Jeneca Parker-Tongue is a Distinguished Lecturer of Educational Leadership at Hunter College and the Founding Director of the Hunter College Collaborative for Social Emotional Learning & Leading (C-SELL). With experience ranging from early childhood to high school, Jeneca has served as Principal and Assistant Principal within NYC Public Schools for over ten years, where she has demonstrated strength in designing collaborative structures that support academic and social-emotional needs for racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse students. She coaches adults to enhance emotional intelligence for effective school leadership. In 2023, she was awarded the Distinguished Principal Award of Manhattan by MSPA and national SEL Leadership award by BlackSEL. She is also a current doctoral student in Educational Leadership. Her research interests explore leadership studies in placemaking. Toward this goal, she examines the social context of education, human geography, and emotional intelligence of school leaders by mapping internal and external geographies of belongingness in schools.

Dr. Davi Kallman is a leading expert in disability justice, accessibility, and institutional equity, with a deep commitment to dismantling systemic barriers in education and event spaces. As the Dean of Student Engagement Services and ADA/504 Coordinator at Pierce College, she works to ensure that disability inclusion is not just an afterthought, but a foundational part of institutional policies, programs, and culture. With extensive experience in higher education, Dr. Kallman has served as a Director of Disability Services, where she worked directly with students, faculty, and administrators to create more equitable learning environments. She also conducts accessibility audits for hotels and conference venues, ensuring that public spaces go beyond compliance and embrace true inclusion. Her expertise extends into advocacy, policy development, and the intersection of disability with race, gender, and economic justice. Dr. Kallman has previously served as Chair of the Disability Issues Caucus within the National Communication Association (NCA), where she worked to amplify conversations around disability justice and representation in higher education. Her research and practice focus on the ways institutions can move from basic accessibility compliance to proactive disability inclusion, ensuring that disabled individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, are fully included in educational and professional spaces. As a Mexican, Jewish, disabled, and neurodivergent woman, Dr. Kallman brings both personal and professional expertise to her work, offering a unique and deeply informed perspective on the urgent need for equity in education. Through her dynamic and engaging presentations, she equips faculty, staff, and institutional leaders with the tools to recognize ableism, challenge exclusionary practices, and reimagine their spaces as truly accessible for all.

Adrianna (Suga/She/Her) is a proud and unapologetic Faʻafafine from the beautiful islands of Samoa, dedicated to uplifting Queer and Transgender Pacific Islanders (QTPI) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities. Since making her way to the Pacific Northwest in 2003, she has been at different forefronts of advocacy, sitting in various coalitions and now currently serving as the Policy Director for UTOPIA WA. Her work focuses on civic engagement, environmental justice, harm reduction, gender-based violence prevention, and dismantling systemic barriers, ensuring that marginalized communities have access to vital resources and opportunities. With lived experience in direct support services, she brings a community-centered approach to advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two fur babies, Ocean and Popo. Adrianna remains steadfast in her mission to create a future where marginalized communities can thrive authentically and without barriers.

Tweetie Fatuesi is native to the Pacific Island Territory of American Samoa. Since migrating to the PNW in 2013, she has been cultivating pathways with UTOPIA Washington through multiple volunteer opportunities. Through this work, she recognized existing barriers in place that limited the quality of life for communities of color; particularly the Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders (QTPI’s) community. She officially joined UTOPIA WA in 2019 and now serves as the Community Services Program Director where she leads direct support programs and mutual aid support for marginalized communities through, Civic Engagement, Food Insecurity & Food Sovereignty, Care Work and more.  In her spare time, Tweetie is on an endless quest to finding the next best seafood place in town, visiting with family and friends, and exploring more of what the PNW has to offer.

Ms. Amasai Jeke a young Feminist Indigenous I-Taukei Fijian is an adamant and very outspoken person who adores and thrives in creating awareness and advocating on human rights, mainly on Gender Equality and LGBTQI rights. She has been involved in the Feminist and LGBTQI movement for more than six years and worked as the Project Support Officer for Rainbow Pride Foundation [RPF] in Fiji and Coordinated the Transgender Reference Group for RPF.She has organized in community as a working group member for the Peer Support Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Pacific Urgent Action Hub on Climate & Ecological Justice that works with LGBTQI people in the Grass-root community in Fiji. She is also a core working group member for the Youth Voices Count an Asia-Pacific regional LGBTQI Youth Led Organization. MS. Jeke is also a member of the Women’s Major Group for Sustainable Development and Women & Gender Constituency for Climate Change Negotiations with UNFCCC which is the United Nations Major Groups on Women and YOUNGO which is the official youth constituency at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Tai Mattox (she/her) is a Chopra Center certified Primordial Sound Meditation instructor, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), and Certified Vibrational Sound Therapy practitioner. Her greatest joy is helping people slow down, get still and connect to their inner knowing. As the founder of Experiences by Tai, she facilitates this process through meditation, mindfulness, gentle yoga, sound baths and vibrational sound therapy. Tai has taught meditation and mindfulness to adults in numerous settings, including non-profit organizations and for-profit companies, community groups, educators, online to global audiences, and one-on-one private instruction. Tai has also worked with children and youth from ages 4 to 22; some with documented disabilities, some who are justice-involved, and many in traditional educational institutions, sharing mindfulness exercises to assist them with emotional balance, self-management and present moment awareness. In order to devote her energy, time and passion to Experiences by Tai full time, she stepped down from her role as a Co-Director with Space Between, a non-profit that brings mindfulness practices to school communities, working with students, educators and families. Prior to discovering the path of stillness, Tai managed a career with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts for almost 20 years. She is a graduate of Cornell University. Tai is devoted to family, friends and causes that she believes in, with all relationships being reciprocal, loving and kind. She was raised in Seattle and lives in the Central District with her family. Dark chocolate peanut butter cups and the sound of her son’s laughter bring her immense joy.

