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photos/bios - Welcome cohort 3!
Natalia C. V. Alarcón joined the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) in August 2018 and brings over 20 years of experience in institutional research and effectiveness at both the community college and university levels. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Bachelor’s in Psychology, an Associate’s in Business, and professional certificates in Training and Human Resources and Marketing. Natalia is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership through a joint program between the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). Her research interests include sense of belonging, campus climate, equity, intersectionality, employee motivation, organizational climate, and the ways in which these factors influence student and employee outcomes. Natalia is passionate about creating inclusive environments that promote academic success, personal growth, and overall well-being for diverse campus communities.
I am an immigrant from Lima Peru that came to the US 24 years ago looking for a better future. I got my AA degree in Santa Monica College and then I transferred to CSUN and received my BA in Public Sector Administration. In the future, I am looking to obtain my Masters’ n Counseling to continue helping the youth to achieve their dreams in higher education.
Anthony Bernardo is an experienced leader in student services, with a proven ability to develop and implement successful programs. He has a strong track record of mentoring student leaders, managing budgets, and streamlining processes. His expertise includes student success and retention, program development, and fostering collaborative relationships across campus departments. Anthony is dedicated to enhancing the student experience and promoting a positive and inclusive environment.
My name is Brenda Beza. Currently, I am the Program Manager for the TRIO Student Support Services Program at Rio Hondo College. In this role, I have the privilege of serving first-generation, low-income and/or students with disabilities who demonstrate an academic need. Additionally, I am an adjunct faculty at the University of La Verne’s La Fetra College of Education where I teach graduate-level courses in educational counseling. My educational background includes a Master of Arts in American Studies from California State University, Fullerton and Master of Science in Educational Counseling from the University of La Verne. At this juncture in history, and as a proud daughter of Central American immigrants and first-generation college student, I am grateful to continue learning about social justice in higher education alongside the SJCA Cohort.
Dr. Bri Brown currently serves as an Associate faculty member and Distance Education Coordinator at Cuyamaca College. Her dissertation work focused on equitable grading as a decolonizing practice, and she has advanced these conversations at her institution and at the state level. Bri is passionate about serving students equitably and from a trauma-informed lens. She pursues professional and personal growth opportunities that center DEIAA efforts in hopes that she can contribute to dismantling oppressive educational structures. Bri is in a biracial marriage and has a one-year-old son, and her hope is that his journey through education can be one where he is valued and empowered to shine as his authentic self.
I’m a higher education professional with over 14 years of experience in student success and support. I earned my undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Channel Islands, and went on to complete a graduate degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut.
I began my career in higher education working in Housing and Residence Life at the University of California, Merced, where I spent seven years supporting students as they navigated their on-campus living experience. I then transitioned to Norco College, where I’ve spent the last seven years as a Student Success Coordinator for TRIO Student Support Services. In this role, I provide academic support and guidance to first-generation, low-income college students.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with family, and watching NCAA softball.
Katlin Choi (she/her) is an Associate Professor and Work-Based Learning Coordinator at San Diego Mesa College. She also serves as a Senior Faculty on a NSF iUSE HSI STEM grant, focusing on equity-minded teaching practices and career exploration. Over the past two decades, Katlin has facilitated industry-school partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations to foster rich student-centered and student-led learning experiences to meet community and workforce needs. She is conducting research on the effects of culturally sustaining work-based learning activities on AAPI community college students as a doctoral student at Arizona State University. Katlin holds a B.A. in Political Studies from UCLA, a M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from CSUDH, and a M.A. in Education Counseling from SDSU. She is an immigrant-settler from Hong Kong, a first-generation college student, and a child of parents who labored in sweatshops and elderly homes as a home care aide.
On September 2nd, I was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. I participated in baseball, football, and basketball for West High School, the Vikings’ home team. While still participating in high school sports, I experienced my first college campus here at Bakersfield College in 2012 before moving on to Marshall, Texas. I have devoted my entire career to mentoring and guiding others in education. I had the opportunity to join two fraternities while attending college: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Gamma Beta Chi National Association Fraternity, Inc. I then pursued higher study at Wiley College since I was passionate about education, where I received a bachelor’s degree in Secondary study. For ten years, I mentored and served as a residential director, providing priceless support and encouragement. I began my adventure as a 7th-grade math teacher, encouraging and directing young brains in their academic path after several years in other educational vocations. Later, I adopted the position of a college recruiter, assisting students in pursuing options for further education and achieving their goals. I then moved on to Jarvis Christian University to work as the residential hall director. Currently, I work as an educational advisor for A2Mend at Bakersfield College. Three organizations near to my heart are We Are G.A.M.E., Project B.E.S.T., and Stand S.T.R.O.N.G. I actively take part in these projects, promoting good change and encouraging people to overcome obstacles. I continue to inspire others with my enthusiasm for education and unrelenting dedication to assisting people in realizing their full potential because I truly want to have a positive effect. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill This quote by Winston Churchill emphasizes the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of both success and failure. It reminds us that success is not the end of the journey and failure is not the end of the road; what truly matters is the resilience to keep moving forward towards our goals.
