Cohort 19 Students

Ariana Ordonez

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA.

Current Position: School counselor

Undergraduate: B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of California, Los Angeles

Graduate: M.S. in Educational Counseling with a PPS credential from the University of La Verne

Research Interests: School counseling, cultural proficiency, and Latinx educational attainment.

Personal Interests: My relationship with God; spending time with family and friends; traveling; the beach; Kern River camping; watching movies and concerts, and community service.

Celeste Townsend

Hometown: Riverside, California

Current Position: President & Chief Executive Officer, California Indian Nations College

Undergraduate: University of Redlands, Bachelor of Science, Busness Administration & Management (concentration in Finance)

Graduate: University of Redlands, Master of Business Administration

Research Interests: Evolution in American Indian Education, Leadership, Organizational Change

Personal Interests: Enrolled citizen of the Guidutikad numu of the Fort Bidwell Indian Community Paiute tribe located in Northern California who loves Beading, Walking, and being with Family.

Catherine (Cat) Lettieri

Hometown: Davis, CA

Current Position: Assistant Director, Changemaker Institute, UC San Diego

Undergraduate: UC Davis, Sociology Law & Society, minoring in Cultural Anthropology

Graduate: University of San Diego, MA in Higher Education Leadership

Research Interests: Community Engaged Learning, Faculty Development, Community Partner Impacts

Personal Interests: Science fiction, politics & policy, spending time with kids

Corey Fujikawa

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Current Position: Academic Advisor and Program Coordinator, UC San Diego

Undergraduate: University of Miami, FL. Broadcast Journalism B.S., Sports Administration Double Major

Graduate: UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy, Master of International Affairs

Research Interests: Refugee access to higher education. Study abroad participation in first gen and minority students.

Personal Interests: Cooking, gardening, fishing, golf

Fred Mora

Jasper Lucas

Hometown: Manila, Philippines

Current Position: Director of Assessment and Data Analysis, San Jacinto Unified School District

Undergraduate: UC Los Angeles, Mathematics with specialization in Computer Programming

Graduate: City College of New York, Masters of Science in Mathematics Education and Mercy College, School Building Leadership

Research Interests: Role of Central Office with Site Leadership, Instructional Leadership, Mathematics Education, Leadership and Gender

Personal Interests: Boating, Water Sports and Camping

Lucio Guerrero

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Current Position: 6th grade Teacher, Escondido Union School District

Undergraduate: California State University of San Marcos; Social Science

Graduate: California State University of San Marcos; M.A in Multilingual & Multicultural Education

Research Interests: Navigating the identity of dual language middle school students in a study that promotes self-awareness, identity, inclusivity of multilingual and multicultural diversity to increase a positive school community.

Personal Interests: I love to be outdoors, travel and try new foods place in San Diego.

Lucio (he, they, él) Lira

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Current Position: LGBTQIA+ Academic Success and Equity Program Counselor Coordinator, MiraCosta College | Pride Center Counselor Coordinator, San Diego Mesa College

Undergraduate: Southwestern College, AA in Psychology| UC Davis, B.A. in Psychology

Graduate: San Diego State University, Community Based-Block: Multicultural Community Counseling & Social Justice Education

Research Interests: LGBTQIA+ Student Success in Community Colleges

Personal Interests: Roller Skating, taking care of my plants, and discovering new coffee shops.

Marlene Gracia

Hometown: San Marcos, CA.

Current Position: Program Coordinator, Alliance College LINK Program

Undergraduate/Graduate: California State University San Marcos

Research Interests: Equity, Student Success, First-Year Programs, Peer Mentoring

Personal Interests: Watching Hallmark movies, watching the sunset, hiking, one day being a professional skydiver (:

Matthew Monges

Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA

Current Position: Gender Equality Diversity & Inclusion Officer, International Rescue Committee

Undergraduate/Graduate:

University of the Pacific, BA Health Exercise Science; MA Higher Ed Administration, Student Affairs, & Organizational Leadership

Research Interests: Sense of Belonging, Cultural Competency, Leadership

Personal Interests: My dogs, my family, surfing, coffee, camping, movement

Nichol Roe

Hometown: Oceanside, CA

Current Position: Associate Dean, Workforce Development & Extended Studies, Palomar College

Undergraduate/Graduate: CSU San Marcos, History

Research Interests: Workforce Development, Credit for Prior Learning, Military Students

Personal Interests: Outdoor activities, reading, watching my kids play sports

Tabitha Seaver

Hometown: Grand Haven, Michigan

Current Position: Education Specialist, Co-teacher/Case manager High School Biology, San Marcos Unified

Undergraduate: Northern Kentucky University BA in Middle School Science and a minor in K-12 Mild/Moderate Special Education

Graduate: MA in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum

Research Interests: Co-teaching, Biology-human evolution, equity and access in public education

Personal Interests: Nature, travel, reading