Sofia Gianoutsos

Sofia is the Veterans Academic Support Services (VASS) Counselor housed in the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) at Moreno Valley College (MVC).  She has been with MVC since 2016. During her time with MVC, she has worked as a counselor for Disability Support Services (DSS) and teaches DSS specific guidance classes, as well as guidance classes for First Year Experience (FYE) and Middle College.

Since May of 2017, she helped establish and create Veterans Academic Support Services (VASS), in which she is the counselor. VASS is the collaboration between DSS and VRC. Sofia provides veterans and their dependents with the extra support they may need to be successful in their academics. This includes, but not limited to, academic advising and completing VA regulated student education plans, as well as providing disability related counseling and academic adjustments. Her work with veterans is not limited to MVC- she is also a contract counselor for the Veterans Affairs (VA) determining eligibility for Chapter 33 services, which is a return to work program for veterans with disabilities.

Sofia started her work in 2014 at California State University, San Bernardino, at The Institute for Research, Assessment & Professional Development providing cognitive rehabilitation to Veterans with differing disabilities such as; PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, as well as worked with children and adults with Autism. This work sparked her passion for the veteran community and feels privileged for the opportunity to continue her work serving veterans at MVC and beyond.

Sofia holds a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, and, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Currently, she is in the process of obtaining certification for Learning Disability Specialist through the California Community College Chancellors Office. She is excited to start this new chapter in her career as the CAPED Communiqué Editor-in-Chief!