Cohort 11 | Class of 2027

Susan Blanco

Hometown: Mountain View, California
Undergraduate: BS in Human Development and Family Studies, Cornell University
Graduate: MS in Reading Education from Elmira College
Research Interests: Literacy, with focus on closing the achievement gap
Personal Interests: Cooking and baking, running, reading, hiking

Briauna Bailey

Hometown: San Diego, California
Undergraduate: B.S. Kinesiology, San Francisco State University
Graduate: M.Ed. Higher Education and Student Affairs, Hardin-Simmons University
Research Interests: Combating Imposter Syndrome and Cultivating a Sense of Belonging for African-American Students in Non-Black Serving Institutions in Higher Education
Personal Interests: I am a cinephile, because I love a good storyline. I also love going to sporting events.

Emmy Hashimi

Hometown: Livermore, California
Undergraduate: BA Political Science, Pre-Law, CSUEB
Graduate: M.A. Public Administration, Management, CSUEB, Teaching Credential in Single Subject Art
Research Interests: Equity in K-12 and Higher Ed., through Visual Arts; Linguistic Racism; Teaching Children of War; Indigenous Cultures of Central Asia; The Importance of Physical Fitness for a Healthy Mind and Body; The Dangers of Implicit Racism in Academia; Forgotten Art of the Muslim World—both ancient, and modern.
Personal Interests: Physical fitness (running, cycling, swimming, hiking, yoga, strength training, dancing, etc.); expressing my thoughts and emotions on canvas by mixing abstract ideas with realistic images; writing children’s stories; writing songs, and vocalizing them; sitting on the beach and listening to the sounds of the ocean waves; hoping to one day visit Tibet, and hike to all the different monasteries, before reaching the base of Mount Everest.I am profoundly grateful to my family for their continuous support, understanding, and encouragement throughout the completion of this endeavor

Zoe Giatis

Hometown: San Mateo, California
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Chico State University
Graduate: Masters of Arts, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Chico State University
Research Interests: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Neurodiversity Affirming Practices in Education, Equity for Students in Special Education who are Nonspeaking, and Cultural Competency in Education
Personal Interests: Traveling, crafting, e-bike riding, exploring new restaurants, attending professional development courses/conferences, and spending time with friends, family, and cat-Lily Bear

Greg Garcia

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Undergraduate: BA, Philosophy, San Jose State University
Graduate: MA, Education, University of Phoenix / MA, Higher Education Leadership, San Jose State University
Research Interests: Peer-assisted learning, transformative pedagogy, ethical usage of AI in academia, character education, leadership development
Personal Interests: Martial arts, philosophy, movies, hiking, and taking pictures of my dog

Joel Bickel

Hometown: Sacramento, California
Undergraduate: B.A. in Music Education, B.M. in Music Performance, UCLA
Graduate: M.A. Higher Education Leadership, SJSU
Research Interests: Student Participatory Leadership, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, International Collaboration
Personal Interests: Jazz Music, Travel, Biking, Family, and Pugs

Kristine '

kirky' Kirkendall

Hometown: Los Gatos, California
Undergraduate: BA Speech Communication, SJSU, BS Bible Theology SJ Christian College
Graduate: MA Sports Psychology from SJSU
Research Interests: Nature Based Education in Higher Education
Personal Interests: Groupwork and teamwork, sports, hiking, backpacking, challenging and seeing people succeed

Nha-Nghi Nguyen

Nha Nghi Nguyen

Hometown: San Jose, California
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, San Jose State University
Graduate: Master of Business Administration, Technology Management, University of Phoenix
Research Interests: Generational perspectives on career advancement and barriers among Vietnamese-American women in higher education leadership
Personal Interests: Mentorship, entrepreneurship, education, cultural activities, languages, music, science, reading, camping, swimming, hiking, planning events, design, travel

Yurema Herreman

Hometown: San Jose, California
Undergraduate: B.S., Psychology, San Jose State University
Graduate: M.A., Higher Education Leadership, San Jose State University
Research Interests: Meeting students’ needs within counseling, specifically mental health counseling. Understanding and supporting the mental health profession and services within higher education institutions.
Personal Interests: Spending time with family being a tia (aunt) and teaching my nieces to speak Spanish.

