Cohort 8 | Class of 2024
Anthony Oskar Alvarado
- Hometown: San Jose, California
- Undergraduate: BS in Banking & Finance, National University
- Graduate: MA in Curriculum & Instruction, San Jose State University & MA in Educational Leadership, Concordia University Irvine
- Research Interests:
- Technology Integration and Social Justice in Public Schools
- Addressing Equity Gaps in our Public Schools through Equity-Centered Leadership
- Effective Incorporation of Technology in Curriculum and Instruction
- Development of STEAM programs to Increase Student Motivation
- Personal Interests: International & interstate traveling, dining out, cooking, singing karaoke, watching movies, gardening, and taking care of my cats
Raziyeh Baghi
Jaime Davis
- Hometown: San Carlos, California
- Undergraduate: BA, Political Science, University of California, Davis
- Graduate: JD (Juris Doctorate), Willamette University College of Law
- Research Interests:
- Mindfulness in education & social-emotional learning, particularly as it relates to marginalized communities
- Intersections of criminal justice system & education system.
- Personal Interests: I am happiest when I'm outdoors doing just about anything. My current endeavor is surfing (2 years in, have surfed in Mexico, Costa Rica, & Nicaragua). Grew up skiing in Tahoe, & I've summited Mt. Shasta & *almost* summited Mt. Rainier (turned back by weather). I'm a fan of our national parks system, an avid reader of nonfiction, and a devoted re-watcher of West Wing & Madame Secretary.
Joe Fessehaye
- Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
- Undergraduate: BA, Interdisciplinary (Sociology/Film Studies), University of Missouri
- Graduate: Master of Education, Higher Education Administration, University of Missouri
- Research Interests:
- Equity and inclusion in higher education
- First-generation and marginalized students
- Student access
- Educational technology
- Personal Interests: Traveling the world, playing and watching basketball, music, and spending time with family/friends
Sofia Fojas
- Hometown: Palo Alto, California
- Undergraduate: BA, Anthropology & Minor in Music, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Graduate: MS, Educational Leadership, CSU East Bay
- Research Interests:
- Arts and creativity and its socioemotional, academic impacts on historically excluded student populations, especially youth experiencing homelessness and youth in foster care in K-14
- Personal Interests: I am a professional musician (AFM Local 6!) and play violin and viola. I love animals and currently am the guardian for a dog, two cats, 4 budgies, and a 36-year old Amazon parrot. I love to read non-fiction, and ride my bike. During the pandemic, I've been watching videos about sustainable living, tiny houses, and bees!
Drew Giles
- Hometown: Loma, Colorado
- Undergraduate: BS in Broadcast Journalism, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Graduate: MA in Early Childhood Education, University of Colorado, Denver
- Research Interests:
- Food justice
- School gardens in early childhood education
- Family engagement
- Dual language learners
- Personal Interests: Gardening, trying out new recipes, international travel, hiking, and yoga
Martin Gutierrez
- Hometown: Salinas, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Political Science & Minor in Education, University of California, Davis
- Graduate: MA in Education/Administration & Supervision, San Jose State University
- Research Interests:
- English learners
- Instructional technology as a resource
- Inequities in education
- Parent engagement & involvement
- Personal Interests: Learning new technology, outings with my family, camping, and volleyball
Tim Harper
- Hometown: San Jose, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Child & Adolescent Development, San Jose State University
- Graduate: MA in Education, San Jose State University
- Research Interests:
- Historical foundations of the national early care and education system(s)
- Systemic inequities present in the national early care and education system(s)
- Strategies to provide 'Economic Dignity' to the national early care and education workforce
- Personal Interests: Travelling, Hiking, Eating Healthy, Meditation, Soccer, Spending time with my daughter, partner and family/friends
Teresa Keng
- Hometown: Fremont, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Business Managerial Economics, University of California, Los Angeles
- Graduate: MS in Traditional Chinese Medicine & Chinese Herbology, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Research Interests:
- Special Needs
- Early Childhood Education
- Vocational Programs
- Personal Interests: Karaoke, snorkeling, hiking
Kelly Mack
- Hometown: Torrance, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Philosophy & Minor in Education, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Graduate: MA in Elementary Education, San Jose State University
- Research Interests:
- Critical pedagogy
- Critical race theory
- Anti-racist pedagogy
- Mentoring
- Personal Interests: Hiking, reading, baking, and roller skating
Shelly Masur
- Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
- Undergraduate: BA in Sociology, Macalester College
- Graduate: MPH in Health Education, Hunter College CUNY
- Research Interests:
- P-16 policy and funding
- Impacts of public discourse on public education & equity
- Full-service community schools and whole child
- Whole family systems
- Personal Interests: Spending time with family, hanging with my dogs, running, hiking, travel
Selene Munoz
- Hometown: Castroville, California
- Undergraduate: BA in History, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Graduate: MA in Education, San Jose State University
- Research Interests:
- Special education
- Restorative practices
- Bilingualism
- Personal Interests: Traveling, Spending time with friends and family
Harshdeep Singh Nanda
- Hometown: Fremont, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Political Economy & Public Policy (with an additional minor in public policy), University of California, Berkeley
- Graduate: MPA (Master of Public Administration), San Jose State University
- Research Interests:
- Educational Equity
- Inclusivity
- Diversity
- Student Success
- Career Development
- Higher Education
- Socio-Economic Mobility
- Community College
- Personal Interests: Hiking, Reading, Writing, Web Development, Spending Time with Family & Friends
Mylinh Pham
- Hometown: San Jose, California
- Undergraduate: BA in History & Social Sciences, San Jose State University
- Graduate: MA in History, San Jose State University
- Research Interests:
- History Education
- Racial Issues in U.S. History
- Personal Interests: Hiking; spending time with my daughter
Lauren Reagan
- Hometown: Concord, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Graduate: MA in English (Teaching of Writing), Humboldt State University
- Research Interests:
- Culturally responsive post-secondary learning and supports
- Co-curricular assessment
- Centering student voices
- Socially-just higher education administration
- Organizational learning
- Personal Interests: Running, backpacking, and hiking with the dog, elaborate cooking projects
Nannette Regua
- Hometown: Fresno, California
- Undergraduate: BA in English with Minor in Women's Studies, San Jose State University
- Graduate: MA in History - San Jose State University & MA in Women's History, Sarah Lawrence College
- Research Interests:
- Critical race theory
- Community cultural wealth
- First-generation Latinx college students
- Student equity
- Social justice
- Personal Interests: Researching women's history, traveling to historical destinations, and spending time with my son
Keri Toma
- Hometown: Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii
- Undergraduate: BA in Asian Studies & BA in Japanese, both completed at University of Oregon
- Graduate: MA in Teaching Foreign Language & MA in International Education Management, both completed at Monterey Institute of International Studies
- Research Interests:
- Student success, including the role of co-curricular programs and peer mentorship
- Intercultural development & assessment
- Campus internationalization
- Personal Interests: Traveling, cooking, and eating food from around the world. Spending time with my little rescue pug and managing her social media account
Diana Valle-Murillo
- Hometown: Monterey, California
- Undergraduate: BA in Language Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Graduate: MA in Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University
- Research Interests:
- College Access & Higher Education
- Representation
- Social Justice and Advocacy for underserved & underrepresented communities
- Women in Leadership
- Best practices for counseling and mental health
- Race, identity, culture and language
- Personal Interests: Coffee!! Family gatherings, cooking with my mom. Visiting family in Mexico. Traveling and exploring new places and foods with my husband and going to music, art and sports events.