Catherine has an M.S. in Counselor Education and has served in the Marines, CA Army National Guard, and CA Air National Guard. She has over 20 years of experience working as a Veterans Coordinator/Counselor at Sierra College. Catherine created a comprehensive military cultural competency training program, called “At Ease” for faculty and staff at higher education institutions. In 2007, Catherine organized the first “The Road Home: From Combat to College and Beyond” symposium, attended by nearly 300 people. Additionally, she co-developed the Boots to Books Learning Communities at Sierra College and created a nationally recognized Veterans Resource program and center.

As a leader in veteran advocacy, Catherine has testified before the CA State Veterans Affairs Committee and served as a member of the Veterans Task Force with the CA Department of Veterans Affairs, and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office Advisory Group on Student Mental Health.

Catherine has presented dozens of workshops and webinars around the country, including the Rosalynn Carter Symposium in Atlanta, GA, the Office of Civil Rights and Department of Education, CA Community Colleges Veterans Summit, and veteran organizations on topics such as: combat stress, moral injury, creating veteran friendly campuses, and military competencies. She has been interviewed by The Jim Lehrer Show, National Public Radio, KCBS-AM and KPFA-FM San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento News and Review. Catherine is dedicated to her service dog, Dawson and serving veterans.

Sharon has a finance background and has been in special education for over 15 years. She enjoys writing and getting out on the local lakes on her paddleboard. She understands the struggle of trauma and loss, and lives in a journey of healing and finding life's purpose by supporting others with a tender heart and an empathetic ear. She is also a student of therapy dog training with her girl Leia, who we believe was brought to the Cadre to spread love and joy to those she snuggles up to.

Jesse Vigil rounds out the leadership team with his advisory role for our veterans. Having served in combat as a soldier in the US Army and then transitioning home as a student, Jesse experienced the challenges that so many of our veterans face on an emotional and spirit level. He became passionately involved with the Veterans Cadre group at Sierra College as a peer mentor to help other veterans like himself become successful in their civilian lives. This led him to pursue an advanced degree in counseling at Sacramento State University. Ironically, it was during his time in academia that Jesse discovered the life-affirming practice of yoga that completely altered the course of his life. He now shares this passion of connecting, educating, and healing with others both as a certified yoga instructor and as a formal counselor.