Rodrigo Rios
Bakersfield,CA
Summary
Determined School Counselor with success in helping students achieve educational goals and personal well-being. Talented in meeting the objectives of the counseling program by providing preventive education, advocacy, mediation and counseling to students. Sensitive to socioeconomic and cultural difference of students.
Detail-oriented individual with exceptional communication and project management skills. Proven ability to handle multiple tasks effectively and efficiently in fast-paced environments. Recognized for taking proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues, with focus on optimizing processes and supporting team objectives.
Possesses versatile skills in project management, problem-solving, and collaboration. Brings fresh perspective and strong commitment to quality and success. Recognized for adaptability and proactive approach in delivering effective solutions.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
School Counselor – Internship
Arvin High School
10.2024 - Current
- Met with students for Q1 & Q2 deficiencies.
- Assist Head & Intervention Counselor with Foster Youth & McKinney Vento YES! group.
- Assist Workforce Counselor with Educational Plans for students.
- CSU & UC presentations to Juniors & Seniors
- BC Application Workshop and assist with Career Exploration.
- Assist Academic Counselors with course preferencing for the 2025 - 2026 school year.
- Assist with Cash for College sessions.
- Attend and assist FAFSA support evenings for parents.
- Attend Bear Preview night and observe and interact with Freshman Registration.
- Attend and support during class presentations in the Spring semester.
- Support with Parent University presentations in the Spring semester.
- Interact with feeder school articulation and intervention school counselor.
Transfer Educational Advisor
Transfer & International Center
04.2023 - Current
- Provide daily communication through one-on-one appointments by phone, in-person, virtual, or email; group academic advising sessions, individual advising, and walk-ins appointments.
- Refer students in need of special services or outside counseling or testing services.
- Case management of new students and continuing students who are interested in transferring.
- Case management our student cohorts who are part of Kern Promise program.
- Participate with the Outreach department; going to the different high schools in Bakersfield and surrounding areas to present different programs that Bakersfield College offers and supports students with when it comes to transferring to a four-year university.
- Also, supporting incoming freshmen students in the steps of enrollment for Bakersfield College and Orientation with the high schools.
- Update various handouts and forms as necessary.
- Took the initiative on the Transfer Academy 101on campus
- Serve as a key point of contact for transfer advising, supporting students through the CSU and UC application processes, transfer program navigation, academic planning, university transition, and maintain current knowledge of university systems as well as independent colleges.
- Advise high-unit transfer students in the absence of a Transfer Counselor, ensuring continuity of service and individualized student support.
- Advocate for students by assisting with late applications, admission appeals, reapplications, supplemental questions, and next steps for university enrollment.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with campus departments and external partners, including CSU Bakersfield and UC campuses, to streamline transfer pathways and enhance student support services.
- Provide training and guidance to CSUB Admissions specialists on platforms like Starfish and InsideBC to improve cross-institutional student support.
- Develop and implement transfer-centered programming such as Fall & Spring Transfer Day, Blue & Gold Day, HBCU Caravan support, and the Transfer Academy.
- Initiated and supported the creation of CSUB’s “Blue & Gold” hand-off event, advising bridges by major, and cohort-based supports for transfer students.
- Contributed to and helped organize in-service training for BC Counselors and Advisors regarding UC TAP, TAG, CSU TSP, and Kern Promise program updates.
- Manage and enhance Kern Promise tracking spreadsheets by including advising notes, identifying transfer credit discrepancies, and streamlining student progress documentation.
- Serve as a campus-wide resource and representative at transfer events, panel discussions, and outreach opportunities involving students, families, high schools, and university partners.
- Designed and launched the Kern Promise End-of-Year Celebration and facilitated targeted engagement initiatives, including student panels and program orientations.
- Assist with training student assistants on transfer processes, including UC/CSU applications, transcript requests, and general education certification.
- Created and contributed to resources such as a Transfer Guide Handbook, updated Transfer Website content, and developed student-facing materials.
- Provide front-desk and general student services support as needed, exemplifying flexibility, dependability, and a student-first mindset.
School Counselor Internship
Lamont School District
11.2025 - 02.2026
- Facilitated individual counseling sessions to address student needs and promote emotional well-being.
- Collaborated with teachers to develop personalized education plans for at-risk students.
- Coordinated group workshops focused on social skills development and conflict resolution.
- Assisted in crisis intervention, providing immediate support to students in distress.
