Armando Lizarraga (he,him,his) is currently an MA student in the Higher and Postsecondary Education (HPSE) program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Armando earned degrees at El Camino College prior to transferring and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Chicana/o Studies and Sociology.  

Prior to moving to New York, Armando was a peer mentor for CCCP and served as the 2018 and 2019 co-chair for the STOMP Conference. Armando credits these experiences to his interest in conducting research on the narratives of the resilience of non-traditional Latino males pursuing higher education. As a former community college alumnus himself, he wishes to continue to challenge institutional barriers and find solutions to better serve community college students.

Denise Phelps is a non-traditional African American student and mother of seven and a community college transfer student from Long Beach Community College to UCLA in 2014 and is currently a graduate student completing her master’s degree in Public Policy. 

Denise’s future plans after completing my master's degree at UCI include pursuing a Ph.D. in Education and working at a UC and Community College to help other students of color to pursue their dreams in completing their education trajectory in higher education.  Her goals are rooted in her determination, explaining that she has to work harder than most of her peers and sometimes being a non-traditional parenting student puts her at a disadvantage but that she pushes through all of the obstacles to preserve because no university is unreachable, no person of color is unteachable and no nontraditional student is unspeakable. 

Donald Salcedo is currently a tribal social worker and an enrolled member of the Quechan Nation.  Donald transferred from Fullerton College to UCLA and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in American Indian Studies, in June 2020.  During his time at UCLA he served a number of roles supporting and outreaching American Indian students in their higher education and transfer goals, including as a peer mentor for CCCP. 

VIOLETTA PRICE 

Violetta Price is a U.S Army Veteran and current student at the University of California Riverside, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in African American and graduating in June 2021.  

Prior to transferring to UCR,  Violetta attended Los Angeles Southwest College, majoring in Liberal Arts and graduated as a President's Scholar.  Violetta returned to school upon retiring in 2005,  after a very successful career as a court reporter/legal administrator until retiring in 2005.  Before retiring I only had a high school education and decided to return to school to continue her formal education.   Currently a senior at UCR, she is learning the process of learning and plans to enter a doctoral program upon graduation. 

(Vanessa Lopez- NEED)

ANTHONY ELDER 

Anthony Elder is a First Generation, non-traditional reverse parenting student.  Anthony transferred to UCLA in 2014, after attending West LA College, LACC, and LA Valley College and earned his bachelor’s degree in African American Studies and Film in 2016.  Continuing his desire and interest in Cinema, he continued his education by studying Film Production and earned his Masters of Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University in May 2020.    

Having grown up with an affinity toward Social Justice and Cinema,  Anthony serves in a variety of mentorship and leadership roles assisting fellow students from underrepresented backgrounds pursue their own higher education ambition

SARAI KASHANI 

Sarai Kashani transferred from Los Angeles Valley College in 2018 to UCLA and graduated cum laude in 2020 with a B.A. in Sociology, where she was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Service Award. As an undergraduate research assistant for AAP's Research and Evaluation Team (RAE) and a Peer Mentor for CCCP, she developed a particular interest in working with underrepresented first-generation, transfer, and non-traditional students. 

Additionally, during her junior year, she worked closely with the diasporic Central American community on campus, serving as a core member of the Central American Student Union at UCLA. Under the faculty mentorship of Dr. Leisy Abrego, Saraí served as an Undergraduate Student Initiated Education (USIE) scholar, where she taught her own undergraduate seminar focused on 20th-century Salvadoran peasant mobilizations and resistance. Her work on the subject was published in the UCLA Undergraduate Journal for the Humanities and Social Sciences (Kashani, 2020). She has a forthcoming publication  in an anthology titled  “Campus Service Workers in Support of First-Generation College Students.” At the moment, Saraí is employed at a non-profit organization as a Transitional Youth Specialist, where she provides comprehensive mental health services and community resources to underserved individuals. In the future, Saraí anticipates pursuing a Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) and a career in international education.

JEAN CARLO PALACIOS 

Jean Carlo Palacios transferred from Los Angeles Valley College in 2014 to UCLA where he earned his bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Physics in 2017. Currently, Jean Carlo is pursuing his MSc in Civil Engineering.   As a first-gen student, Jean Carlo never considered himself a college student much less one to transfer and graduate from a university. By the time he graduated LAVC, he was already a student for more than 5 years. He shares that it took a lot of discipline, guidance, and determination to take his education seriously. Beyond academia, he started getting involved with the science departments and transfer programs at LAVC, one of which was CCCP. Not realizing it then he shares that, the most valuable gift he received from these programs, among many, was affirmation. 

These experiences led him to his current work with LA County in the Geotechnical Materials and Engineering Division as a field engineering technician. His work in the field has pushed him to return to school to earn a graduate degree in hopes to further his career both as an academic and a professional.

KEVIN HALE 

Kevin Hale is a  member of the Navajo Nation and currently works for the American Indian community at United American Indian Involvement in DTLA.   Kevin is double Bruin, having earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology in  2016 and Masters in Social Welfare in 2018, after transferring from Los Angeles Pierce College.  

As a Social Worker and  Substance Abuse Counselor, Kevin helps people to learn to enjoy their lives again. He often speaks to community organizations and social service agencies promoting health, equality, and higher education for people of color. During his time at UCLA and currently is a constant support to the CCCP team helping students of all ethnicities pursue higher education.  He shares his hopes that Creator always shines blessings of peace and prosperity on your educational journey.