Meet the Team

Aranza Torres || Project Director

Aranza Torres
Project Director

Phone Number (call): 254-299-8516
Phone Number (text): 254-527-6171
Meeting Link: https://calendly.com/atorresgutierrez/crew-resource-meeting
Office Location: Student Services, Success Coaching Services, 249D
Hometown: Waco, Texas

Aranza Torres, LMSW (she/her) is a first-generation immigrant from Mexico but who claims Waco as her home. Aranza has 10 years of social work experience working with diverse and often vulnerable populations. Aranza has been active in the Waco community participating in local organizations, events and engaging in work that promoted local community wellness alongside organizations that include; Hispanic Leaders Network, Waco Immigrants Alliance, United Way of McLennan County, La Puerta, and Habitat for Humanity. Aranza currently serves as Project Director for Student Resources at McLennan Community College, managing the Basic Needs Grant. In this role Aranza oversees all Basic Needs programming on the campus—often seeking innovative ways to address student needs. In her free time Aranza enjoys spending time with her 4 dogs, reading and working on puzzles.

What do you enjoy most about working at McLennan?
I love working at MCC because I can see and know how much other staff and faculty care about our students and the work we are doing. MCC is one of Waco’s most undervalued resources, I LOVE to see alumni out in their businesses and with their families they are a wonderful example of what a great institution MCC is.

What excites you most about working with the CREW?
I love the team I work with. We are creative, innovative and often challenge each other. We make things happen and that is just amazing to see.

What is an inspirational quote you like?
"Creating is an act against dying." Sandra Cisneros

What is your favorite thing to do in Waco?
I love all our local restaurants, we have some great hole in the wall places that are incredible. I love food.

LaTasha Davis || Resource Specialist

Latasha Davis
Resource Specialist

Phone Number (call): 254-299-8527
Meeting Link: https://calendly.com/ldavis-mcc/30min
Office Location: Student Services, Success Coaching Services, 248D
Hometown: Waco, Texas

LaTasha Davis received her Associate of Arts from McLennan Community College in 2008 and her Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University in 2010. Her employment includes having served as a Veteran Case Manager for Caritas of Waco, as a Case Manager for the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network, and as a CPS Case Manager for the Department of Family and Protective Services in Waco. LaTasha brings valuable and relevant work experience to this position, including assisting clients in learning how to cope with mental/physical illness, substance abuse, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and food instability/insecurity.

What do you enjoy most about working at McLennan?
Where do I start? I enjoy my coworkers and engaging with the students. MCC’s leadership team is supportive of staff and cares about our needs. I do enjoy the professional development class opportunities, workshops, and informational sessions. Not to mention the scenery, the campus is beautiful.

What excites you most about working with the CREW?
Being able to assist students and help connect them to the resources they need. It’s rewarding to be their support system and help them navigate through college and the real world.

What is an inspirational quote you like?
"People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together.” Michelle Obama

What is your favorite thing to do in Waco?
I love going to Cameron Park Zoo, Cameron Park Skate World and Practically Pikasso with my children. I’m a foodie so I love trying new local restaurants. I enjoy wondering downtown, looking at the new murals and visiting local shops.

Emma Cartisano || Doctoral Intern for Student Engagement

Emma Cartisano
Doctoral Intern for Student Engagement

Phone Number (call): 254-299-8558
Meeting link: https://calendly.com/cartisano-mcc
Office Location: Student Services, Success Coaching Services, 248E
Hometown: Hackettstown, NJ

Emma is a PhD candidate at Baylor University in the Higher Education Studies & Leadership program. She is passionate about researching student success–for graduate students and for community college students. After having faced her own basic needs insecurity, Emma is committed to advocating for resource equity and accessibility in colleges. When not working or studying, you’ll find Emma exploring local coffee shops, running, lifting heavy weights, doing calligraphy, or reading a good book.

What do you enjoy most about working at McLennan?
I've never met a team more committed to student success and employee wellbeing. When we have a dream, people rally to make it happen!

What excites you most about working with the CREW?
I love getting to help create an office from the ground up. This is hard but rewarding work, and I love making connections and seeing our students succeed.

What is an inspirational quote you like?
"'What if I fall?' Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?" Erin Hanson

What is your favorite thing to do in Waco?
Exploring coffee shops, running in Cameron Park, trying local restaurants

Yareth Varela || Social Work Intern

Yareth Varela
Social Work Intern

Meeting Link: https://calendly.com/yvarela-mclennan/30min
Office Location: Student Services, Student Life Center
Hometown: Waco, TX

Yareth received her Associate of Arts at McLennan Community College in May 2020 and graduated with her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Tarleton State University in May 2024. Prior to the CREW, she was a BSW intern at La Puerta Waco providing case management to the Hispanic/Latino and Spanish-speaking community. Yareth was also an active volunteer for the American Red Cross from August 2022 to May 2024, in which she worked within the Volunteer Services Department as a screening team member. Yareth is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at Tarleton where she will graduate in July 2025.

What do you enjoy most about working at McLennan?
As I am an MCC Alumni, it is surreal to see how things have gone full circle. As a student, I remembering adoring how inclusive MCC was of diverse populations. As an employee, I feel the inclusiveness even more!

What excites you most about working with the CREW?
Working with the CREW has allowed me to expand my expertise in student engagement and increased my social work skills. Fellow CREW staff have helped me in unimaginable ways that I will forever be thankful for. Meeting with students and connecting them to necessary resources never fails to put a smile on my face. As they let out a sigh of relief, I do the same!

What is an inspirational quote you like?
"One day at a time" - myself.
This saying has helped me throughout my college years and will continue to push me in my professional career.

What is your favorite thing to do in Waco?
On my days off, I like taking a walk at Cameron Park and ordering a Maui Sunrise bowl at Mamaka right after. If I'm really feeling fancy, I go eat at Milo for a nice brunch with loved ones.