Fellows 2024-25

Jamila Espinosa works closely with schools through data analysis and equity-based planning as an educator engagement associate at EdTrust-West. Her commitment to education and research has taken her to classrooms across Brazil, Portugal, and back to her native Bay Area. Despite disparate cultural contexts, she observed a common thread: students navigating educational inequities. These realities, coupled with her own experiences as a first-generation student, have fueled her dedication to advocating for equitable and humanizing educational experiences, particularly for underserved and underrepresented youth. She is particularly inspired by school and community practices that promote the resiliency of students and educators. Jamila holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Latin American Studies from Pomona College and a master’s degree in child development from the University of California, Davis.

Ángel de Jesus González, Ed.D., is an assistant professor of higher education administration and leadership at California State University, Fresno. Their work is informed by their lived experience as a first-generation, Latinx, queer, joto scholar son to immigrant parents from South East Los Angeles. Gonzalez’s scholarship interrogates power relations within higher education systems embedded with cisheteropatriarchy and compulsory genderism by examining how these racialized structures engage minoritized peoples broadly and Queer and/or Trans People of Color (QTPOC) specifically across varying roles within organizational contexts to unearth how structural inequities are maintained and reproduced via policy formulations and implementation. As a critical researcher, González grounds their work in theoretical framings such as intersectionality and jotería studies and employs methodological pursuits including queer pláticas, testimonio, and critical policy analysis to name a few. González has extensive research experience having served as postdoctoral scholar in the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California (USC) Rossier School of Education and a graduate research fellow for the American Council on Education. Their foundational research has been published in many leading academic journals such as Innovative Higher Education (IHE) and the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (IJQSE). They earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and Spanish from Whittier College, a master’s degree in post-secondary educational leadership and student affairs, and a doctorate in community college leadership from San Diego State University.

Jessie Hernández-Reyes supports the Government Relations Division for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office with policy research, analysis, and decision-making to advance college access, success, and economic mobility for over two million students enrolled in the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the country. Her upbringing as the proud daughter of two Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student has driven her professional commitment to providing postsecondary opportunities for historically underserved students. Before joining the Chancellor’s Office, Jessie was a senior policy analyst for The Education Trust, advocating for federal and state policies to advance college access and success for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and undocumented students. Jessie also served as the institutional practices manager at Excelencia in Education, where she led the only national effort to identify and promote evidence-based practices accelerating Latino student success in higher education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and chicano studies with an education studies minor from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is also a proud alumnus of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program.

Tahmirah Mecca is a dedicated leader and advocate with a strong background in project management, youth development, and policy advocacy. She currently serves as the policy and advocacy manager at Improve Your Tomorrow, where she spearheads initiatives like the 1300 Campaign in the Northern Central Valley, focusing on educational equity and social justice. Tahmirah excels in strategic planning, program development, and coordinating large-scale events and meetings. Her expertise extends to mentoring youth, building coalitions, and developing advocacy campaigns that empower young leaders. Tahmirah holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is pursuing a Master of Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Sacramento. Additionally, she has earned a nonprofit management certification from California State University, Stanislaus. Tahmirah’s commitment to community organizing and her outstanding communication skills have earned her recognition, including the Outstanding Woman Award in Stanislaus County in 2023.

Raquel Morales leads statewide policy and government relations efforts on transitional kindergarten, multilingual learners, and data systems for EdTrust-West. She brings her own lived experience as a formerly undocumented, first-generation student. She understands the importance of educational equity for California’s students on a deeply personal level. Raquel’s passion for advocacy and social justice began early in her life. During her tenure as both the Legislative Committee Chair and, later, president of the University of California Student Association, she championed college accessibility and affordability. She is fortunate to be able to continue that legacy in both her professional life and personal life, where she serves on local boards and committees to support her hometown of Sacramento and its next generation of leaders. Raquel holds dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, San Diego, in ethnic studies and international studies.

Debra Russell leads strategic school staffing initiatives for the California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative (CalEPIC), based at Chapman University, focused on ensuring our pathways into the profession are equitable and our educational systems support a well-prepared, diverse, and thriving teacher workforce. Over her education career, she has worked in classrooms as a teacher and K-12 instructional coach across the state of California, including at her home district Santa Ana Unified, at the innovative Life Learning Academy charter in San Francisco, and as a part of her local Upward Bound academic outreach program. Debra is also proud to serve her community as an Arts & Culture Commissioner and a member of the Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble board advocating for the expansion of arts engagement opportunities for our youth.

Chalesea Schuler, Ed.D. currently serves as a District Math Teacher on Special Assignment (ToSA) with the Sunnyvale School District. With over 12 years of experience in roles including Middle School Math Teacher, PK-8 Math Specialist, and Site Instructional Coach across the Bay Area, she is committed to being a driving force for systemic change in math education to ensure it is inclusive and equitable for all learners. In her current role, Chalesea supports the district-wide implementation of K-8 math curriculum and collaborates with site instructional leadership teams to design and facilitate professional development focused on culturally responsive instructional strategies. Chalesea’s academic journey reflects her unwavering commitment to education. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in sociology and interdisciplinary studies, with a focus on math and psychology, from the University of California, Riverside. She also holds a master’s in education from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate in organization and leadership, concentrating on transformative school leadership, from the University of San Francisco. Her research uses a mixed-methods approach to explore educational policies’ origins, intentions, implementation, and outcomes. Her professional journey is complemented by notable awards and distinctions, including National Board Certification in early adolescence math and the University of San Francisco Lone Mountain Legacy Scholars Social Justice Award. She also serves on the advisory board for the Mathematics Instructional Added Authorization (MIAA) program at the University of Southern California, where she looks forward to continuing to inspire and shape the future of math education.

Zitlali joined the Chancellor’s Office in 2018; she currently works as a community college program manager and is responsible for the oversight and management of a regional portfolio consisting of federal and state funded Career Technical Education programs. Before joining the Chancellor’s Office, Zitlali worked for the Los Rios Community College District where she assisted with the analysis and implementation of student success and support equity programs. Prior to that, Zitlali worked at California State University, Sacramento, where she played an integral role in the development and establishment of the Dreamer Resource Center to support undocumented and mixed-status students. Zitlali earned a master’s in education and a bachelor’s in women’s studies with a minor in psychology from California State University, Sacramento. She also earned several associate’s degrees from American River College. Zitlali’s passion and dedication for educational equity and supporting traditionally underrepresented students stems from her own experiences and journey navigating higher education as a first-generation college student, an immigrant and a student with a disability. Zitlali is a proud mother of two young daughters.

Melissa Vang, Ph.D, currently serves as a senior research analyst at Mount San Antonio College. Her extensive experience focuses on advancing equitable practices across higher education and facilitating discussions towards equity-minded leadership. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration management and her master’s degree in education leadership with emphasis in higher education, administration and leadership from California State University, Fresno. She went on to earn her doctorate in the joint doctoral program from San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University. Her research examines the intersection of academia and identity through an equity lens and focuses on the experiences of Hmong American students in higher education. During her doctoral program she was selected by the Department of Education as a grant recipient to conduct research on Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution and selected by the California State University Chancellor’s Office as a fellow in the Doctoral Incentive Program. With her education and experience in higher education, she had the opportunity to serve in various capacities working alongside senior administrators and campus leaders to advance equitable practices. The majority of her work was spent as a research consultant for the Community College Equity Assessment Lab which partners with various community colleges across the nation to address practices that disproportionately impact underserved communities.