Meet Our Team

Julie Spencer, M.D., M.P.H

Welcome to Otis College of Art and Design Student Health and Wellness Center.  We, the staff of the Student Health and Wellness Center, hope to provide you with the best care and teach you the tools to have you be the healthiest student you can be while at Otis College.

I welcome you as the Director and Physician of the Student Health and Wellness Center.

A little about my background… I am an LA native, having grown up in Pasadena and currently reside in Manhattan Beach with my husband and 2 sons. I am also a Loyola Marymount University Alum, class of 2003, and after graduating, I attended St. George’s University School of Medicine for a combined Masters of Public Health and Medical Degree.

I completed my first two years of residency training in general pediatrics at Maimonides Infants and Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York and my last year, back in sunny Southern California, at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Carson. During my pediatric residency, I developed a passion for working with adolescents and young adults and decided to complete a sub-specialty fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. At CHLA, I learned to work with adolescents and young adults from ages 12-24 years old with specific health concerns such as reproductive health, eating disorders, general primary care as well as other health concerns particular to this population.

I am very excited to help Otis College fulfill its dream of having a Student Health and Wellness Center on campus. As the medical director and physician, it is my goal to ensure good health and wellness during your time at Otis College.

Tatiana Yanik, FNP-BC

Hello!
 
My name is Tatiana, and I am the Family Nurse Practitioner at the Student Health and Wellness Center! My role and passion here at Otis College of Art and Design is to ensure that every student who steps foot onto this campus has not only access to health care but also receives the utmost quality care that aligns with their own personal healthcare goals! I am a huge advocate for sustaining good health through health education and preventative care!
 
A little about me…. I am a valley girl! Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley! I received my bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU) and master’s degree from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). My previous employment experience includes working at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Providence Hospital, and UCLA Hospital across various in-patient departments as a registered nurse over the past six years. These experiences have given me the foundation needed to ensure that all your medical needs are executed safely and efficiently as a Nurse Practitioner.
 
During my free time, I am hanging out with my goldendoodle dog! We love to go on hikes and be in the great outdoors!  
 
I am so excited to be contributing to your health and wellbeing while being an Otis College student!

Beatrice Cube, RN

Welcome to Otis College's Student Health and Wellness Center!

As a registered nurse, my goal is to support students in their academic success by promoting optimal health and wellness through education as well as empower them in taking charge of their own health. 

A little bit about me, I was born in the Philippines and moved to LA when I was 4 years old. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary's University and I am currently pursuing my Master's Degree in Nursing at Grand Canyon University. My previous experience includes working in home health, medical-surgical/telemetry hospital unit, and as a school nurse servicing students in elementary to high schools.

Outside of work, I enjoy running, yoga/pilates, dance classes, going to concert shows, and spending time with my family and friends. I'm excited to be a part of Student Health and Wellness and look forward to supporting you all!

Kim Roark, Operations Manager

Cheers from the Student Health and Wellness Center!  As the Operations Manager, I am here to support the needs of my colleagues and students. My goal is to ensure everyone’s experiences are positive, seamless and efficient. Prior to joining the Otis family, I was an Account Supervisor and Commercial Coordinator specializing in the creative film and television industry.

I am from Southern California and attended San Diego State University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After obtaining my Master’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations, I was provided with countless opportunities to delve into management, improve processes, overall budget and tactical business leadership.

When I'm not working, you can find me outside enjoying the California sunshine, reading, cooking (or eating) and spending time with my husband and two kids. I am excited to be part of the Student Health and Wellness Center family and look forward to meeting you!

James Birks, LMFT

Hello and welcome to Counseling and Psychological Services at the Student Health and Wellness Center!

As the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services here at Otis College, it is my goal to help students accomplish their mental health and wellness needs so that they are able to focus on their education and on becoming their best selves.

About me…. I am a Southern California native and completed my Bachelors of Psychology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and my Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Southern California (USC).  I trained at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and, prior to joining the Student Health and Wellness Center team, I worked with youth at a community mental health agency.

I truly love working with students and will strive to create safe and containing spaces where diversity of culture, thought and experience will be encouraged. Some of my areas of expertise include trauma, depression, identity development, LGBT affirmative therapy and working with transitional age youth 18-25.

In my free time I enjoy swimming, hiking, the beach and spending time with family and friends over a meal. My gender pronouns are he, him his.  It is a pleasure to be a part of the Student Health and Wellness team and I look forward to serving the Otis College of Art and Design community.

Namele Meza, LMFT

Hello!

My hope is that my office can be a safe space where your difficulties and struggles can be met with empathy and understanding. I am passionate about supporting students so that those difficulties and struggles are no longer barriers to having healthy relationships with themselves and others or to achieving their own hopes and aspirations personally or academically. 

A little bit about me, I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. I am passionate about journeying with people through life transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, relationship issues and those who have been marginalized due to factors in their identity. Outside of work, I love getting lost in a good book, exploring hiking trails (preferably not getting lost on those!) and having game nights with my friends and family. 

I look forward to meeting you and getting to support you!

Nick Duran, MS, MFA, AMFT, LMHC

My therapy practice is person-centered and trauma-informed, emphasizing collaboration and skill building. I utilize techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), play therapy, somatic psychotherapy, mindfulness, EMDR, and expressive arts to address unhelpful ways of thinking and the bodily impact of stress and trauma. I meet clients where they are and offer treatment that is LGBTQIA+ affirming and culturally responsive. I am devoted to working with students facing various issues, including anxiety, depression, bipolar, ADHD, grief, and life transitions. I believe individuals are the experts of their lived experience, and therapy is an investment in one’s success and empowerment. 

In addition to attaining my MS in Counseling Psychology from California State University Long Beach, I have a background in the arts and education and hold an MFA in Dance. I enjoy dancing in nature and making ceramics in my free time. I believe in the transformative power of art—to heal and connect deeply with oneself and one’s community—which I bring into the therapeutic process. 

Monica Colver, Case Manager

Hello! As the CAPS Case Manager, it is my mission to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment in order to best support the mental health and wellbeing of our Otis community.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have returned after ten years living in the Bay Area (plus a few other stops along the way). I received my Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Later, I earned my Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. As a counseling intern, I supported youth and their families at public schools in Berkeley. There, I discovered my passion for working in school environments, and I am now excited to continue to work with students in this college setting. Some of my special interests include trauma-informed mindfulness and somatic approaches, and supporting LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, as well as those with disabilities and/or other marginalized aspects of their identities.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring different forms of art and culture, cooking, traveling, gardening, and spending time in nature and with my friends and family.

I am excited to be a part of this vibrant community and look forward to supporting you!