Dr. Rob Rubalcaba is a Math Professor at San Diego City College. He was born in Lemon Grove, on the same street where Lemon Grove Elementary planned a separate school for all of its Latino students. He stopped going to Morse High in the 10th grade because of gang violence and he attended Centre City Adult School to pursue a GED, then attended City College majoring in Mathematics with only a 9th grade education in Math. He graduated and transferred to SDSU earning a BA in Mathematics and attended graduate school at Auburn University earning a Masters and Ph.D. in Discrete Mathematics. Dr. Rob then worked with the Department of Defense working in secret facilities around the world before joining the Math Department at City College where he co-teaches in UMOJA and PUENTE. He is a professional DJ and sushi chef, and teaches mathematics through hip hop, art, sushi, and dance.

Dr. Erin Vines currently serves as the Executive Director for the African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND) and is also a board member of the organization. Previously Dr. Vines served as Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services at Antelope Valley College for nine years. Prior to joining AVC, Dr. Vines served as Dean of Counseling and Special Services at Solano Community College for seven years. Dr. Vines served as adjunct faculty at California State University, Northridge in both the master’s and doctorial programs. He served as full-time faculty, classified, and administrator at the secondary level prior to entering into higher education. Dr. Vines has a true understanding of the many challenges related to enrollment, retention and student success that confront community colleges today. He also knows firsthand as a community college graduate and experience as a community college leader that a positive campus culture, challenging coursework, supportive faculty, effective supplemental instruction and sound innovative leadership can enhance a student’s experience while fulfilling the mission of the college. Dr. Vines earned his doctorate from the University of Southern California in Educational Leadership. He earned two Master’s Degrees, one in Education Counseling from California State University, Bakersfield and the other from the University of LaVerne in Educational Leadership. Dr. Vines is married and has one teenage daughter. In his spare time he enjoys to travel, read, play golf and watching sports. He is also a mentor to many students and professionals.

Dr. Trevor Brackett-Lambey was born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles where he attended Manual Arts High School, and graduated from Hollywood High School. He then attended College of the Canyons, where he played football and was an All-American Wide Receiver. Trevor eventually received a full-athletic football scholarship to the University of Nevada-Reno where he transferred in 2004. Although Trevor was a standout athlete, he believes education is the key to success for all students and student-athletes, and sports should be the second calling. He earned his Bachelor Degree from University of Nevada-Reno in 2006, Masters Degree from Fresno Pacific University in 2014. He recently completed his Doctorate at San Diego State University in Educational Leadership with a concentration in community College/Post-Secondary Education. Brackett-Lambey is determined to make a difference in the lives of every student he encounters to assure them that it doesn’t matter where they come from through hard-work and dedication, he is passionate in making them believe that they too can achieve anything they set their minds to. Dr. Trevor Brackett-Lambey is currently a Counselor/Associate Professor, at Pasadena City College. He also works with the current and formerly incarcerated population, while giving lectures in Career and Life Development courses within the California Department of Corrections (CDCR), and Los Angeles County Jail Systems. Dr. Brackett-Lambey is determined to inspire “hope” with this population, as he feels that capitalizing on second chances is vital for life success. His dissertation is titled “From Street Cred to School Credit: Creating A Pathway From Incarceration Into A Community College Amongst Formerly Incarcerated Black Males in Los Angeles County”.

“Herb” has over 16 years of experience in higher education with 13 of those years in the California Community College system. Herb currently serves as the Vice- President of Student Services at West Hills College Coalinga in Central Valley California. Herb has served as the Director of EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Valley- Bound Commitment an award winning First Year Experience program and Dean of Student Equity and Success at Victor Valley College. Herb also served as an academic advisor and p/t faculty teaching First Year Experience at CSU San Bernardino. In addition, Herb has served on numerous college, district, and state-wide committees throughout his career and has been active in several community organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Gils Club of San Bernardino and the African American Male Educational Network and Development (A²MEND).  Herb is an innovative leader that has a history of developing programs and services that foster both student access and success; including the development of targeted programs for historically underserved populations. Herb has also worked as a Social Worker for Riverside County Child Protective Services and Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino. He loves working with young people and inspiring them to pursue a college education. Herb received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, San Bernardino, Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Redlands and is presently pursuing his doctorate degree at Bradley University in Educational Leadership.