Oscar Duran is a dedicated counselor and coordinator for the EOPS/NextUp program at San Diego City College, where he advocates for current and former foster youth. As a first-generation college graduate from a Mexican immigrant family, he is deeply committed to equity, social justice, and student empowerment. With experience in program development, community partnerships, and student support services, he has led initiatives such as ally training for system-impacted students, expungement clinics, and workforce readiness programs. His leadership focuses on facilitating access to vital resources and fostering a sense of belonging for marginalized students. Passionate about professional growth, he has participated in multiple equity-focused training programs and continues to work toward dismantling systemic barriers and advocating for policies that uplift historically underserved communities.
My name is Oscar Escobar, and I am an Educational Advisor at Moreno Valley College. In my role, I support students through the matriculation process, provide academic advising, and help them navigate their educational and career pathways. My passion is guiding students toward achieving their goals by equipping them with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed.
Before joining Moreno Valley College, I worked as a Career Services Coordinator at North-West College, where I assisted students with job search strategies, resume development, interview techniques, and built strong partnerships with employers to enhance career opportunities.
I was born and raised in South Los Angeles, near Vernon and Huntington Park, and I understand firsthand the transformative power of education. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and later completed my Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Currently, I am furthering my education by pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State University, San Bernardino.
I believe that language plays a critical role in fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity for students. The words we use can empower students, create connections, and validate their experiences. By being intentional in my communication, I strive to create an environment where students feel heard, valued, and supported in their academic journeys.
My goal is to empower students with the guidance and confidence they need to take the next step in their education and careers.
I have been a classified employee at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District since September 2018. I started out at Grossmont College’s Allied Health Division where I served as their Health Professions Specialist for four and a half years before joining the Human Resources team at the District. I have a BA in Ethnic Studies from UCSD, and am a first-generation Latinx college graduate.
Born and raised in California’s Central Valley to immigrant parents from Mexico, Andrea is deeply committed to driving transformative change through education. A passionate community college advocate, she has experience supporting campus-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, like the Student Equity Speaker series and Women of Color in STEM, and working alongside student equity programs for diverse populations, including Black/African American, LGBTQ+, Native American/Indigenous, Undocumented, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic, and Foster Youth.
Andrea holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Santa Clara University and a Master of Education in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California (Fight On!). She currently serves as the Program Specialist for Student Equity and Success at Mt. San Antonio College, where she continuously enhances services for the Equity Center and oversees the Multicultural Center. Prior to this role, she was the Life Skills Specialist for the NextUp/REACH foster youth program.
Marie Hampton is a highly experienced Purchasing Manager with nearly 30 years of expertise in strategic sourcing, vendor management, contract management and contract negotiations. She is a results-driven professional with a proven track record of driving cost savings and optimizing supply chain efficiency. She is adept at building strong supplier relationships, implementing cost-reduction strategies, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality materials. She is passionate about leveraging procurement expertise to support business objectives to provide optimal products and services to ensure staff and student success. When she is not performing her duties as Purchasing Manager, she is a Certified Life Coach with over 5 years experience, specializing in personal and professional career development. She combines deep listening with actionable strategies empowering clients to realize their full potential. Her clients describe her sessions as ‘life-changing’ and inspirational.
Kiandra Jimenez is a Womanist scholar, artist, poet fueled by love and devotion to the narratives of Black American women and women of the African diaspora. Her passion for narratives drives her to seek novel ways of critically creating and understanding how we narrate and communicate ourselves to others. While Dr. Jimenez has been an educator for over 27 years, she deeply values alternative ways of knowing that live outside of academia. Dr. Jimenez holds a BA in English, MFA in Creative Writing with a dual focus in fiction and poetry, and a PhD in Cultural Studies with an emphasis in Africana Studies. Dr. Jimenez is a full-time Associate Professor of English at Norco College, where she also co-coordinates the Umoja Program and is deeply involved with the college’s equity initiatives. When she is not in the classroom, she is found in her garden or fiber arts studio, creating.
