Teams
Implementation Teams
Each co-chair will be tasked with implementing a specific set of activities to meet the university's defined Goals. Team members are designated to support efforts to meet the defined Goal within each of the five priorities.
Becoming a Premier Public Research University: A New Kind of HSI
Executive Sponsor: Hala Madanat, Ph.D., Vice President for Research
Goal 1: Position É«ÇéÊÓƵ to ultimately achieve R1 status
Co-Chairs: John Crockett, Scott Walter
Committee Members: Hala Madanat, Michele Goetz, Interim James Frazee, Pam Lach, Edgar Hodge, Jennifer Schenkenfelder, Heriberto Vasquez
Co-Chairs: Karen May-Newman, Steven Hooker
Committee Members: John Crockett, Hala Madanat, Jennie Amison, Debbie Brighton, Natasha Bliss, Cassie Aaron, Erika Larkins, Salvadore Espinosa, Kristen Wells, Yasmine Shead
Co-Chairs: Tracy Love, Monica Casper
Committee Members: Ed Balsdon
Co-Chairs: Stanley Maloy
Committee Members: Natalie Mladenov, Heriberto Vasquez, Olivia Humphrey
Goal 2: Leverage É«ÇéÊÓƵ’s unique identity to enhance the quantity and quality of scholarship.
Co-Chairs: John Crockett, Emilio Ulloa
Committee Members: Joi Coles, Jennie Amiso, Antonio Marquez, Debbie Brighton, Araceli Saucedo, Michael Dominguez
Co-Chairs: Ramona Perez
Committee Members: Cristina Alfaro
Co-Chairs: Jeff Roberts, Ramona Perez
Committee Members: Lourdes Cueva Chacon, Cristal Zuniga, Olivia Chilcote, Roberto Hernandex, Lluvia Flores Renteria, Penelope Quintana, Roddrick Colvin
Resilience. Designed to Thrive
Executive Sponsor: Agnes Wong Nickerson, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs, and Adrienne Vargas, Vice President for University Relations and Development
Goal 1: Diversify and expand revenue streams that support our mission and our scholarly and creative activities, teaching and athletic aspirations.
Co-Chairs: Brittany Santos-Dereig
Committee Members: John David Wicker, Tim Rice, Agnes Wong Nickerson, Adrienne Vargas, Mary Darling, Victor Nava, Tommy Martindale, Leslie Levinson, Cynthia Cervantes, Todd Summer, Jerry Sanders, Rachel Lindell (Jerry Sanders Assistant), Nikki Clay, John Putman, Radhika Seshan, Interim James Frazee, Hala Madanat, Michele Goetz, Christina Brown, Victor Penera, Austin Barber
Co-Chairs: Bill Tong
Committee Members: Hector Ochoa, Tod Reeder, Mark Reed, Michele Goetz, Cathy Pucher, Alex DeNoble, Victor Penera, Stephen Jackson
Co-Chairs: Seth Mallios, Stefan Hyman, Thom McElroy, Megan Newton
Committee Members: Giselle Luevanos, Candy Carson, Courtney Harmon, Jason Benito, Jeffery Ernst, Kellie Woodhouse, Leomarc Pastor, Lori Padelford, Quentin Skaggs, Timothy Gonzalez, Shawki Moore, Karina Esteban, Joe Brock, Chuck Lang, Polly Sipper, Tammy Blackburn, Maria Keckler, La Monica Everett-Haynes, Jim Herrick, Mike May, Victor Nava, Victor Panera, Steve Schnall, Catherine Snapp
Co-Chairs: Megan Newton, Adam Armolea
Committee Members: Gina Jacobs, La Monica Everett-Haynes, Jim Herrick, Catherine Snapp, Mike May, Tammy Blackburn, Stefan Hyman, Viktor Nava, Jeffery Ernst, Seth Mallios, Giselle Luevanos, Todd Summer, Thom McElroy, Kellie Woodhouse, Shawki Moore, Karina Esteban, Joe Brock, Melissa Porter, Steve Schnall, Amando Sepulveda
Goal 2: Allocate resources with transparency, equity, efficiency and accountability.
