Valarie Maestas
Project Rebound Director
Hailing from the warm high desert, Valarie was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Leaving home and dropping out of high school at 14, Valarie experienced numerous childhood traumas, police encounters, and threats of juvenile detention. Valarie was fortunate enough to make it out of the circumstances she was born into and found her way through higher education which transformed her life and that of her children. Those in her inner circle were not as lucky. Her journey and those closest to her drives her passion and commitment to serving those like her, who did not know there was another path.
As a Hispanic, first-generation college student and young mother she navigated many challenges and achieved tremendous success. She holds an Associates in Liberal Arts, a Bachelors of Science in Anthropology and Psychology from the University of New Mexico and a Masters in Health Education. Her graduate research focused on adverse childhood experiences in incarcerated youth and yoga as a mechanism for healing and reducing symptoms of PTSD.
There is a mission statement from a previous employer that she has always embraced as part of her ethos “… instill within each student a renewed belief of their individual potential.” She works to reduce barriers and empower others to navigate systems that have been historically inaccessible and oppressive. Valarie understands first-hand the fear, barriers, and immense opportunities that attending college presents and strives to make that path less burdensome for those she serves.
Contact Info
831-582-5742
Mandee Murphy
Project Rebound Program Coordinator
Mandee Ann Murphy is a proud wife and mother of four whose life journey reflects resilience, transformation, and a deep passion for supporting others. After enduring the painful loss of custody of her children and experiencing incarceration for the first time, Mandee reached a pivotal turning point. On September 21, 2014, she began her recovery journey—one that would ultimately lead her from despair to purpose. Through mandated programs like AOD, anger management, and parenting classes, she discovered the life-changing potential of education and made a decision to rebuild her future.
Mandee began her academic path at Fresno City College, where she earned two Associate Degrees—one in Drug and Alcohol Counseling and another in Social Work. Her desire to give back as a person in recovery led her to continue her education at Fresno State, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration with a youth emphasis. As a Project Rebound student, Mandee quickly became immersed in the program, serving as a student assistant and intern before being hired as administrative support. In this role, she embraced a case management approach, using her lived experience to support students facing similar challenges.
Today, Mandee proudly serves as the Project Rebound Program Coordinator at California State University, Monterey Bay. Her firsthand knowledge of navigating incarceration, probation, child protective services, and social services has become an invaluable resource for the students she now serves. Mandee is deeply committed to creating a space of empowerment, healing, and opportunity—supporting formerly incarcerated students as they pursue higher education and transform their lives, just as she did.
Contact Info
831-582-3913