Capriccia Thomas

Hometown: Sacramento, California (Sactown)
Undergraduate: Nutrition and Food Science/ Journalism (double major) from Sacramento State University
Graduate: Healthcare Administration (M.S.), California State University, East Bay
Research Interests: Nutrition-based curriculum and education to improve the social and health determinants, impact of health education to improve quality of life, tackling food insecurity and poor health conditions
Personal Interests: Volunteering, reading, writing poems and short stories, dance, traveling, spending time with family, going on adventures, and managing my business: Fascinating Health LLC.

Alaysia Young

Hometown: Oakland, California
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Sociology and Black Studies, Denison University
Graduate: Master of Social Work, University of Southern California
Research Interests: How Black single mothers prepare and support their daughters in achieving higher education, with a focus on academic persistence, educational equity, and the role of institutional contexts within predominantly White institutions (PWIs). My work examines how intergenerational support, cultural knowledge, and resistance shape Black daughters’ educational trajectories and success, drawing on Black Feminist Thought and Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005).
Personal Interests: Being a present and intentional mother.

Ricky Chan

Hometown: Fremont, California
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at San Jose State University. Double Minor in Management Information Systems and Mathematics at San Jose State University.
Graduate: Master in Business Administration (MBA) at San Jose State University
Research Interests: My research passion focuses on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to identify and analyze the critical factors that significantly increase entrepreneurs’ chances of success. I leverage AI-based predictive models to uncover the key determinants that drive entrepreneurial success rate and improve the likelihood of achieving sustainable outcomes. Another area of my research focuses on examining the impact of AI Teaching Assistants that leverage Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to provide source-grounded and context-specific support. I aim to identify the key factors that contribute to the effective use of AI in educational settings. Ultimately, this research seeks to bridge the gap between technological innovation and educational practice by advancing AI governance frameworks that ensure AI serves as a responsible scaffold for higher-order thinking, learning, and innovation.
Personal Interests: I have three personal passions: Sports Passion: I have a strong enthusiasm for playing table tennis, having once won the championship in the SVAC Table Tennis Competition. Professional Passion: I am passionate about managing startup acceleration training programs for startup founders. It was an honor to serve as their advising mentor and as a judge for numerous startup teams in the SJSU Innovation Challenge Competition and the SJSU Business Plan Competition. Additionally, I take great pride in successfully completing numerous merger and acquisition projects for large public corporations. Investment Passion: I have a profound passion for rental investment, with over 20 years of experience investing in rental properties. As a licensed real estate broker, I also run a startup company specializing in rental investment, demonstrating my commitment and expertise in the field of real estate investment.

Amanda Yvette Olivas

Hometown: Long Beach, California
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts (BA) Criminology, Law and Society, University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine)
Graduate: Master of Public Administration (MPA) | Public Administration | CSU Long Beach
Research Interests: My research interests include the intersectional experiences of women of color in higher education; examining the use of storytelling in higher education to establish best practices to foster a sense of belonging for students historically under-represented; eliminating equity gaps for students who identify as women of color in higher education, and the impact of race-conscious societal policies on student success for underserved students.
Personal Interests: Going to the gym (strength training); reading; going to amusement parks (Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood); hiking; baking and spending quality time with loved ones.

Gloria Higgins

Hometown: Mountain View, California
Undergraduate: B.A. Political Science and Philosophy, Wheaton College, MA
Graduate: M.A Educational Leadership, San Jose State University
Research Interests: Raising the Professional Status of Teaching, Teacher Preparation and Professional Learning, Leadership
Personal Interests: Hiking, Reading, Gardening, Textile Arts.

Kelly Marquez

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a Minor in Spanish from Cal State Fullerton
Graduate: Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University
Research Interests: Neurodiversity in Teachers and School Staff, Gender roles in education, Multilingual learning and community engagement.
Personal Interests: Hiking, cycling, tv/film, self-improvement, food, fashion, arts & crafts, volunteering.

