Leah Ruiz is excited to be part the Pathways Specialist who works with students in the Education, Social, and Behavioral Health Pathway. She works toward inspiring and encouraging college students throughout their academic career. Being a first-generation student herself, it is her goal to help students realize that their life story has given them strengths they may not know they already possess, have the potential to overcome obstacles and successfully reach their goals and dreams. During her years as a graduate student in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Washington State University, she completed several publications and worked with WSU Coalition for Women Students, which works to create awareness of injustices for people of all genders and foster a safe and inclusive environment for all students. In her spare time, she likes to read books on personal growth and the juvenile justice system. She also enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, and tennis.

lodie Goodman has been a dedicated member of the SFCC community since September 2000. She began her career as a French and film instructor and served as Chair of the Communication Arts & Modern Languages Department. After 18 years of teaching and advising students across campus, she transitioned to her current role as Instructional Dean. In this capacity, lodie collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to advance SFCC's mission and foster a culture of innovation and inclusivity.

lodie is passionate about mentoring and is deeply committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB), particularly in Community Health and Education. She is also a strong advocate for professional development, ensuring faculty and staff have opportunities to grow and thrive. She is always ready to step in—often behind the scenes—to support initiatives that enhance student success and community engagement.

In her free time, lodie enjoys spending time with her family, which includes four German Shepherds. Her hobbies include teaching and practicing yoga, writing, tending to her organic lavender field, collecting rocks, and beading.

Christine’s passion has always been in substance use disorder and education fields. Her experience is expansive and includes both teaching and counseling in agency settings, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions including Whitworth University and Spokane Falls Community College. As a substance use disorder professional, Christine brings 23 years of expertise and commitment to the Addiction Studies department. She holds a Masters in Education, Bachelors in Psychology and Minor in Alcohol Studies from Washington State University. Having attended SFCC along her educational journey, she is happy to be part of the SFCC family as both a student and as a faculty member. Christine may be familiar to you as she has been a faculty counselor at SFCC for the past seven years.

When she’s not teaching, you will find Christine on adventures with her boys, riding her horses, snuggling with her Velcro-vizsla dog, or gardening.

KayDee Steele Ph.D., LMHC, SUDP: I have been a full-time faculty at SFCC since 2006. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and attended SFCC many years ago. I have two bachelor’s degrees (Psychology and Spanish) from Gonzaga University, a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Whitworth, and a Ph.D. from Gonzaga in Educational Leadership with emphasis on co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. My interests lie in social and criminal justice, behavioral health and the integration of these fields with primary care. I have had the honor to work in these fields since 1991 in such roles as educator, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Substance Use Disorder Professional, Juvenile Parole Counselor/Manager/State Coordinator, Director for a county behavioral health agency, and in roles as consultant, mentor, policy and legislative advocate, and more. I love working and training therapy dogs, travelling, and teaching.

Cara has been in the Substance Use field since 2009. She has worked in almost every level of service, and most recently worked as the Clinical Substance Use Disorder Manager for a local non-profit Substance Use and Mental Health treatment clinic. At this clinic, she oversaw all clinical operations and supervised all clinicians to ensure contract requirements were met for a multitude of criminal justice entities. Cara has a Master’s Degree in Social and Behavioral Health and has a deep passion for helping others and empowering positive change. Cara also serves on Whitworth University’s Advisory Board, volunteers with Perinatal Support Washington and hosts monthly Mom’s groups for newly postpartum mothers.