Contacts & Directions

Vera Grigorian has worked as an educational therapist in private practice for over 20 years. She earned her BA in Sociology and MA in Education from UCSB and has her teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Vera is thrilled to be back in Santa Barbara working in Academic Services. She loves swimming and jumps into the ocean or a pool every chance she gets.

Sienna Kimbell, a Santa Barbara based Educational Therapist, works closely with the teachers at Laguna Blanca, as well as collaborating with Ms. Steeber and Ms. Roarty, in order to assist the 8th and 9th graders with their transition to high school. She works 1:1 with students on organization, planning, study skills, time management, and self-advocacy. Sienna has a Bachelors degree from Cal Polytechnic State University San Luis Opispo in Environmental Science with an emphasis on Outdoor Education, a Masters in Special Education from Humboldt State University and a Special Education Teaching Credential. She is also endorsed by the Association of Educational Therapists and works in the Santa Barbra area in her own private tutoring and consulting business. Sienna loves helping students get on track and strive to achieve their highest goals. In her free time, she is juggling her two little boys, and can usually be found at the beach.

In addition to serving the LBS community at the Isham Library & Nylen Academic Research Center, Al is currently completing his Ph.D. at UC Santa Barbara in religious studies. He specializes in the history and philosophy of American religion and is writing his dissertation on the late American author David Foster Wallace, specifically on Wallace’s famous Kenyon College commencement address, This Is Water. Al taught academic writing at UCSB for over four years, and works with students as an educational coach/tutor. Before coming to Santa Barbara, Al worked as a biomedical researcher & laboratory manager (cancer biology) at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania--an experience which greatly developed both the breadth and depth of his educational skills.