Eileen B. Lindley

Hometown: San Jose, CA.
Undergraduate: Bachelors Business Administration Saint Mary's College of California.
Graduate: Master of Arts Education Curriculum and Instruction San Jose State University.
Research Interests: Neurodivergent PK-12 Teacher Perspectives, Cultural Responsiveness in Educational Workplace settings, Cultural identity and human-first research, communication, and learning.
Personal Interests: Gym, dance, home decor, writing, listening to stories, telling jokes.

Marysol Gomez

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate: B.A. U.S. History-Race, Ethnicity, Migration University of California, San Diego.
Graduate: M.A.T. Teaching of History, University of Illinois, Chicago
Research Interests: Latinx engagement in educational spaces, culturally responsive pedagogy, community schools, student empowerment, active work in social justice and equity, San Diego/Tijuana border living and learning.
Personal Interests: weight-lifting, cooking, scrabble, dog, plantitas.

Gianna Shields

Hometown: Santa Cruz , CA.
Undergraduate:BA / Cognitive Science & Spanish / UC Berkeley
Graduate:MA/ Education / San Francisco State University
Research Interests: Passionate about mathematics education, my research focuses on equipping preservice teachers with the tools and strategies to integrate social justice into math instruction. I aim to foster inclusive and equitable learning environments through innovative, culturally responsive teaching practices.
Personal Interests: My personal interests include: time with my family, freediving, surfing, time in the ocean and connecting with friends.

Thanh Van THAI

Hometown: Ben Tre, Viet Nam
Undergraduate: BS| Information System| University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM)
Graduate: MS-ISE| MBA| San Jose State University (SJSU)
Research Interests: The research will use qualitative methods, including phenomenological and narrative interview methodologies. It will examine how institutional, environmental, and socio-cultural dynamics impact the educational journeys of first-generation and second-generation Vietnamese students. It will also provide insights into intergenerational education narratives from parent/child perspectives. In addition, this research will analyze which structural barriers Vietnamese students face in higher education and how these barriers impact their academic journey and outcomes.
Personal Interests: My personal interests are understanding the importance of inclusion, equity, and support systems in overcoming barriers, witnessing or experiencing cultural and generational struggles, institutional improvements, amplifying the voices of Vietnamese students and their families, and being committed to Equity in Education.

Van Huynh

Hometown: San Jose, CA
Undergraduate: AA in Mathematics, San Jose City College; BA in Child and Adolescent Development, San Jose State University
Graduate:MA in Teaching, San Jose State University
Research Interests: Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion Programs in TK-12 public schools, parent perspectives, family engagement, home-school connections, bilingual education, biliteracy development, culturally responsive instruction, and educational equity
Personal Interests:
Lifelong learning, teaching, mentoring, leadership development, and educational support for students, families, and educators

Hometown: Ba, Fiji Islands
Undergraduate: California State University (CSU), Sacramento
Graduate: MBA from CSU, Sacramento
Research Interests: As a first generation college student, I am interested in researching ways to close the equity gap for minoritized students. I currently work at California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office as the Program Lead for the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS). I am interested in researching ways to eliminate barriers to education for minoritized students at community colleges. I am very passionate about my research interest.
Personal Interests:I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my niece and nephew. I also enjoy traveling. This year, I had the opportunity to travel to England and Fiji Islands. Whenever I travel, I always make a quick stop at the local schools. When I am unable to travel, I simply take a walk outside to appreciate the outdoors.

Chrissy MacLean

Hometown: North Hollywood, CA
Undergraduate: BA, American Studies , UCSC
Graduate: M.Ed Secondary Ed UCSC
Research Interests: Social Emotional Learning for Students and Adults, How SEL can impact Multilingual Learner progress
Personal Interests:Music, Food, Fun, People, Bikes, & Travel

Taylor Brown

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Undergraduate: B.S., Communication Disorders, Xavier University of Louisiana
Graduate: M.S., Speech Pathology, Southern University and A&M College
Research Interests: My research interests focus on improving collaborative practices in education, particularly between speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and special education teachers. I aim to identify barriers and facilitators to effective collaboration, with the goal of enhancing social skills, inclusive activities, and functional outcomes for students with special needs. Additionally, I am interested in the potential benefits of professional development for general education teachers in inclusion classrooms and addressing disparities in education through leadership and advocacy.
Personal Interests:Outside of my professional work, I enjoy traveling and exploring new cultures. I value family time and enjoy creating meaningful experiences at home, such as cooking meals, playing games, and engaging in shared activities (i.e., Legos, painting, going to the movies). I also have a passion for reflective practices and personal growth, which aligns with my commitment to education and leadership development.

