	HANZALAH KAIF Lead, Writing Tutor Programs Major: Economics
	QI LIN Lead, Supplemental Instruction (SI) Major: Biochemistry
	NIYATI PATEL Lead, Subject Tutoring Major: Statistics (Data Science)
	MADISON SMITH Lead, Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) Major: Biological Science (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology)
	JOSEPH TECANHUEHUE Lead, Writing Tutor Programs Major: Accounting & Analytics

	RACHEL BRUNSON, Ed.D. Director, Student Center for Academic Achievement (510) 885-3147 \| rachel.brunson@csueastbay.edu I believe education is most transformative when it fosters belonging, self-direction, and agency. I ground my work in a pluralistic, anti-ableist understanding of learning that recognizes multidimensional ways of knowing, being, and growing. I strive to cultivate learning environments where students feel safe enough to unmask and where they can flourish by their own definitions of success. On campus, Rachel is a member of the Library Management Team, the Disability Community Collaborative, the Orientation Advisory Committee, the First Year Experience (FYE) Oversight Committee, and the Student Retention Action Team.
	BRANDON EVERETT, M.A. Coordinator, Subject Tutoring Program (510) 885-3932 \| brandon.everett@csueastbay.edu
	BIANCA MEZA, M.A. Coordinator, Peer Academic Coaching (510) 885-2474 \| bianca.meza@csueastbay.edu My philosophy is rooted in the values of community, learning, and possibility. I believe that authentic relationships and vulnerability are foundational to human development and I approach my work through a strengths-based, curiosity driven, adaptive lens.
	Dr. SARA SCHUPACK Coordinator, Writing Tutor Programs (510) 885-2304 \| sara.schupack@csueastbay.edu Writing and thinking go hand in hand. Passion, curiosity, creativity, and so many other uniquely human qualities of thought fuel writing and develop out of the writing process. Learning to write well takes a lifetime; this can be both frustrating and immensely gratifying. My goal is to trust the process, enjoy the ride, and help others do the same.
	MATTHEW TENER, M.A. Coordinator, Strategic Engagement & Academic Support (510) 885-3789 \| matthew.tener@csueastbay.edu Although every student will inevitably experience challenges as part of the learning process, momentary doubt need not define students' self-perceptions or limit their capacity to learn. Supporting students with evidence-based strategies and consistent encouragement helps them navigate difficulties and develop confidence and independent learning skills.

AV��

Welcome to the SCAA