- Implemented data tracking systems to monitor student progress and outcomes effectively.
Academic Advisor
College of Business and Public Administration
07.2021 - 04.2023
- Provide daily communication through one-on-one appointments through Zoom, by phone, and in person; group academic advising sessions, individual advising, and virtual walk-ins appointments.
- Work with students to evaluate and understand their academic records and set goals for academic progress to ensure completion of their academic programs.
- Informing and interpreting university, college and program level academic policies and procedures.
- Develop a graduation plan for each BPA student based on the unique needs of each student; assess students’ progress and adjust the plan based on the progress and changing needs of the student.
- Actively coach BPA students through degree attainment process; meet with students on a regular basis to track their academic success; identify options for students to satisfy degree requirements; evaluate and make recommendations on petitions and amendments to students’ program of study to assist their completion.
- Identify academic options for students such as degrees, minors, certificates, graduation requirements, curriculum, course selection and registration, career options and extracurricular activities; assist students in establishing realistic and attainable academic and career goals.
- Provide counseling for students working with difficult courses or life challenges that may interrupt their degree completion.
- Assist students in course registration, either in-person, online, or hybrid.
- Assist students who were awarded an AD-T and to ensure they will not go over the sixty units.
- Assist with campus and school retention and graduation efforts.
- Assist the team with the Graduation Act Team List with students’ cohorts.
- Be an advocate for all students throughout their academic journey at CSU Bakersfield
- Monitor and notate academic progress and advising interactions of students in the file in OnBase, GradesFirst, People Soft, Adobe Forms, and Runner Connect; submit requests and make changes to student records via CSUB Service Center; ensure that students know how to use their myCSUB portal.
- Act as a document specialist for our document imaging system, such as OnBase, ImageNow, etc. Create various reports using Office 365 applications.
- Actively participate in professional development and training, maintaining current and accurate information regarding college student development theory, academic success, retention, and first-year support programming experience.
- Make recommendations to students on courses to take outside of CSUB.
- Collaborate and advocate with university units outside of the College of Business and Public Administration on behalf of individual students, including working with feeder Community Colleges, various on-campus units, etc. Provides advocacy and problem-solving as challenges arise.
- Assists, participates, organizes and/or conducts Orientations, Graduations, College Night, honors, grant events, etc. Participates in various BPA Committees, university committees, etc. Participate in various outreach events.
- Educate the students regarding the different resource services at CSUB such as the Health Center, Writing Center, Tutoring Center, Center for Career Education & Community Engagement, Veteran’s Success Center, Services for Students with Disabilities Office
- Recruit students for CA Program and meet with them to ensure they are on-track for graduation.
- Supports the graduate programs as needed.
- Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.
- Enhanced student success by developing and implementing comprehensive academic plans.
- Provided ongoing support for students experiencing academic difficulties, resulting in improved performance.
CSUB 1029 (First Year Seminar) Instructor
California State University, Bakersfield
08.2022 - 12.2022
- Encourage students to enroll in fifteen units a term
- Be a liaison between the student and campus
- Introduce students to the CSUB campus, the General Education program (GE-AIMS), Major & concentration requirements, and other graduation requirements, their rights and responsibilities, university policies and regulations, and university resources.
- Students will learn college-level skills and create an academic roadmap for a four-year plan.
Student Success Facilitator
Haven Drive Middle School
10.2015 - 07.2021
- Provided academic, emotional, and behavioral case management in one-on-one and group settings.
- Provide communication through one-on-one appointments, daily electronic communications, phone calls, at-risk students and group advising sessions.
- Conducted conferences with students, parents, and administration to address chronic absenteeism and poor academic progress.
- Resolved academic, personal, emotional, social, and behavioral issues.
- Monitor and notate academic progress of students in their file on Schoolwise.
- Supported PBIS initiatives and the Alternative Learning Academy with providing check-in & check-out services for behaviorally at-risk students.
- Actively coach students through graduation requirements; meet with at-risk students on a regular basis to track their academic success.
- Addressed barriers to student success through direct intervention and referral to wraparound services.
- Delivered parent engagement workshops and participated in family-centered events.
- College Awareness Workshop
- Build College Awareness
- Show parents & students how they can participate in the educational process
- Develop English language vocabulary
- Introducing participants to key steps of the college-going process and how to prepare for college.
- Represented student support services programs at new student orientation, school events, graduation, and fall/spring conferences.
