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 

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.