Fellows 2020-21

Sergio Z. de Alba has spent the last 20 years researching and developing innovative STEM-based programs geared to developing success in rural communities. Sergio has successfully written over 100 grants to support program implementation on his campus. Through his programs, Sergio has helped students achieve remarkable success academically and as individuals. Sergio has served as a National Assessment for the Educational Progress Science Standing Committee member in Washington DC as well as an AEOP Next Generation STEM Teaching Project Member. Sergio earned a Master’s degree in Education with Distinction and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with BCLAD certification from California State University, Stanislaus.

As the Director for the Student Center for Academic Achievement at California State University, East Bay, Dr. Goward supports the university’s student success initiatives by leading peer supported learning. She has nearly 15 years of professional experience in higher education administration. Shonda’s current research focuses on how universities can work to retain marginalized students and support their academic success and well-being. She has contributed to the literature on higher education through the publication of several articles, book chapters, and blogs, and will publish her first book with the University Press of Kansas. Shonda earned her B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.A. at Southern Connecticut State University, and her Ed.D. in higher education administration from The George Washington University.

Shauna Hamilton is an influential, dedicated education professional with a License in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Masters in School Counseling, and hands-on experience overseeing support and guidance services for diverse student populations. Shauna is the Program Coordinator of School Based Mental Health for the Sonoma County Office of Education. In this role she leads a team of counselors providing mental wellness and recovery services to students and families who have been impacted by natural disasters including fires, floods, and the coronavirus. She has worked in education for over fifteen years and most recently served as a Head Counselor for the San Francisco Unified School District. Shauna has a BA in Community Studies from UC Santa Cruz and dual Masters in School Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from San Francisco State University.

Amal Amanda Issa currently serves as one of three CCCCO Guided Pathways Regional Coordinators for the San Francisco Bay Area region. Prior to this, Amanda was with Career Ladders Project and worked in statewide dual enrollment partnerships and implementation as well as extensive work in alternative education and various forms of mapping. She has also taught high school science throughout the Bay Area and served as an adjunct faculty member at Merritt College. From the University of California, San Diego, Amanda was pre-med and earned her BS in Neuroscience; from Mills College, she received a master’s in education and a secondary science credential; and at UC Berkeley, she earned a post-baccalaureate in health professions and a CTE credential in health science and medical technology.

Serette Kaminski is policy director of educational services at the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) where she leads their efforts on teacher and principal recruitment and supports. Prior to that, she worked at a national teachers union where she analyzed data from high performing countries and developed international comparison tools for education stakeholders. She was also assistant investigator for a federal Investing in Innovation (i3) grant that was focused on supporting the implementation of rigorous and comprehensive teacher development and evaluation systems in 10 districts across New York and Rhode Island. Serette also previously worked with a local mayor in Niger, West Africa to implement transparency measures in a newly decentralized state. Serette earned her Master of Public Administration and MS in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from Suffolk University. She also earned a BS in Astronomy and a BA in Administration of Justice from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.

Michelle Magyar is the Assistant Director of Business Operations and Strategic Engagement for the CCEE. In this role, she leads the implementation and management of fiscal and operational processes, as well as the development and coordination of strategic communication and engagement activities to support the agency. Prior to joining the CCEE, Michelle served as the Local Control Funding Formula Project Manager for the State Board of Education. She also served as an Administrator and Consultant with the California Department of Education. Michelle previously worked as an Assistant Professor at the California State University, Long Beach. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley; M.S. from Purdue University; and Ph.D. from Michigan State University where she was a Spencer Research Fellow. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Edgar Montes currently serves as the Co-Director of the CARPE College Access & Success Network within the Center for Research on Equity & Innovation at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education. Edgar also serves as the Director of Higher Education Engagement for the Mastery Transcript Consortium. Prior to his current roles, Edgar served as the executive director of a California statewide initiative to scale up a multi-tiered system of support through the Orange County Department of Education, director of state and district partnerships for the College Board’s western regional office, director of college counseling at High Tech High Media Arts, and admission counselor at the University of San Diego. Edgar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in School Counseling from the University of San Diego and is currently completing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California.

Arnold Sánchez Ordaz, PhD, serves as the Manager of Educator Programs at the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). Arnold coordinates the development and implementation of strategic plans designed to advance educational equity and higher education administration diversity initiatives across UC campuses. He also interprets and applies state and federal policies to ensure program compliance with legislative mandates and serves as a resource to program executive directors, project directors, coordinators, faculty and other professionals throughout the state. Prior to his role at UCOP he served as the Senior Equity Data Analyst for the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC). Some of his roles included data collection, evaluation and making data-driven recommendations for improving student outcomes.

Dr. Lissa D. Ramirez-Stapleton is an associate professor at California State University Northridge in the Department of Deaf Studies and core faculty for the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program. Her research focuses on equity and access, identity development, and the educational history of Deaf students, faculty, and staff with a particular interest in the intersections of race, gender, and disability. As a private consultant, she conducts training, workshops, and keynotes on issues of social justice, equity and diversity across the country. Her desire to support Deaf college Students of Color, led Lissa to pursue her doctorate at Iowa State University. She graduated in 2014 with her Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education and Social Justice and a minor in Women’s Studies. She earned her M.S.E. in College Student Personnel from the University of Dayton and B.S. in Social Work from Wright State University.

Sakshi Walia is a senior legislative aide for CA State Senator Steve Glazer and covers K-12, higher education, environmental, public safety, and banking issues. She is also the chief consultant for the Senator’s Select Committee on Student Success. Before working in the Senate, Sakshi was a legislative aide for Assembly Member O’Donnell. Prior to her role in the State Legislature, Sakshi was elected to the CSU Admission Advisory Council where she worked with the CSU Chancellor’s Office to analyze current eligibility requirements and ways to mitigate bottleneck and impacted courses at 23 CSU campuses. Sakshi also worked for the American Institutes for Research. Sakshi has an undergraduate degree in business with a double emphasis in finance and economics and a minor in political science from CSU Fullerton.