Current Students

Lydia Alaniz-Gonzalez

She/Her/Hers

Face-to Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Dissertation: Factors that Influence Latinx High School Graduates in Obtaining a College Degree
• Research Interests: Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices
• Professional Role: AP Psychology Educator
• Hometown: Reedley, CA
• Current Location: Clovis, CA

Vincent Alcantar

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: School improvement and instructional leadership, Latinx school leaders
• Professional Role: High School Math Teacher
• Hometown and Current Location: Porterville, CA

Amy Allen

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Professional Role: Associate Director - Student Involvement at Fresno State
• Hometown: St. John, Virgin Islands
• Current Location: Fresno, CA

Sara Baramy Constantinescu

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 6: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Hispanic/Latinos in Higher Education, South East Asians in Higher Education, Pathway Programs, Undergraduate Student Research Programs, Student:Faculty Mentorships, Faculty and Staff of Color Experiences in Higher Education, Organizational Theory in Higher Education
• Professional Role: Graduate Studies Coordinator
• Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
• Current Location: Oceanside, CA

Kristina Barger 

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: White Supremacy in Higher Education
• Professional Role: VISTA Program Manager, CSU Chancellor's Office
• Hometown: Livermore, CA
• Current Location: Long Beach, CA

Edie Brown

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Advising students of color in a predominantly white 4 year higher education institution, Diversity, equity and inclusion in Student Affairs with a focus on student services, How unions and universities can co-exist while serving students
• Professional Role: Union President
• Hometown: San Francisco, CA
• Current Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Elissa Caruth

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Professional Role: Department Chair, Professor of English
  
  

Cynthia Cervantes

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 6: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Facilities staff impact on residential students, affordable housing for students, first-gen students 
• Professional Role: Executive Director, Office of Housing Administration at San Diego State University
• Hometown: San Lorenzo, CA
• Current Location: San Diego, CA

Brian Childs

He/Him/His

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: International student experiences with oppression
• Professional Role: Director - International Student & Scholar Services, CSU Monterey Bay
• Hometown: Canton, OH
• Current Location: Marina, CA

Jennifer Chinander

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Equity, Connection between behavior and engagement, Achievement Gap and English Learners
• Professional Role: Assistant Principal
• Hometown: Clovis, CA
• Current Location: Santa Margarita, CA

Corry Colonna

He/Him/His

Online Cohort 6: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Mid-level Lead Staff Development
  Studies in student well being to increase joy and mental thriving
• Professional Role: Executive Director, Housing & Residential Life
• Hometown: Punxsutawney, PA
• Current Location: Long Beach, CA

Ariel Davis

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: First-generation college students, Black and underrepresented students, underresourced students, colorism, misogynoir and dismantling systems of oppression 
• Professional Role: Coordinator, Outreach and Relations with Schools 
• Hometown: Wilmer, LA
• Current Location: San Bernardino, CA

Eleanor M Esquada

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 14: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Early Childhood Education, Equity and Access to programs and SEAL support
• Professional Role: General Ed Teacher, Kindergarten
• Hometown and Current Location: Fresno, CA

Jen Evans

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Dissertation: Dissenting in Educational Practice: An Evaluation of Free Speech and its Limitations Among Educators
• Professional Role: 5th grade teacher
• Current Location: Arroyo Grande, CA 

Rashonne Founts-Saenz

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: First Year Student Success, Transitional summer programs that support first year students 
• Professional Role: Educational Opportunity Program Academic Advisor, Summer Bridge Program Coordinator, Lecturer, Multidisciplinary Studies at Stanislaw State University 
• Hometown and Current Location: Manteca, CA

Anayeli Gomez-Navarro

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Women Leaders, Underrepresented Minorities, First Generation College Students, Latinas in Higher Education
• Professional Role: Academic Advisor
• Hometowns: Mexico City & Arvin, CA
• Current Location: Bakersfield, CA

