Our Staff
The SFCC staff members, Linda Krippner, Avi Leibovici, Karla Hernandez and Deana LaCroix offer a wealth of expertise and resources to the Caltech community. Linda Krippner is the Director and provides consultation and counseling. Avi Leibovici provides consultation, counseling, and targeted outreach. Karla Hernandez provides consultation and counseling. Deana LaCroix provides administrative support.
Staff members are readily available and accessible throughout the work week and after hours. SFCC staff members speak a variety of languages, and are able to obtain a translator if you or a family member speaks a language that we do not provide.
Linda Krippner, Psy.D.
Linda Krippner has been with SFCC since 2002, and has served as the program's Director since 2008. She is a licensed psychologist with a background that emphasizes health psychology, community resources, and crisis intervention and response. She offers specialized interventions in stress management and relaxation training.
Linda received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of San Diego, and her M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles.
Avi Leibovici, LCSW
Avi Leibovici has been with SFCC since 1991. During his tenure, in addition to individual and family counseling, he has accomplished extensive staff development activities on campus and created a number of workshops and programs for the Caltech community.
In addition to his work at Caltech, Avi has over 20 years of experience in the mental health arena, specializing in counseling immigrant populations. He has lived, studied and worked on three different continents and speaks five different languages. Avi is fluent in Spanish, English, Hebrew, French and Romanian. His second area of expertise is in crisis intervention with an emphasis on the prevention and management of violent behaviors.
Avi received his bachelor's degree in Social Work from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his Master's in Social Work from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Karla Hernandez, LCSW
Karla Hernandez joined the SFCC team in July of 2013. Previously she was the Director of a Permanent Supportive Housing program for a community health clinic in West Covina. Prior to her role as Director, she worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health in various roles, specializing in serious mental health disorders, the criminal justice system, substance abuse and children and families. Karla is fluent in Spanish. Additional areas of interest are spirituality, sexuality and couples counseling.
Karla received her bachelor's degree in Women Studies and Political Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her Master's in Social Work from the University of Southern California.
Deana LaCroix
Deana LaCroix has been with SFCC since September 2004. As Office Administrator, she is liaison between staff and clients. She provides administrative support for staff, schedules clients, and manages the operational affairs of the office.
