Jessica Aceves

Hometown: El Centro, California

Current Position: Principal, Imperial County 

Undergraduate: CSU San Marcos, B.A.

Graduate: San Diego State University, Teaching Credential; University of San Diego, M.Ed.; CSU San Bernardino, M.A.

Research Interests: K-12 Alternative Education; Special Education; Restorative Practice

Personal Interests: Travel, Art and Design

Ana Arias

Hometown: Fallbrook, California

Current Position: Assistant Principal, Fallbrook Union Elementary School District

Undergraduate: University of California San Diego, BA Sociology

Graduate: Master of Arts in Education Administration and Supervision

Research Interests: Latinas in K-12 administration

Personal Interests: Staying active outdoors. Some of my favorite activities include walking, hiking and swimming

Shaoni Bandy

Hometown: Tampa, Florida 

Current Position: Teacher, The Preuss School 

Undergraduate: University of California San Diego, B.S. General Biology and B.A. Human Development

Graduate: University of California San Diego, M.Ed 

Research Interests: Social Networks, Teacher Wellness and Support

Personal Interests: Cooking, Reading, Watching Movies/TV, Learning to use my Cricut Machine!

Sade Burrell

Hometown: San Diego, California

Current Position: Associate Professor/ Program Coordinator, San Diego Mesa College

Undergraduate: San Diego State University 

Graduate: University of Southern California (USC)

Research Interests: Foster youth and higher education

Personal Interests: Supporting and teaching Black people how to become economically stable

Amanda Corona

Hometown: Santa Ana, California 

Current Position: Director, Alumni Engagement, UC San Diego

Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego

Graduate: University of San Diego, M.A. Nonprofit Leadership 

Research Interests: Latinx in higher education

Personal Interests: Family friendly outdoor activities

Sinai Cota

Hometown: San Diego, California 

Current Position: Sloan Scholar Advisor, UC San Diego

Undergraduate: San Diego State University, BA Religious Studies, Minors in Chicano/a studies & Communication

Graduate: University of San Diego, M.A. in Education Leadership Studies

Research Interests: First gen, BIPOC, Storytelling, Persistence, Success

Personal Interests: Painter, author, dancer, dog mom, community advocate & organizer

Maysoon Dong

Hometown: San Leandro, CA

Current Position: Associate Director - PreCollege Programs, UC San Diego Extension - Education & Community Outreach Department

Undergraduate: UC San Diego, BA in Mathematics/Economics

Graduate: Boston University, MA in Economics

Research Interests: K-12 STEM education and closing the education gap through university partnerships

Personal Interests: Cycling, swimming, running and spending time with friends

Monica Garcia

Hometown: Coachella, California

Current Position: College Access Counselor

Undergraduate: University of California, Riverside B.A. Sociology/Law & Society

Graduate: University of California, Riverside M.Ed Higher Education Administration and Policy

Research Interests: Undocumented & underserved student groups (Access, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Social Justice, Retention & Success)

Personal Interests: An educational advocate dedicated to fighting for access, equity, inclusion, retention, and social justice for underrepresented students, championing these qualities in higher education

Paul Hadjipieris

Ardisia Knowles

Hometown: Aurora, Colorado

Current Position: English Teacher and Induction Teacher Coach

Undergraduate: The University of Tampa

Graduate: Harvard Graduate School of Education

Research Interests: Embedding cultural identity development in ELA curriculum for high school students

Personal Interests: Anime, musical theater, hiking and traveling

Martin Leyva

Jessica Nare

Hometown: Camarillo, California

Current Position: Assistant Vice President for Community and Belonging, San Diego State University

Undergraduate: Ohio Wesleyan University

Graduate: San Diego State University

Research Interests: Cultural Centers, Organizational Change, Feminist Practices in Leadership

Lan Nguyen

Hometown: San Diego, California

Current Position: Program Associate - Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities, West Ed. 

Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego B.S. Physiology and Neuroscience

Graduate: University of California, San Diego M.Ed. Teaching and Learning

Research Interests: Restorative practices in K-12 education, decolonizing approaches to educational leadership

Claudia Pena

Hometown: Desert Hot Springs, California

Current Position: Coordinator for Student Activities, UC San Diego

Undergraduate: UC San Diego, B.A. Politicial Science and Pre Med

Graduate: San Diego State University, M.A. Post Secondary Educational Leadership

Research Interests: Retention Rates of Chicana Latina women higher education in relationship to representation and mentorship

Personal Interests: Running, Hiking, Spending time with my kids, outdoors

Vanessa Ruiz-Salazar

Hometown: Roseville, California

Current Position: Assistant Principal, Lemon Grove

Undergraduate: William Jessup University / Public Policy

Graduate: Point Loma Nazarene University

Research Interests: Culturally Responsive Leadership, Community Engagement, School Culture & Climate

Personal Interests: Yoga, Hiking, Biking, Foodie

Jasmine L. Sadler

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan

Current Position: CEO+Visionary, The STEAM Collaborative

Undergraduate: University of Michigan BSE Aerospace Engineering

Graduate: Point Loma Nazarene University MBA Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Research Interests: Professional development for the success of Black women in STEM

Personal Interests: Dance, travel, concerts

Rochelle Smarr

Hometown: Victorville, California

Current Position: Director, Service Learning and Civic Engagement, CSU San Marcos

Undergraduate: San Jose State University, B.A. English

Graduate: New York University, M.A. Educational Leadership Politics and Advocacy

Research Interests: Service-Learning, Community Engagement, High Impact Educational Practices, Civic Engagement, African-American College Student Success

Personal Interests: Shopping while snacking, True crime podcasts, travel to beach cities

Scott Wild

Hometown: State College, Pennslvania 

Current Position: Assistant Principal, Poway Unified School District

Undergraduate: Penn State University - Secondary Education English

Graduate: San Diego State University - Communication

Research Interests: Retention of staff, intentional networks, educational leadership in school districts

Personal Interests: Athletics, travel, comedy, my family