Yvette Adams

Hometown: Carmel, CA
Undergraduate: BA Psychology, CSU Stanislaus
Graduate: PPS School Counseling, CSU Stanislaus, Administrative Credential, CSU Stanislaus, MA Emancipatory School Leadership, SJSU
Research Interests: My research examines how cultural identity, immigrant experiences, and bicultural perspectives influence educational leadership and organizational decision-making. I am particularly interested in culturally responsive leadership, educational equity, belonging, and the ways leaders design systems and routines that expand access and opportunities for historically marginalized students and families.
Personal Interests:I enjoy the outdoors, reading, and cooking.

Tunicia McDowell

Hometown: Sacramento, California. Tunicia
Undergraduate: Bachelors/History/California State University, Sacramento.
Graduate: MA/Webster University/Management and Leadership w/an Emphasis in Health Administration.
Research Interests: Intersectionality, systemic racism and oppression, community resilience, Black Feminism, workplace inequality, and impact of Veteran Status on employment.
Personal Interests:Reading and Literature, traveling, continuous learning, and video games.

Seshadri Paravastu

Undergraduate: B.E. | Electrical and Electronics Engineering | Andhra University.
Graduate: M.S. | Electrical Engineering | State University of New York | MBA | Drexel University.
Research Interests:Enhancing Ethical Awareness and Learning Outcomes: Assessing the Impact of AI-powered Language Models on Students' Long-Term Memory and Critical Thinking Skills.

Farah Mouhana

Hometown: Lebanon
Undergraduate: BA in Management.
Graduate: Master's in management.
Research Interests: Teacher’s leadership and empowerment.
Personal Interests: Playing music, basketball, video games (call of duty).

Shaheen Mohammed

Hometown: Nausori, Fiji Islands/Hayward, California
Undergraduate: B.A | Management Info Systems | Menlo College.
Graduate: MEd | Urban Education | Holy Names University.
Research Interests: My research interest focuses on the
onboarding and sustainable professional development of special
education administrators. Specifically, I am interested in
examining how structured onboarding programs, mentorship
opportunities, and ongoing training initiatives influence
administrator effectiveness, leadership retention, compliance with
special education regulations, and student outcomes.
Personal Interests: I enjoy reading, exploring new places through
travel, and listening to a wide variety of music. I value
opportunities for quiet reflection and self-care. I also enjoy
cooking, solving problems, and continuously learning new skills
and interesting facts. I would say that I am a lifelong learner.

Mirel Mejia

Hometown: Salinas, California.
Undergraduate: Liberal Studies and Human Development from CSU Monterey Bay.
Graduate: Educational Leadership and Administration from Cal Poly SLO.
Research Interests: Alternative Education best practices, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Personal Interests: I enjoy traveling to Mexico and going on weekend trips with my family.

Emily Chan

Undergraduate: B.A. | Biological Sciences | Grinnell College.
Graduate: MLIS | Library and Information Science | San José State University.
Research Interests: Scholarly communication, publishing and collections, open access, research administration.
Personal Interests: Spending time with family, being outdoors.

Louis Adamsel

Undergraduate: B.A. | Communication/Ethnic Studies | California State University, San Marcos.
Graduate: M.S. | Homeland Security | San Diego State University.
Research Interests: Advancing educational equity, fostering positive change, and empowering future generations through effective leadership in education.

Essy Barroso Ramirez

Hometown: Santa Cruz, California.
Undergraduate: 5 AAs in Bilingual-Bicultural Studies, Communication Studies, Health Science, Liberal Arts, and Spanish. BS in Public Health.
Graduate: Master of Library and Information Science
Research Interests: Research interests include (but are not limited to) the experiences of Latina/e/o/x, first-gen academic librarians, equity as it relates to minoritized communities, and access to information and higher education, bilingual literacy, early literacy education, and chola scholarship.
Personal Interests: Traveling, Mexican Ballet Folclorico, oldies, reading for leisure and spending time with family and friends.