Omar Gutierrez

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 14: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Budget, finance and full impact on students access
• Professional Role: VP Administrative Services
• Current Location: Visalia, CA 

Andrea Hall-Cuccia

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 14: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Academic factors impacting time to graduation at California Community Colleges (major switching, academic load, summer sessions, DFW, math/writing placement, total credits), particularly pre- and post- AB705 and Guided Pathways
• Professional Role: Institutional Researcher, UC Merced
• Hometown and Current Location: Merced, CA

Amie Hammond

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Dissertation: Work Values, Organizational Change, White Supremacy and Systems of Oppression within Organizations, Career Development
• Professional Role: Associate Director of Career Counseling and Education, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• Hometown: Palo Alto, CA
• Current Location: Paso Robles, CA

T'Nesia TJ Hurley

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 6: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Equity focused financing and student achievement.
• Professional Role: Assistant Superintendent of Business
• Hometown: Oakland, CA
• Current Location: Redding, CA

Rafael Iniguez

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Career Technical Education, Mindfulness, Dual Enrollment, first-generation students, migrant students, Latinx students
• Professional Role: Career Technical Education Coordinator
• Hometown: Parlier, CA
• Current Location: Fresno, CA

Erika Ireland

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Educational pipeline of dietetic students in higher education
• Professional Role: Faculty & Dietetic Internship Director
• Hometown: Fresno, CA
• Current Location: Clovis, CA

Gus Leonard

He/Him/His

Online Cohort 3: Class of 2021

• Research Interests: Language and Culture learning; technology-enhanced learning. Dissertation Topic: Understanding Intercultural Competence in Civic Engagement/Citizenship through Photovisual Elicitation of Study Abroad Student Photoblogs
• Professional Role: CSU Monterey Bay, Language Lab Coordinator
• Hometown: Burlington, VT
• Current Location: Del Rey Oaks, CA

Sierra Lewis

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Professional Role: Associate Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Hometown: Boise, ID 

Cyndie Luna

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: The impact of culturally-competent teacher immediacy on disproportionately impacted students
• Professional Role: Dean, Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, Fresno City College
• Hometown: Simi Valley, CA
• Current Location: Fresno, CA

Aaron Luna

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Effects of music education on academic achievement, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic; Student social and emotional outcomes that are influenced by instrumental music
• Professional Role: Band Teacher & Adjunct Professor
• Hometown and Current Location: Selma, CA

Cruz Madrigal Trejo

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 14: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Success of migrant students in higher education, Early Childhood Education and the importance of SEL
• Professional Role: School Psychologist
• Hometown and Current Location: Madera, CA

Kenzie Major

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Culturally Responsive Literature and Teaching
• Professional Role: Teacher
• Hometown and Current Location: San Jose, CA

José A Maldonado

He/Him/His

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Undocu Students, Transfer Success, Student Resources, Collaboration Between Community and Campus, Connecting Students to Opportunity
• Professional Role: Full-time faculty
• Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
• Current Location: Ventura, CA

Monica Malhotra

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Women Leaders in Higher Education: Surviving at the Top and Shaping Bold leadership
• Professional Role: Director, Strategic Analytics
• Hometown and Current Location: La-Palma, CA

Ricardo Marmolejo

Cohort 11

• Research Interests: Social justice and equity in higher education
• Professional Role: Student Equity & Success Director, Porterville College
• Hometown: Visalia, CA
   

Tracey Mayfield

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Women leaders in higher education with a focus on women of color; Ethical uses of information in higher education (including intellectual property, copyright, open educational resources, etc.)
• Professional Role: Associate Dean, University Library, California State University, Long Beach
• Hometown and Current Location: Anaheim Hills, CA

Kymbee McKay

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Home/school connections for elementary students; best teaching practices in primary classrooms
• Professional Role: Teacher
• Hometown: Amherst, TX
• Current Location: Valley Center, CA