- Maintained professional knowledge through participation in associations, committees, and professional development.
- Conducted home visits to build communication and provide support around chronic absenteeism and student progress.
- COVID-19: Provided tech support to both students & parents, conducted online conferencing with administration, parents, and students to continue meeting the needs of the students social, emotional, and academic needs.
- Actively participate in professional development and training
Education
P.P.S. - Child Welfare And Attendance (CWA) Added - Pupil Personnel Services Credential
California State University, Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA05-2026
M.S. - Master of Science in Counseling – Student Affairs
California State University, Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA05-2020
B.A. - Bachelors in Liberal Studies and Art
California State University, Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA06-2014
Certificate - Communication
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA04-2009
Certificate - Microcomputer Applications
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA10-2008
Skills
- Experience in working with diverse and non-traditional student populations
- Knowledgeable in resolving academic, personal, emotional, social, and behavioral issues
- Master’s-level counseling professional with extensive experience supporting at-risk youth in PreK-8 and Higher Education
- Proven ability to assess and intervene in emotional, behavioral, and academic issues affecting student success
- Experience with assisting school sites and district’s Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program
- Experienced in developing individualized student support plans within MTSS and PBIS frameworks
- Experienced with conducting home visits to establish communication and build positive relationships between parent/guardian and school site around identified issues
- Experience with referring students to public/private community resources; Strong knowledge of community resources; demonstrated success coordinating services and acting as a liaison
- Committed to educational equity, trauma-informed care, and positive behavioral interventions
- Certified in Restorative Practices and Mental Health First Aid
- Experience in promoting career exploration in advising sessions to guide students through the creation of educational and career paths
- Experience in creating academic worksheets/graduation plans/transfer plans
- Experience with using Starfish software for all transfer advising appointments and electronic communication with students
- Knowledgeable in providing academic advising to new and returning students employing a developmental approach to advising
- Experience in processing different forms such as Graduation Petition, Request for Evaluation for transfer credit, General Education certifications, Request an official transcript, and Extenuating Withdrawal form
- Experience and knowledge in using PeopleSoft, OnBase, Banner, Degreeworks, AssistOrg, Runner Connect, Starfish, Canvas, Canva, Zoom, Office 365, Google Apps, BOX, and Adobe
- Experience working independently and working with a team
- Experience running an advising & student services center with student assistants
- Experience in directing students to retention student services on campus
- Experience on Grad Checks Reviews for students
- Experience and knowledge in individual advising, group advising, student orientations, and workshops
- Experienced in teaching in a First Year Seminar Class for freshman students only at CSU Bakersfield
- Individual counseling
- Mediation and crisis intervention
- Crisis intervention
- Student advocacy
- Student counseling
- Solutions-focused
- Group counseling
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Suicide prevention
Affiliations
- Educational Counseling Association October 2018 – Present
- Mental Health First Aid USA Certificate May 17, 2022 – May 17, 2025
- LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Ally May 24, 2022 – April 10, 2023
- Safe Space Ally February 5, 2024 - Present
Committee Involvement
- Alternative Learning Academy Student Success Support Team
- Student Success Team
- Advising Leadership Team (A.L.T)
- California Promise Representative for the College of Business & Public Administration (2 year & 4-year pledge)
- Professional Academic Advisor Collaborative (P.A.A.C)
- Student Success Network (S.S.N.)
- Community Engagement & Impact Committee (C.E.I.C)
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee (D.E.I.)
- Hiring Search Committees
- California Community College – California State University Transfer Collaborative
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
School Counselor Internship
Lamont School District
11.2025 - 02.2026
School Counselor – Internship
Arvin High School
10.2024 - Current
Transfer Educational Advisor
Transfer & International Center
04.2023 - Current
CSUB 1029 (First Year Seminar) Instructor
California State University, Bakersfield
08.2022 - 12.2022
Academic Advisor
College of Business and Public Administration
07.2021 - 04.2023
Student Success Facilitator
Haven Drive Middle School
10.2015 - 07.2021
P.P.S. - Child Welfare And Attendance (CWA) Added - Pupil Personnel Services Credential
California State University, Bakersfield
M.S. - Master of Science in Counseling – Student Affairs
California State University, Bakersfield
B.A. - Bachelors in Liberal Studies and Art
California State University, Bakersfield
Certificate - Communication
Bakersfield College
Certificate - Microcomputer Applications
Bakersfield College