Maisha N. Jones, Ed.D. leads with power and love alongside colleagues committed to social justice. She currently serves as the Dean of People, Culture, and Society at Mission College in Santa Clara, California. She gets to cultivate brave spaces to unpack courageous conversations centered on inclusion. This is evident in her scholarly research focusing on Black Male Student Success in Community Colleges, and academic presentations highlighting Self-Preservation Strategies for Culturally Relevant Leadership. She demonstrates her passion by partnering with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Silicon Valley Chapter to advocate for equitable outcomes in education, economic empowerment, health, and public policy for Black women and girls. She finds peace in taking bike rides on the beach and appreciating the joy of being surrounded by nature on hikes in the hills.
Ms. Deborah Lewis has served for twenty years as a Child Development & Education Department faculty member, in the Social Sciences Division at Fresno City College (FCC). She inspires students through culturally responsive teaching. As part of her assignment, Deborah has served on several committees as an Academic Senate representative, and Senator for her department (1.5 years). Deborah is a member of the FCC African American Faculty & Staff Association, serving as a past President (2019-2021) and Treasurer (2017-2019). Recently, Deborah was chosen as a 2025 Wall of Honor Inductee, an honor established by State Center Community College District & the African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Fresno, Ca. She is proud to serve at her alma mater (associate’s degree). Deborah lives in Fresno, Ca., and has two adult sons and a Siberian Husky.
Basti Lopez is a passionate advocate and visionary leader for educational justice. As a first-generation college graduate and DACAmented professional, Basti earned her M.A. in Leadership Development from Chapman University in 2020, a B.A. in English from UCI in 2015, and an A.A. in Liberal Arts, Humanities, and Communications from Santa Ana College in 2013. She is pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership at Cal State Long Beach.
Basti has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives at the college and in her community. To highlight a few of her accomplishments, in 2019, she took Santa Ana College students to lobby during the DACA Supreme Court hearing in D.C. She notably established and expanded the dual enrollment program at SAC and has orchestrated significant community engagement events. Basti is ambitious and forward-thinking, and she aspires to further embody a commitment to fostering inclusive excellence and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
Natalie Lopez (she/her/hers) is a Professor Librarian, Faculty Chair, and Academic Senate Vice President for Outreach at Crafton Hills College. She currently teaches classes in the fully Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) pathway Library Support Staff Certificate program. She holds a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, a Bachelor’s degree in Art History, and two Associates degrees from Pasadena City College. She is currently enrolled in the California State University, Fullerton’s Educational Doctorate program for Educational Leadership with a community college leadership concentration. Her upcoming dissertation is tentatively titled “The Library is OPEN: Examining Open Educational Resources (OER)/Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) in student success, engagement, retention, and completion.” Engaging in conversations about these efforts is a labor of love in providing students affordable access to education and developing creative ideas for making it happen.
I am a proud descendant of undocumented migrant farm laborers from México and Guatemala. In 2006, I graduated with a Ph.D. in English, and during this same year, I was hired as a full-time professor at Santa Barbara City College. Currently, as the Director of two Title V HSI grants, I am developing ¡Raíces: First Year and Beyond! a student empowerment program that strives to cultivate thriving scholars and future leaders by celebrating and affirming the multilingual, multiracial, and multicultural Latiné identities and heritages and providing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful career and academic development to explore their potential. My advocacy work is motivated by my ancestors and familia whose support, resilience, and resistance provide me the foundation to fight for educational justice and transformative change and my core values in this work manifest from my mother who taught me the power of humility and cariño.
Kelly Metz-Matthews, Ph.D. is Assistant Program Chair of English as a Second Language at the San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE). Committed to furthering TESOL scholarship in the field of adult education, she currently also serves as Associate Editor of Applied Linguistics, an Oxford University Press journal, and as an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State. At SDCCE, Dr. Metz-Matthews teaches both on campus and off-site ESL classes at a variety of levels. A critical applied linguist by training, her praxis is rooted in creating a humanized and community-oriented space for learning. In 2023, Dr. Metz-Matthews was selected as a Stanford University EPIC Community College Faculty Fellow. In 2024, she was named an Emerging Leader by the Conference on English Leadership, a leadership constituency group of the National Council of Teachers of English.
I have been working as a Grant Support Specialist at Columbia College since last year, following my arrival in the U.S. from Afghanistan. In my role, I assist with securing and managing funding for various programs, ensuring that projects are aligned with institutional goals. I am passionate about supporting educational opportunities and making a positive impact in my community. With a background in grant writing and project management, I am dedicated to contributing to the growth and success of Columbia College and its students.
Alice Musumba has worked for Moreno Valley College as a Grants Director since May 2023, and seeks to grow in her career in service to students in higher education as a way to give back.