Edward C. Bush Ph.D. began his career in higher education in 1995 and has worked in the California Community College System since 1998.  He is well known throughout the State of California as a leader who has been able to reimagine traditional institutional practices. Dr. Bush holds a Ph.D. in Urban Educational Leadership from Claremont Graduate University, a Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration from California State University San Bernardino, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California Riverside. Dr. Bush currently serves as the President of Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. He is a student success-focused leader with a clear vision and expertise in leading organizations through periods of change and structural disruption. Dr. Bush is an educational visionary whose innovative approach has improved student outcomes while reducing both achievement and opportunity gaps for students of color and other historically marginalized student populations. Dr. Bush is dedicated to creating teams of Educators who are committed to working towards meeting the evolving needs of students and the communities in which they serve. As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Bush is committed to tackling issues relating to equity, diversity, and access for all students. His leadership expertise includes his involvement in statewide, national, and international committees and initiatives. Moreover, Dr. Bush is a co-author of multiple books and book chapters and has published 14 peer-reviewed publications in a variety of scholarly journals. Dr. Bush has a history of developing programs and services that foster student success as well as creating successful targeted programs for underserved populations. He is a Co-Founder and Board Member of the African American Male Network and Development, Incorporated (A2MEND). A2MEND is a non-profit organization comprised of Community College Faculty and Administrators who volunteer their time to use their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within the Colleges they serve.  A2MEND is a nationally recognized organization that has successfully improved the educational outcomes for men of color enrolled in the California Community College System.  Dr. Bush also currently serves as a Board Member of four non-profit organizations and is the Chairperson for the All African Diaspora Educators Summit. Dr. Bush has presented his strategies for improving student outcomes for numerous national, statewide, and local organizations. 

Dr. Abdimalik Buul is currently serving as the Visiting Executive of Institutional Equity, innovation and strategic impact at the California Community College Chancellor’s office. During this tenure he is assisting in ensuring equal employment opportunities and initiatives are connected to the classroom for the largest system of higher education in the nation comprising over 116 colleges and 73 districts. He is also an award-winning professor, antiracist activist, and emancipatory educator.  Known as an international keynote speaker and innovative dynamic leader.  He co-chairs the Statewide Equal Employment Opportunity Diversity Advisory Committee (EEODAC) and oversaw its deployment of the 2022 EEO Best Practices handbook and 2023 Ten Point Plan for faculty diversification. Under his leadership he crafted a funding allocation for $20 million-dollars in EEO funding to improve equitable hiring practices for the state of California. He is a scholar practitioner with over 10 publications in the fields of Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility and Antiracism. He has a keen focus on racial equity and an asset based approach on countering Anti-Blackness . He completed his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in community-based counseling and social justice, both from San Diego State University (SDSU).  He completed his doctorate work in Educational leadership with an emphasis in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC).  Dr. Buul is also a lecturer at San Diego State University (SDSU) where he teaches Restorative Practices and Conflict Transformation to students in the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Recovery & Trauma-informed Care MA in Education with concentration in Counseling program. Dr.Buul conducts numerous speaking engagements, workshops and keynotes for multiple system stakeholders as he specializes in providing equity based strategic solutions to organizations and institutions. 

Kip Zwolenski is an Early Childhood Education instructor. He has served as the faculty union president for the past seven years.Kip comes to Skagit with a breadth of experiences ranging from direct service in both early childhood and youth settings to administrative roles in higher education. His expertise in program development centers on academic pathways and inclusion. Kip’s undergraduate studies focused on child literacy in bilingual settings; whereas his graduate research concentration was on adult literacy and teacher preparation. Kip has developed both faculty and administrative learning groups that are providing the foundational knowledge for Skagit’s equity-based Student Achievement Strategy.

In his 36 years as a Special Education teacher, Charles Ward M.A. and M.Ed. has been privileged to work with students, teachers and support staff in a variety of K-12 settings in Seattle and Chicago. Over these years he has mentored no less than thirteen college students seeking to become a Special Education teacher. This mentorship was not just educational in nature; it was cultural as well to bring awareness and solutions to certain disproportionality within Special Education. Charles worked collaboratively as a member of the Professional Educational Advisory Board during Highline College’s development (curriculum) and sustainability (student pacing) of their teacher education program. This development has led to an affordable teacher program for those Black and brown individuals employed in education seeking teacher certification. In addition, he has been an active member for several decades in various roles within the Renton Education Association (REA). He has served as Special Education Department Lead for over twenty years at various educational levels. While Special Education Department Lead his knowledge of union rules as well as advocacy for change has benefited educational outcomes as well as teacher satisfaction and increased longevity. His instructional lead role in Special Education thru direct participation in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and conducting professional development workshops with the staff have solidified his commitment to excellence, equity and equality for students and staff.