As Executive Director, Su Jin leads California Competes’s work to develop nonpartisan and financially pragmatic recommendations for improved higher education and workforce policies and practices across California. Prior to joining California Competes, she served as a professor of public policy and administration at California State University, Sacramento. She also served as the Director of the … Continue reading Su Jin Jez

Dr. Bledsoe is the founder of Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), a national organization established to enhance the experiences of and instill a “spirit of care” in African American males in high schools, colleges and universities around the country. Dr. Bledsoe served as Vice President for Student Life and Special Assistant to the President at … Continue reading Tyrone Bledsoe

Dr. Watson Spiva’s more than 30-year career in postsecondary education spans a range of executive leadership, general management, the federal government, public affairs, operations and academic officer positions. Dr. Spiva serves as the President of Complete College America (CCA). Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, CCA is a bold national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates … Continue reading Yolanda Watson Spiva

Dr. Yoon Choi drives her vision to improve outcomes for underrepresented youth with more than a decade of leadership in education non-profits. Her career demonstrates a track record of creating organizational scalability by building partnerships with funders, community organizations, and schools. As CEO of CollegeSpring, she has led the organization to triple the number of … Continue reading Yoon S. Choi

Larry, a 2021 TED Fellow, is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Brothers Empowered to Teach (BE2T). He is the chief fundraiser and ensures that the vision and culture match the mission. Larry is the creator and mastermind of ‘The Cipher’, which is BE2T’s in-house personal and professional development space. Before this role, Larry … Continue reading Larry Irvin

Linda García is the Executive Director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT). Prior to this role, she served as the Assistant Director of College Relations at CCCSE. Previously, Linda was Vice President of Community College Relations at the Roueche Graduate Center at National American … Continue reading Linda Garcia

Carrie Billy, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and attorney from Arizona, was appointed President & CEO of AIHEC June 2008. Carrie is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the Georgetown University Law Center. Her career reflects a commitment to public service, as seen through her work on behalf of the 37 … Continue reading Carrie L. Billy

Celina Moreno, J.D., is president and CEO of the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio, Texas, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to equity and excellence in education. IDRA works with school systems, institutions of higher education and communities across the country to create education that works for all children, particularly those who are students … Continue reading Celina Moreno

Cheryl Crazy Bull, Wacinyanpi Win (They Depend on Her), a citizen of the Sicangu Lakota nation, is President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, a role she has held since 2012. A lifelong educator and community activist, Cheryl advocates for self-determination focused on Native voice, philosophy, and traditions as the heart of the … Continue reading Cheryl Crazy Bull

Born in Alameda County and raised in Richmond, Christopher is a proud product of the City of Richmond and the East Bay. Equally driven by the racial, educational, health, and economic disparities he experienced around him and the dedication he saw throughout the community to secure a more equitable future for the city, Christopher aspired … Continue reading Christopher Whitmore