Early College Programs

Thank you for checking out Paradise Valley Community College! It’s never too early to jump-start your higher education and earn college credit while still in high school.

We offer a variety of Early College Programs for:

• Motivated-students seeking additional college-level courses
• High school seniors with part-time schedules wanting to get ahead
• Home-schooled students supplementing their current studies

To shape active and engaged learners, we have developed our programs and services to align with and support your busy lifestyle. And to help offset the cost of these additional classes, PVCC offers several Early College scholarship opportunities.

Kassandra Castillo
Student Office Assistant
602-787-7178
Kassandra.Castillo@paradisevalley.edu

Kassandra Castillo is the Student Office Assistant in the Early College Programs Office at Paradise Valley Community College. She is a First-Generation Mexican-American graduate from Barry Goldwater High School and an alumna of the Puma Early College Program (Class of 2020). She obtained her Associate’s degree at PVCC in May 2021, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Northern Arizona University. Kassandra joined in October of 2020 and has been working closely with Early College’s Program Coordinators, College Navigation Specialists, and Program Director. She has assisted in program coordination such as orientation events, connecting with Early College students and parents, scheduling advisement sessions, and more importantly, being a bilingual (English-Spanish) speaker for the local Spanish-speaking population.

Kevin Smith
ACE and Hoop of Learning Program Coordinator
602-787-7163
Kevin.Smith@paradisevalley.edu

Kevin Smith has been a Student Service Analyst in the Early College Department since 2019 serving as the Achieving a College Education (ACE) and Hoop Of Learning programs. Kevin is a First-Generation American-New Zealander. Prior to his position here he was a professional athlete for several years. He then worked as a Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coach for eight years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Lee University and Master’s in Arts from Concordia University Irvine. Kevin is currently completing his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership from Grand Canyon University.

Maria “Mary” Beltran Ayala
Puma Early College Program Coordinator
602-787-7179
mary.beltran.ayala@paradisevalley.edu

Mary moved from Michoacán, Mexico, in 2010 and had to adapt to a new culture and learn a new language. Mary is proudly a first-generation college student. Mary knows what students go through when students do not have a role model to guide them. Mary started working at Paradise Valley Community College as a student worker. After working in Higher Education, Mary found her passion for helping students reach their goals. Mary has worked for Maricopa Community College for almost five years. Mary is an alumna of PVCC. She obtained her Associate in Arts in May 2019 and earned her bachelor’s in Strategic Leadership from Northern Arizona University in April 2021. Mary is currently working towards her Masters in Organizational Leadership through NAU. In her spare time, Mary enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also likes to exercise, watch Disney + Netflix, and dedicate time to her well-being physically and mentally.

Helen Dow
College Navigation Specialist
602-787-7193
dow@paradisevalley.edu

Helen Dow is the newest team member to join the Paradise Valley Community College Early College Team. She is a College Navigation Specialist servicing Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center (AAEC) and Barry Goldwater High School in the Deer Valley Unified School District. Prior to working at PVCC, Helen spent 17 years as a Student Service Analyst at Gateway Community College’s TRIO-Upward Bound Program. TRIO-Upward Bound is a federally-funded program that serves high school students who will be the first in their family to attend and graduate from college.

Helen is a native of Tucson and attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2002, Helen and her family moved to the Phoenix area where she earned a Masters in Educational Counseling from the University of Phoenix. In her free time, Helen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and walking her dog, Lucy.

Demetria Shepherd
College Navigation Specialist
602-787-7182
demetria.shepherd@paradisevalley.edu

Demetria Shepherd is a member of the Navajo Nation. She’s from a small community called Rock Point, Arizona, near the Four Corners region, and now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Phoenix College for an Associate’s degree, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Northern Arizona University, and is currently finishing her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Demetria joined Paradise Valley Community College in the Summer of 2019 as Early College’s program coordinator for Puma Early College and currently serves as PVCC College Navigation Specialist with partnership in Paradise Valley Unified School District. She dedicates her time assisting high school students interested in Early College Programs opportunities, FAFSA support, college/university application assistance, and more. Demetria is a First-Generation and alumna of the Hoop of Learning Program. This is her way of giving back to the Phoenix community, supporting high school students in their academic endeavors during and after high school. Demetria will be assisting students attending Horizon High School and Shadow Mountain High School. In her spare time, she enjoys short evening (or early morning) hikes on North Mountain trails, going to concerts, listening to Indigenous podcasts, and traveling to-from the Navajo reservation visiting family and friends.Students and Parents are welcome to schedule a meeting appointment with Demetria here.

Taylor Stupka
College Navigation Specialist
602-787-6647
taylor.stupka@paradisevalley.edu

Taylor Stupka is a College Navigation Specialist serving Paradise Valley HS, Sweetwater Community School, and PVOnline/PVConnect. She is committed to helping students discover their best-fit postsecondary opportunity and navigate the barriers that hinder access to higher education. Taylor also teaches First Year Experience courses for first-year and Early College students. Originally from rural Kansas, Taylor moved to Arizona in 2020. She is a proud first-generation college graduate with an AS from Cloud County Community College, a BS in Health & Human Performance from Emporia State University, and an MS in College Student Personnel Services from Arkansas State University. In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing with her dogs. Students and parents are welcome to schedule an appointment with Taylor here.

Cindy Madris
College Navigation Specialist
602-787-7190
cindy.madris@paradisevalley.edu or cmadris@pvschools.net

Cindy Madris is one of the College Navigation Specialists servicing North Canyon and Pinnacle High School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Cindy has been working at Paradise Valley Community College for three years with admissions and records but recently moved into this early college position. Cindy is dedicated to helping promote the college going culture to make it possible for ALL students to achieve a higher education. Cindy is a First-Generation Mexican-American student and obtained her Bachelor's of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice at ASU back in 2017 and most recently obtained her Master's of Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education from ASU in December of 2021. Cindy enjoys various hobbies that include listening to true crime podcasts, playing video games, binge watching anime and t.v. shows, and spending time with her life partner and black lab mix named Maggie Moo.Students and Parents are welcome to schedule a meeting appointment with Cindy here.