Co-Chairs: Crystal Little, Mary Anne Kremicki
Committee Members: Interim Christy Samarkos, Interim James Frazee, Hector Ochoa, Agnes Wong, Rashmi Praba, Myra Villalta, Ari Weizman, Christian Holt
Co-Chairs: Todd Summer, Christina Brown
Committee Members: Christy Samarkos, Adrienne Vargas, Jerry Sanders, Rachel Lindell (Jerry Sanders Assistant), Nikki Clay, Michele Goetz, Agnes Wong, Hala Madanat, Alyssa Longeuay, Leslie Levinson
Co-Chairs: Sherry Ryan, Bruce Reinig
Committee Members: Agnes Wong Nickerson, Adrienne Vargas, Brittany Santos-Derieg, Interim Christy Samarkos, Hector Ochoa, Hala Madanat, Wil Weston, Interim James Frazee, Austin Barber, Christian Holt, Tom McCarron
Goal 3: Invest in organizational practices that prioritize the responsible management of resources with a focus on global and environmental sustainability.
Co-Chairs: Eric Hansen, Iana Castro
Committee Members: Glen Brandenburg, Simran Jain
Keven Jeffery, Maribel Madero, Tyler Rogers, Gener Abdon, Charlotte Roberts, Daryn Ockey, Liv Humphrey, Dave Weil, Tenaya Bearmar, Markco King, Erlinde Cornelis, Jesenia Pineda, Raul Leon, Lily Eckoff, Kim Carnot, Kelly Snodgrass, Gener Abdon
Co-Chairs: Jessica Barlow
Committee Members: Trent Biggs, Li An, Laura Shinn, Paul Melchior, Eric Hansen, Glen Brandenburg, Gener Abdon, Charlotte Roberts, Simran Jain, Tenaya Bearmar, Eric Frost, Robert Schultz, Presidential Task Force for Climate Action, Kristin Larson, Daryn Ockey, Lily Eckhoff, Samuel Kassegne, Eric Frost, Kim Carnot, Kelly Snodgrass, Liv Humphrey
Co-Chairs: Christy Samarkos, Robert Schultz
Committee Members: Keven Jeffery, Simran Jain, Gener Abdon, Charlotte Roberts, Adrienne Fusek, Asfaw Beyene, Tenaya Bearmar, Glen Brandenburg, Lily Eckhoff, Kristin Larson, Erlinde Cornelis, Kelly Snodgrass, Liv Humphrey
We Are É«ÇéÊÓƵ
Executive Sponsor: Dr. James Frazee, Interim Vice President for Information Technology
Goal 1: Foster an inter-connected and equitable É«ÇéÊÓƵ experience through implementing resource generation and allocation, communication and information-sharing, and systems of transportation.
Co-Chairs: Gina Jacobs, Stacy Carota
Committee Members: Hala Madanat, Shara Tscheulin, Kumar Narayanan, Victor Nava, Interim James Frazee, Shawki Moore, Angela Pina, Daniel Nieto
Co-Chairs: Wil Weston
Committee Members: Mark Wheeler, Amando Sepulveda, Daniel Nieto, Jazmyn Horton Alvarado, Julieanna Gutierrez
Co-Chair: James Frazee
Committee Members: Michelle Peterson, Cristian Alfaro, Joe Wolfman, Mark Wheeler, Mark Siprut, Adrian Gonzalez, Rachel Raynoha, Pete Delaney, Amando Sepulveda, Giselle Luevanos, Carlos Careaga, Kevin Jeffery, Noah Hansen, Kate Halvoet, Margot Emer, IT, ITS
Co-Chairs: Cory Marshall
Committee Members: Catherine Snapp, Deborah Brighton, Tammy Blackburn, Rahim Baker, Giselle Luevanos, Raquel Herriot, Amando Sepulveda
Co-Chairs: Debbie Richeson
Committee Members: Josh Mays, Joe Wolfman, Steve Schnall, Amando Sepulveda, Janusz Supernak, Lisa Pearson, Karina Esteban, Rachel Szakmary
Co-Chairs: Debbie Richeson
Committee Members: Josh Mays, Henry Villegas, Rachel Gregg, Karina Esteban, John Moreno Jr., Alan Castro, Rachel Szakmary, Amando Sepulveda, Lawson Hardick, Daniel Nieto
Co-Chairs: Debbie Richeson
Committee Members: Eric Hansen, Rachel Gregg, Beth Bridges, Rachel Szakmary, Amando Sepulveda, Victoriano Penera III
Co-Chairs: Debbie Richeson, Gina Jacobs
Committee Members: Aly Moore, Rachel Szakmary, Laura Shinn, Amando Sepulveda
Goal 2: Expand É«ÇéÊÓƵ’s academic infrastructure and partnerships to meet the needs of broadly diverse learners in our region, across the nation, and the world.
