About

Dr. Frank Harris III is a professor of postsecondary education and Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) at San Diego State University. He is best known for his expertise in racial [in]equity in postsecondary education and has made important contributions to knowledge about college student development and the social construction of gender and race in college contexts. His work prioritizes populations that have been historically underrepresented and underserved in education.

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D. is Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education and Vice President for Student Affairs & Campus Diversity at San Diego State University. Formerly Wood served as Associate Vice President for Diversity and Innovation. Dr. Wood is also Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity in advancing outcomes for men of color. He has delivered over 1,000 scholarly and conference presentations and more than 150 publications to his credit, including 15 books and 75 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Lasana O. Hotep is an antiracist/antisexist educator, writer, and equity-advancing executive coach. He writes and speaks globally about educational equity, anti- Blackness, and racial justice within organizations and society at-large. He has delivered transformative, multi-media presentations throughout the United States and abroad in Beijing, China and Accra, Ghana. As a writer, he has contributed to seven books and is the co-author of the recently published Minding the Obligation Gap in Community Colleges and Beyond: Theory and Practice in Achieving Educational Equity. For over 20 years, Lasana has provided equity-advancing consultation to academic institutions, community-based organizations, and corporations. Some of his most note-worthy accomplishments include developing the Equity Training series (ETS) and serving as the founding Executive Director of the Equity Institute (EI). Currently, Lasana serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Carlos Nevarez received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. He is a Full Professor with the Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Executive Editor for the Journal of Transformative Leadership and Policy Studies at Sacramento State. Dr. Nevarez prior leadership experience include serving as the Interim Chair, Graduate & Professional Studies. In Addition to serving as Director of the Educational Leadership Program at Sacramento State. Dr. Nevarez has authored over thirty publications. His work is designed to be both accessible and actionable in addressing educational challenges and opportunities facing schools and colleges.

Dr. Sim Barhoum is a Professor of Humanities at San Diego Mesa College. Professor Barhoum earned his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Community College/Post Secondary Education from San Diego State University. He has taught a wide range of education and literacy courses, from high school-level to graduate-level, in a variety of teaching formats, including traditional, hybrid, and online. Dr. Barhoum’s research focuses on developmental pathways, barriers to underserved students, and best practices for all community college students. In particular, his contributions examine active learning, relational practices, and educational models.

Donna Y. Ford, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor of Education and Human Ecology and Kirwan Institute Faculty Affiliate at The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. She is in the Educational Studies Dept., Special Education Program. She returned to OSU in Aug. 2019. Professor Ford was formerly an endowed chair at Vanderbilt University in the College of Education.  Dr. Ford has been a Professor of Special Education at the Ohio State University, an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Virginia, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky. 

George R. Boggs is President and CEO Emeritus of the American Association of Community Colleges and Superintendent/President Emeritus of Palomar College in San Marcos, California. He continues to be an active consultant, teacher, author, and speaker. He is the author of more than 100 articles, books, and chapters on various aspects of higher education. He currently teaches classes in emerging higher education issues in doctoral programs at San Diego State University and National American University.