Trailhead Trailhead Leaders

Christen co-directs the Trailhead program and serves as the Director of Student Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, and Operations for the Gaede Institute. Christen is a 2001 alumna of Westmont College with a BA in Communication Studies. She earned an MPA from Seton Hall University.

Sarah is an alumna of Westmont College with a BA in Sociology. She served as a Trailhead student mentor for two years, and is passionate about supporting the needs of high school students. Sarah also co-directs Westmont's Young Adult Leadership Lab. 

Thomas Staffileno is Trailhead's resident director, and currently serves as Westmont's Assistant Director of Residence Life. Thomas arrived at Westmont in 2017 and has a MA in Student Development from Oregon State University.

Aaron collaborates with the Trailhead directors in addition to serving as the Director of Student Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, and Operations for the Gaede Institute. Aaron is a 2001 alumna of Westmont College with a BA in English and Religious Studies. He earned a P.h.D. in church history and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Delaney serves as the Coordinator for all of the Gaede Institute programs and more specifically with the communication and application process for Trailhead. Delaney is a 2023 alumna of Westmont College with a BA in Communication Studies. She has experience in event coordinating and non-profit engagement in Santa Barbara and San Diego.

Hello! My name is Lucca Rodriguez. I’m a second-year English and Sociology student from San Diego, CA. I’m a returning Trailhead mentor and program alum from high school! During my fall semester, I lived with a host family in Querétaro, Mexico. This coming fall, I will be studying at a travel program in the UK and Ireland. My favorite part of Trailhead is fostering hospitality and inclusion on campus. I look forward to goofing off, finding common ground, and learning to listen well.

Hello everyone my name is Tamia Sanders and I am a graduating senior here at Westmont. I am from Houston, Texas and enjoy getting to know people on an interpersonal level. Over the years I have been blessed with the opportunity to mentor and be a leader for people that are in a phase of life that I have lived or am transitioning out of. As a high school graduate of 2020 I am familiar with the challenges that high schoolers face and although it can be daunting, I am most excited about being a part of helping students navigate this phase of life. 

Hi there, my name is Nikolas Gutierrez and I am a first year Economics and Business major from Orange County, CA. I love to be active, workout, listen to music, watch sports and play Rugby. I am the president of the Rugby club on campus and love teaching people about the sport. I attended Trailhead when I was in high school and I'm super excited to work with all the high schoolers. I want to share the passion and love that I have for Westmont with everyone who steps foot on campus!

Hi everyone! My name is Mel Bredow, and I am about to start my last year at Westmont! I am majoring in English and double-minoring in Education and Gender Studies. During my time at Westmont, I have studied abroad as part of the England Semester 2022 cohort, served as an RA in Armington, and interned as a Teacher's Aide at Dos Pueblos High School. I have also been involved in clubs on campus, like our Multi-Ethnic Student Association (MESA), Asian Student Association (ASA), and Feminist Society. My hobbies include reading, going to concerts, taking care of my too-many-plants, and trying new coffee shops with my friends! I am looking forward to some deep conversations in our Trailhead small groups as well as making some shared Spotify playlists! 

Hello, my name is Ken Wells. I am a Political Science major going into my third year at Westmont! I love going to the beach, working out, and traveling, and I particularly enjoy camping and backpacking trips. I love researching and exploring the Santa Barbara backcountry right behind Westmont. When I graduate, my goal is to pursue law school and start my career in the law field. I work on campus with the Housing department at Westmont and have spent many summers interning with my local state senator.

I look forward to meeting everyone and fostering a fun and fulfilling environment at Trailhead so everyone can have as impactful an experience as I had when I attended Trailhead.