Co-Chairs: Radhika Seshan, Karen Myers-Bowman
Committee Members: Christy Samarkos, Mark Wheeler, Edgar Hodge, Crystal Sanchez, Jacq Banal
Co-Chairs: Halil Güven
Committee Members: É«ÇéÊÓƵ Georgia Executive Committee, Stephen Schellenberg, Ari Weizman
Co-Chairs: Jacob Alvarado Waipuk
Committee Members: David Kamper, Interim Christy Samarkos, David Gamble, Crystal Sanchez
Co-Chairs: Cristina Alfaro, Maria Keckler, Ricky Paniagua
Committee Members: Adrienne Fusek, Sandra Temores-Valdez, Noah Hansen, Eddie West, Crystal
Sanchez, Lawson Hardick, Stefan Hyman, Jennifer
Schenkenfelder, Linda Osuna, International Coordinators representing each college across campus
Co-Chairs: Mark Wheeler
Committee Members: Gina Nunez, Executive Council & Program Coordinators from É«ÇéÊÓƵ IV, Crystal Sanchez, Lawson Hardick, Andrew Bohanak, Jennifer Schenkenfelder, Linda Osuna, Gregorio Ponce
Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do
Executive Sponsor: Christy Samarko, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity
Goal 1: Ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across campus are aligned and implemented consistently, effectively and efficiently.
Co-Chairs: Rahim Baker, Erica Aros
Committee Members: Mark Figueroa, Stacy Warner, Donald Kirson, Austin Barber, Isabella Martelino, IT
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Imazeki
Committee Members: Equity and Inclusion Councils
Co-Chairs: Randy Timm, Nicole Belisle
Committee Members: Jeff Ernst, Mark Figeroa, Jessica Nare, Isabella Martelino, Daniella Luistro
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Imazeki
Committee Members: Equity and Inclusion Councils
Co-Chairs: Virginia Loh-Hagen, Mike Juan
Committee Members: Koko Nishi, Sandra Wawrykto, Daniella Luistro, Isabella Martelino
Goal 2: Foster and sustain an environment where all students, faculty, staff and alumni feel welcomed, supported, and valued by the university.
Co-Chairs: Jessica Nare
Committee Members: Megan Newton, Melissa Porter, Wesley Palau, Elzbeth Islas, Virginia Loh-Hagan, Darren Wilson, Jessica Chang
Co-Chairs: Catherine Snapp, La Monica Everett-Haynes
Committee Members: Lisa Haney, Tiffany Dykstra-DeVette, Caryl Montero-Adams, Paige Hernandez, Darren Wilson
Co-Chairs: Peggy Shannon
Committee Members: Eric Smigel, Arzu Ozkal, Joyce Gattas, Maribel Madero, Aresa Rochester, Alanie Abron, Karina Esteban, Ragini Parkhi
Co-Chairs: Rebecca Lewison
Committee Members: Gloria Rhodes, Anne Donadey, Madhavi McCall, Edgar Hodge, Randall Timm, Jennifer Stanley, Carolina Rodriguez-Uribe, Anahi Aceves, Joy Moore, Raquel Herriot, Isabella Martelino
Co-Chairs: Jessica Chang, Nicole Belisle
Committee Members: Anne Guanciale, Adam Adams, Lauren Jacobs, Yea-Wen Chen, Sureshi Jayawardene, Alan Mobley, LaWana Richmond, Joy Moore
Co-Chairs: Francisco Velazquez, Jennifer Imazeki
Committee Members: Daniel Reinholz, Belen Gamino, Joanna Brooks, Michael Borgstrom, Jessica Chang, Allison Vaughn, Ed Balsdon, Sarah Elkind, Darren Wilson
Goal 3: Recruit, retain and advance graduate students, faculty and staff who can and will effectively support the diverse student body and communities served by É«ÇéÊÓƵ.
Co-Chair: Jennifer Imazeki
Committee Members: Thom Harpole, Frank Harris III, Joanna Brooks, Andrew Bohanak, Jessica Rentto, Allen
Gontz, Thierry Devos, Max Johnson
Co-Chairs: Sasha Chizhik, Emilio Ulloa
Committee Members: Karen Whited, Dustin Thoman, Mark Reed, Mari Luisa Zuniga, Allen Gontz, Max Johnson
Co-Chairs: Thom Harpole
Committee Members: Jennifer Imazeki, Joanna Brooks, Courtney Harmon, Meena Alexander, Allen Gontz, JR Lauron
Students at Our Core
Executive Sponsor: William Tong, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Goal 1: Ensure that all members of the campus community are prepared to advance student success by deepening the quality of learning and closing equity gaps.