Mr. Paquette is the AVP of Administrative Services at Pierce College, which is part of the Los Angeles Community College District. He has 15-years experience in the community colleges and 30+ years of accounting and management experience. He has been a college instructor of accounting, auditing, business, and business law for more than fifteen years at a number of higher educational institutions throughout the Southland. Ron holds an MBA and an M.Ed. in addition to several professional certifications including the Associate of Risk Management (ARM), the Wharton School’s Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation, and a Certified Commercial Contract Management (CCCM) designation with the National Contract Management Association.
My name is Tania Pichardo and serve as the EOPS Program Specialist at West Valley College. I have held roles as the Classified Senate President and Acting Director roles for Equity and EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs and NextUp. I am the Co-Chair for the colleges Equity Plan, Classified Senate Treasurer, and co-lead student events for parenting students, and the Latine student population on campus. Additionally, I am part of the Accreditation team and lead efforts to streamline processes for the Vision Aligned Reporting. I have participated in the Aspiring Radical Leaders Institute and am a current doctoral student.
I am caring and passionate about supporting and advocating for equitable student success. I believe in continuous learning, which is why I’m beyond excited for the opportunity to be part of ACCCA’s Social Justice & Career Advancement Institute- Cohort C. I look forward to connecting and learning from you all.
Dr. Rob Stevenson is the Dean of the School of Art Performance, and the Humanities at Modesto Junior College, where he has worked for 23 years. Previous to that he was a Professor of Art History and Studio Art. He recently received his Ph.D. from The University of the Cumberlands Leadership with an emphasis in Instructional Technology and wrote a dissertation studying professional development for midlevel leader. He also holds a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, a Master of Arts in Humanities with an emphasis in Art History from California State University at Dominguez Hills, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art Practice and Art History from the University of California at Berkeley. Rob also works for the RP Group’s Leading from the Middle Academy (LFM), coaching from 2019 to 2024. He recently moved into a facilitator position for the 2025-26 LFM Academy
Hannah is a community-minded and social justice-driven practitioner, researcher, and instructor at West Valley College. She earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and currently works as a Program Analyst in the Office of Student Needs. Hannah is dedicated to ensuring individuals have the agency to lead meaningful, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
I have worked as a classified employee at Madera Community College for two years, engaging directly with students on a daily basis.
Katrina Tran is a dedicated higher education professional with over seven years of experience supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Having worked at institutions such as San Jose State University, San Jose City College, and De Anza College, she specializes in career development, workforce education, and internship programs. Their work extends beyond traditional education, with a background in non-profits focusing on justice-impacted youth in Santa Clara County. They are passionate about creating equitable opportunities for all students, particularly in developing internship initiatives that provide hands-on experience. Currently, they are spearheading efforts to enhance student engagement through career fairs and skill-building workshops. She continuously seeks ways to bridge education with real-world experience, ensuring students have the tools and confidence to navigate their professional paths.
Karen Tu is a senior student services/programs specialist and coordinator for the CalWORKs Program for Parenting Students at Glendale Community College. Karen’s career in the public sector has focused on working with and empowering underserved individuals and communities on the margins. Karen has a strong history of advocacy work and expertise in mental health and wellness, gender-based violence, refugee and immigrant experiences, government benefits, and educational access and equity. Karen earned her BA degree in psychology, with a minor in education studies from the University of California, Los Angeles; MA degree in counseling psychology from New York University; and MPA degree in public sector management and leadership from California State University, Northridge. Karen is fluent in Cantonese Chinese, and working on improving her Mandarin Chinese and Spanish language skills. She is an avid hiker, yogi, dog lover, and proponent of radical self-care.
I was born in Burbank California. At the age of three my parents moved to Santa Clarita, CA where I attended Elementary, Junior High and High School. I began to work part time at the local community college while taking classes for nursing, and then later changed my major to Child Development. I was higherd at College of the Canyons full time in 2006, and shortly they’re after completed my associate’s degree and transferred to CSUN, completing my bachelor’s in child and Adolescent Development. I have two children, Caden 15 and Celenea 11. In May of 2025 I will be married 25 years. I am currently preparing to begin a master’s degree in social justice and human Rights at ASU. I am very involved on my campus, and with various committees.
Greg Vega currently serves as Dean of Enrollment Services at Irvine Valley College where his portfolio includes oversight of Admissions & Records, Outreach & Community Relations, Matriculation, and the International Student Program. His professional experience includes more than a decade in higher education, including more than 8 years in administrative roles in the California Community College system. Greg is a National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) leadership fellow and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from the University of San Diego in Higher Education Leadership. A proud product of the California Community College system, Greg’s work focuses on removing barriers to equitable access for students and advancing policies intended to strengthen outcomes that include success, persistence, and completion.
Administrative Manager, Library/Learning Resources
A.S., Riverside City College. B.A., Administration/Management, Cal State University, San Bernardino. M.A., Management, University of Redlands.
At Riverside Community College District since 1997.