Lupe Mendoza

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Impact of dual enrollment in Latinx community; Latinas in leadership roles in higher eduction
• Professional Role: High School Vice Principal
• Hometown: Dos Palos, CA
• Current Location: Clovis, CA

Tasneem Mohamed

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Professional Role: Academic Advisor
• Hometown: Oakland, CA
• Current Location: Marina, CA

Gretchen Monke

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Using YA literature to discuss contemporary social justice issues and build academic discussion skills, Positive psychology in education, Building positive teacher-student and peer relationships to support students academically and emotionally
• Professional Role: English Teacher
• Current Location: Clovis, CA

 '

Oronne Nwaneri

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Black Student Success, Experiences of Black International Students, Affects of COVID on low income college and university students
• Professional Role: Director, Upward Bound Programs, Pasadena City College
• Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
• Current Location: Pasadena, CA

Monica Ocampo

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 4: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: First-gen students, Latinx students, HSIs, first-gen professionals, college access (outreach), student-parents
• Professional Role: University Culture Pathways Activity Director, CSU Channel Islands
• Hometown and Current Location: Oxnard, CA

Michael Ornelas

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Stigma and Impact of Career and Tecnical Education on minority groups
• Professional Role: Manufacturing Technology Instructor
• Hometown: Visalia, CA
• Current Location: Kingsburg, CA

Cindy Osuna Monroy

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: First-generation, Social Emotional Learning, Policy & Practice, Disenfranchised & Marginalized populations, Systemic Inequities
• Professional Role: Principal
• Hometown and Current Location: Visalia, CA

Edgar Parrilla

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: The impact inmate education has on the Latino male population in our community. Finding correlations between this inmate education population and recidivism.
• Professional Role: Grants and Research Analyst 
• Hometown and Current Location: Visalia, CA

Peter Robertson

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Dissertation: Higher Education Philanthropy: Exploring LGBTQ+ Allyship Affiliations and Motivations for Giving
• Professional Role: Director of Alumni Connections, Fresno State Alumni Association
• Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia; and Mount Vernon, WA
• Current location: Fresno, CA

George Rodriguez

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: Superintendent longevity and school district success 
• Professional Role: Director of Educational Services
• Hometown: Selma, CA
  Current Location: Kingsburg, CA

Cynthia Rodriguez

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Providing access to culturally relevant social-emotional learning opportunities as well as making the educational space more equitable for all students. 
• Professional Role: School Counselor
• Hometown: Reedley, CA
• Current Location: King City, CA

Jolene Sagan

She/Her/Hers

Online Cohort 6: Class of 2024

• Professional Role: Case Manager
• Hometown: Westwood, CA
• Current Location: Long Beach, CA

Saul Salinas

He/Him/His

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Dissertation: We Are the Counternarrative: A Narrative Inquiry into the Lives of Mexican American University Graduates
• Professional Role: Coordinator Community Relations, Clovis Unified School District
• Hometown: Delft Colony, CA
   Current Location: Fresno, CA

Yadi Sanchez

Online Cohort 5: Class of 2023

• Professional Role: Manager of Outreach and Academic Services
• Hometown: Fort Bragg, CA

Soki Siv

She/Her/Hers

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Academic Achievement in PK-12
• Professional Role: Principal
• Hometown and Current Location: Fresno, CA

Mike Snell

Face-to-Face Cohort 14: Class of 2023

• Research Interests: Exploring youth workers in expanded learning programs and the role they play in teacher quantity, quality and diversity
• Professional Role: CEO
• Hometown: Fresno, CA
• Current Location: Sanger, CA

Ia Xiong 

Face-to-Face Cohort 15: Class of 2024

• Research Interests: AsianCrit and males in community college 
• Professional Role: Adjunct Counselor
• Hometown and Current Location: Fresno, CA

Ko Yang

Face-to-Face Cohort 13: Class of 2022

• Research Interests: Hmong Women in Leadership within Higher Education
• Professional Role: Supplemental Instruction Assistant Coordinator
• Hometown and Current Location: Fresno, CA