Niketa Calame-Harris is a Los Angeles native working as a project ambassador for the American Diabetes Association and an actress who has performed in numerous productions, including  Squeak in “The Color Purple,” which won a 2012 Ovation Award for “Best Ensemble Cast.” She was also the voice of Young Nala in Disney's "The Lion King." Niketa earned her B.A. at UCSC and her M.F.A. at The Actors Studio Drama School in New York. She was a Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program intern, co-chair of the Ethnic Student Organization Council and Black Sisters United, and an organizer for Destination Higher Education.

Dr. Meda Higa is an assistant professor of biology at York College of Pennsylvania. She is also a member of SACNAS, a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in science. While at UCSC as a Regents Scholar, Dr. Higa earned a B.A. in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. Subsequently, she earned a Ph.D. in oncological sciences from the University of Utah. Dr. Higa was also a member of the Filipino Student Association, Pagkakaisa Dance Troupe, and Alpha Kappa Delta Phi.

Eden Silva Jequinto recently graduated from UCLA with an M.A. in urban planning and is now at the UCLA School of Law as a member of both the public interest and critical race studies programs. Previously, Eden was at the EastSide Arts Alliance in Oakland, where she established its Guerilla Theatre and Youth Leadership programs. At UCSC, Eden earned a B.A. in American studies while being a member of the Filipino Student Association, Rainbow Theater, Third World and Native American Student Collective Press, KZSC radio station, Ethnic Student Organization Council, Colors in Action, Student Union Assembly, and Educational Opportunity Program.

Kalwis Lo is a Southern California native serving the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Scholarship America. He previously worked as Policy Advocate for Hmong National Development Inc., in Washington D.C. He's also served as an advocate on behalf of students across the country to improve law and policy changes within the White House, Department of Education, and Congress. As a Stevenson undergraduate, he earned his B.A. in politics and a minor in education while serving as a member of the Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance and chair of Student Union Assembly.

Tiffany Dena Loftin is the Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division at the NAACP,  where she serves more than 700 Youth Councils, High School Chapters, and College Chapters actively involved in the fight for civil rights. Previously, she was the Senior Program Specialist in Community Advocacy and Partnership Engagement (CAPE), Center for Social Justice at the National Education Association. She also worked with the AFL-CIO as the Racial Justice Program Coordinator for the Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Department. Tiffany served at the American Federation of Teachers and as President of the United States Student Association (USSA). Ms. Loftin has been nationally recognized, appearing on TV One, Fox News, ABC, People’s World, National Public Radio, and Al Jazeera. A passionate advocate for the empowerment of communities of color, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans in Higher Education. Ms. Loftin graduated from UCSC with dual degrees in American Studies and Political Science.

Dr. Belinda Lum works as an Assistant Professor of sociology in the Behavioral and Social Science Division at Sacramento City College. She is also a consultant that specializes community-based action research, strategic planning, consensus building, facilitation, and civic engagement. She earned her M.A and Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Southern California. At UCSC, she earned a B.A. in sociology, and was a member of the Third World and Native American Student Collective Press, the Chinese Student Association, and the Multicultural Festival Organizing Committee.

Lee Maranto is a Southern California native, but has called Northern California his home since coming to UCSC in 1997. He majored in community studies and politics and co-founded the student organization: Challenging, Learning about and Undermining Heterosexism. Lee served as a Chancellor’s Undergraduate Intern for SOAR and later returned as a Program Manager. He earned a law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law and currently works at UC Berkeley as the Independent Hearing Officer. He attributes his legal education and SOAR experience as critical to being hired at UC Berkeley.

Justin Resuello is a healthcare portfolio manager for Wells Fargo, where he manages $1.3 Billion in franchise hospital lending relationships that generate $16 Million in income on $24 Million in revenue. He was previously a buy-side treasury and private wealth fixed income analyst for First Republic Bank, a government and not-for-profit banking relationship manager for JPMorgan Chase, a sell-side municipal research strategist for Stifel Nicolas, and a published public finance credit rating analyst for Moody's. Resuello earned a Master of Public Administration from The Maxwell School of Syracuse University, a bachelors from Oakes College of UC Santa Cruz, and the PPIA Fellowship from Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University. As an Oakes undergraduate, he was a chairman of Engaging Education, a coordinator of the Filipino Student Association’s A Step Forward, a volunteer with the Kuya/Ate Mentorship Program, and a Board of Director of Engaging Education in its first year.

Leisette Rodriguez is a staff attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services and works with immigrant communities throughout LA County. She is also a part-time professor at CSU Dominguez Hills in the Labor Studies Department.
Leisette received her Juris Doctor from CUNY School of Law and graduated from UCSC in 1996. At UCSC, she was affiliated with Cowell College and was co-chair of MEChA and a member of SANAI, TWANAS, MCF and many other student organizations. Leisette sits on the UCSC ALumni Council and is chair of QWOCMAP, a queer women of color media making organization in San Francisco. In her spare time, you can usually find her at the park with her daughter and behind a lens doing film or photography.

Darrick Smith is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of San Francisco and a consultant for colleges and school districts addressing equity concerns in the areas of policy, pedagogy, and leadership. Dr. Smith’s research interests include: culturally responsive discipline practices; equity in community colleges; critical pedagogy; transformative leadership, and education for social justice. He has served as an educator, school leader, and consultant within secondary, post-secondary, and non-profit spaces for 18 years. Dr. Smith previously served as the Co-Principal at the June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco, as well as founder of the TryUMF (pronounced “triumph”) program for adolescents, teaching students fundamental principles in sociology, feminism, and critical theory. He was awarded the University of California’s Fannie Lou Hamer Award for his commitment to social change and a commendation from the California State Senate for his work in violence prevention and youth development.

Brian Sniegowski is Head of Underwriting and Agency Management at Tesla Insurance Services. Brian earned a B.A. in politics and business economics at UCSC and a M.B.A from the USC Marshall School of Business. He has been chair of the UCSC Multicultural Festival and president of the Southern California Hapa Issues Forum. Currently, Brian is an elected board member of the UCSC Alumni Council. He is a member of Cold Tofu, an Asian American improv troupe in Los Angeles and raising an eleven year old tomboy.

Kenneth Songco is a Bay Area native, born and raised in San Francisco. He holds a Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UCSC, Oakes College. At UCSC, Ken was involved with the Filipino Student Association, Pilipino Cultural Celebration, Rainbow Theater, a founding member of the Ethnic Student Organizing Council (ESOC) and was the first Recruitment and Retention Intern with the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP). He’s currently Director of Student Equity and Success at Mission College in Santa Clara, CA and was previously Director of Federal Student Services Grants. 

Dr. Claradina Soto (Navajo/Jemez Pueblo), is a full-time Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Southern California Keck School Of Medicine in the Institute for Prevention Research. She has over 20 years partnering with American Indian and Alaska Native populations in public health, collaborating with urban and Tribal communities in CA to reduce and prevent mental health disparities, commercial tobacco use, cancer control issues, and substance use and opioid use disorders. She collaborates on several research projects funded by NIH/FDA, Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), Department of Health Care Services, California Tobacco Control Programs and the Office of Health Equity. She teaches courses in the Master of Public Health and Health Promotion programs at USC and mentors undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Soto is a longtime advocate for the AI/AN communities and other priority populations to advance health equity and reduce health disparities. Dr. Soto was a member of the Student Alliance of North American Indians, the Bridge program, and SOAR.