Co-Chairs: Jeanne Stronach, Erin Jacobs
Committee Members: Michael Borgstrom, Alane Lockwood, Randy Timm, Jennifer Imazeki, Norah Shultz, Hector Ochoa, Estralita Martin, Sonja Pruitt-Lord, Madhavi McCall, Noemi Portillio, Sarah Elkind, Michelle Lopez, Joanna Brooks, Ashley Tejeda
Co-Chairs: Joanna Brooks, Christy Samarkos
Committee Members: Randy Timm, Michelle Lopez, Christine Molina, Jose Preciado, Stefan Hyman, Amanda Fuller, Kristie Dock
Co-Chairs: Madhavi McCall
Committee Members: Stephen Schellenberg, Hector Ochoa, Ashley Tejeda, Nina Potter, Reynaldo Monzon
Co-Chairs: Juliana Saenz
Committee Members: Christy Samarkos, Martha Enciso, Malerie McNeill, Joyce Chen, Meghan Mahoney, Kristie Dock, James Tarbox, Graduate Affairs, Research Affairs
Co-Chairs: Andrew Bohonak
Committee Members: Allison Vaughn, Tina Tan, John McMillan, Feion Villodas, Ramona Acuna, Kylee Webster, Josh Barfuss, James Tarbox, Graduate Council, Research Affairs
Goal 2: Expand access to affordable, high-quality university undergraduate and graduate education for the people of our region and beyond.
Co-Chairs: Mary Taylor, Y. Barry Chung
Committee Members: Miguel Rahiotis, Christy Samarkos, Jeanne Stronach, Sarah Hoang, Henry Villegas, Sandra Temores-Valdez, Fabiola Moreno, Cristina Alfaro
Co-Chairs: Radhika Seshan, Karen Myers-Bowman, Eugene Olevsky
Committee Members: Ray Savage, Sean Hauze, Joanna Brooks, Hannah Berman Schneider, Ashley Tejada
Goal 3: To support student success and well-being both inside and outside the classroom, É«ÇéÊÓƵ will strategically increase its programming, resources and capacity to provide mental health, wellness and basic needs support for all undergraduate and graduate students.
Co-Chairs: Jen Rikard, Stephanie Galia
Committee Members: Chelsea Payne, Ava Grell, Abigail Tamayo, Dustin Atkins, Mia McKee, ECRT committee
Co-Chairs: Mike Juan, Brent Taylor
Committee Members: Nola Butler Byrd, Jen Rikard, Ray Savage, Kole Wellenstein, Frida Diaz, Abigail Tamayo
Co-Chairs: Andrea Dooley, Stephanie Galia
Committee Members: Dustin Adkins, Keiara Allen, Stephanie Dathe, Rosanne Pasenelli, Chelsea Payne, Todd Summer, Ava Grell, Mayah Taylor, Vanessa Malcarne, Abigail Tamayo
Strategic Planning Committee
Cassie Aaron - President of Graduate Student Association
Ed Balsdon - Interim Dean of Graduate Affairs
Kyla E. Blaylock - É«ÇéÊÓƵ Student
Joanna Brooks, Ph.D. - Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs – Faculty Advancement
Jenny Bramer - Executive Associate Athletic Director
Karen Emmorey, Ph.D. - Professor of Speech Language in the College of Health and Human Services
Angelica A. Espinoza - É«ÇéÊÓƵ Student
La Monica Everett-Haynes, Ph.D. - Associate Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
Michele Goetz - Associate Vice President and Executive Director of É«ÇéÊÓƵ Research Foundation
Maureen A. Guarcello, Ph.D. - Research, Analytics, and Communications Specialist, Instructional Technology Services
Jim Herrick - Assistant Vice President, Alumni
Edgar Hodge, Ed.D. - Assistant Vice President for Information Technology
Helina Hoyt, Ph.D., RN, PHN - School of Nursing, É«ÇéÊÓƵ Imperial Valley
Jennifer Imazeki, Ph.D. - Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty Success and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
Gina Jacobs - Associate Vice President for Mission Valley Development
Shane James - É«ÇéÊÓƵ Student
Maria Keckler - Presidential Communications Director
Vanessa Malcarne, Ph.D. - Professor of Psychology in the College of Sciences
Antionette Marbray, J.D. - Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Karen May-Newman, Ph.D. - Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Christian Onwuka - 2019-20 Associated Students President
Gregorio Ponce, Ph.D. - Dean of É«ÇéÊÓƵ Imperial Valley
Jessica Rentto, J.D. - Associate Vice President, Administration
Jeffrey Roberts, Ph.D. - Dean of the College of Sciences
Sherry Ryan, Ph.D. - Professor and Director of the School of Public Affairs
Brittany Santos-Derieg - Chief-of-Staff
Radhika Seshan, Ph.D. - Dean of É«ÇéÊÓƵ Global Campus
Stephanie Smith - Professional Graduate Fee Coordinator for the Fowler College of Business
Jeanne Stronach - Assistant Vice President, Analytic Studies and Institutional Research
Mark Wheeler, Ph.D. - University Senate Chair and Professor of Philosophy
Strategic Plan Consultants
É«ÇéÊÓƵ is embarking in a landmark planning process and, through that process, is committed to generating input from all levels of the university. To ensure broad participation, É«ÇéÊÓƵ is drawing on expertise from both within and outside of the organization. An expert-informed initiative will strongly contribute to the campus community’s ability to develop a strategic plan that will define not just the future of one campus, but three: the É«ÇéÊÓƵ main campus, É«ÇéÊÓƵ Imperial Valley, and the potential development of É«ÇéÊÓƵ Mission Valley. Skilled and nationally-recognized experts have been engaged to support and help guide this effort, and we encourage you to get to know them below.
Emeritus Consulting Group
Alma R. Clayton-Pedersen is Chief Executive Officer of Emeritus Consulting Group, a firm that uses organizational development principles to assist nonprofit, public and education entities in enhancing their effectiveness for the public good. Clayton-Pedersen brings a wealth of experience to the firm’s work, particularly with respect to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and facilitating discussions around inclusive excellence.
Clayton-Pedersen previously worked with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in several capacities. From 2010 to 2016, she was a Senior Scholar and co-Principal Investigator directing the work of AAC&U’s Preparing Critical Faculty for the Future Program, funded by the National Science Foundation. From 2000 to 2010, she served first as a Senior Policy Director, then Vice President for Education and Institutional Renewal, directing ongoing programs and several grant-funded projects. Prior to joining AAC&U, Dr. Clayton-Pedersen was deeply engaged for 16 years at Vanderbilt University, where she served in senior leadership roles in student affairs, a public policy center, academic affairs and athletic affairs. She conducted more than 20 institutional studies on retention, climate for diversity, and student programming. Throughout her 35-year career in higher education, Clayton-Pedersen has provided consultation on program evaluation, inter-organizational collaboration, diversity and institutional change in a range of settings and working with stakeholders nationally and internationally.
Sonja C. P. Armstrong, whose expertise stems from developing an expansive legal practice to public, is president and chief operating officer of Emeritus Consulting Group LLC.
Armstrong has served as both associate general counsel and special counsel at Chicago State University, a public, urban institution. As a generalist in higher education law, she has been responsible for oversight of issues relating to labor and employment, governance, athletics, residence life, academic affairs and student discipline, among other areas. One of Armstrong’s most significant campus endeavors involved a 15-month presidential appointment as interim director of intercollegiate athletics to restructure an emerging division of the university – creating a culture of compliance, an environment for successful student outcomes and a focus on institutional mission.
Prior to joining Chicago State University, Armstrong was an attorney at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, one of the largest, most well-respected national law firms based in Chicago. While in private practice, she served as legal counsel and advocate for a diverse group of public and private entities – including higher education institutions – in business, regulatory, complex litigation and dispute resolution matters. Overall she was responsible for resolving challenges faced by her clients and fostering trusting relationships at all levels within these organizations. Handling that work effectively required her to use collaborative approaches to chart the best course of action to reach each client’s organizational objectives.
AASCU Penson Center for Professional Development
Howard Cohen, Ph.D. is the AASCU Penson Center for Professional Development (APC) Executive Director and a Senior Associate of its consulting group, which works primarily with public regional universities. Cohen also holds the distinction of Chancellor Emeritus at Purdue University Northwest. Prior to his 10-year tenure as Chancellor, Cohen also served in academic and administrative appointments within the University of Massachusetts and University of Wisconsin systems. His areas of focus include strategic and academic planning, department chair leadership, leadership team development and executive coaching. Cohen is expected to be the lead consultant for the strategic planning components of our engagement, working in conjunction with other APC colleagues as needed.
Sal Rinella, Ph.D. is a former university president who has served as a consultant with APC and other organizations in all sectors of higher education for the past 14 years. Rinella also has been a facilitator and author for the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) roundtables and monographs, leading discussions of timely topics including New Forces and Realities: Making the Adjustment and The Presidential Role in Disaster Planning and Response. From 1994 to 2000, Rinella served at the helm of Austin Peay State University, an institution known for its collaborative, integrative learning community that tremendously expanded over the past three decades. Rinella’s areas of emphasis include strategic planning and positioning, identifying transformational programs and initiatives, formulating partnerships to advance the institution and team development.
We thank all members of our campus community – students, faculty, staff and administrators – for providing input and feedback, which will then inform É«ÇéÊÓƵ’s future vision, mission and strategic priorities.