
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.

Agnes Wong Nickerson, MBA
Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs & CFO
Strategic Plan Implementation Co-Chair

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity
Strategic Plan Implementation Co-Chair
Becoming a Premier Public Research University: A New Kind of HSI.
Executive Sponsor: Hala Madanat, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Research
GOAL 1: Position É«ÇéÊÓÆµ to ultimately achieve R1 status:
Key Activities:
Hala Madanat
Michele Goetz
Jerry Sheehan
Pam Lach
Edgar Hodge
Jennifer Schenkenfelder
Heriberto Vasquez (past member)
Cassie Aaron
Jennie Amison
Debbie Brighton
John Crockett
Hala Madanat
Natasha Bliss
Erika Larkins
Salvadore Espinosa
Kristen Wells
Yasmine Shead
Graduate Council
Ed Balsdon (past member)
Stanley Maloy, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Research and Innovation
Natalie Mladenov
GOAL 2: Leverage É«ÇéÊÓÆµâ€™s unique identity to enhance the quantity and quality of scholarship.
Key Activities:
Michael Dominguez
Araceli Saucedo
Joi Coles
Karina Esteban
Jennie Amison (past member)
Debbie Brighton (past member)
Antonio Marquez (past member)
Ramona Pérez
Professor of Anthropology and Center for Latin American Studies Directora
Marcela Polanco
Antonio Marquez
Alondra Hernandez
Ramona Pérez
Professor of Anthropology and Center for Latin American Studies Directora
Jeff Roberts
Dean of the College of Sciences
Lluvia Flores-Renteria
Olivia Chilcote
Jenny Quintana
Lourdes Miriam Cueva Chacon
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.
Key Activities:
Austin Barber
Christina Brown
Nikki Clay
Cynthia Cervantes
Mary Darling
Michele Goetz
Leslie Levinson
Rachel Lindell
Hala Madanat
Tommy Martindale
Victor Nava
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Tim Rice
Jerry Sanders
Radhika Seshan
Jerry Sheehan
John Putman
Victor Penera
Adrienne Vargas
John David Wicker
Todd Summer (past member)
William Tong
Interim Vice Provost
Tod Reeder
Mark Reed
Michelle Goetz
Cathy Pucher
Alex DeNoble
Salvador Ochoa
Victor Penera
Stephen Jackson
Jason Benito
Candy Carson
Jeff Ernst
Karina Esteban
Timothy Gonzalez
Courtney Harmon
Giselle Luevanos
Shawki Moore
Lori Padelford
Leomarc Pastor
Quentin Skaggs
Kellie Woodhouse
Tammy Blackburn (past member)
Joe Brock (past member)
LaMonica Everett-Haynes (past member)
Jim Herrick (past member)
Gina Jacobs (past member)
Maria Keckler (past member)
Chuck Lang (past member)
Mike May (past member)
Victor Nava (past member)
Victor Penera (past member)
Steve Schnall (past member)
Polly Sipper (past member)
Catherine Snapp (past member)
Tammy Blackburn
Jeff Ernst
Karina Esteban
La Monica Everett-Haynes
Jim Herrick
Stefan Hyman
Gina Jacobs
Giselle Luevanos
Seth Mallios
Mike May
Thom McElroy
Shawki Moore
Victor Nava
Melissa Porter
Steve Schnall
Amando Sepulveda
Catherine Snapp
Todd Summer
Kellie Woodhouse
Joe Brock (past member)
GOAL 2: Allocate resources with transparency, equity, efficiency and accountability.
Key Activities:
Jerry Sheehan
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Hector Ochoa
Rashmi Praba
Jerry Sheehan
Myra Villalta
Ari Weizman
Luke Wood
Christian Holt (past member)
Nikki Clay
Michele Goetz
Rachel Lindell
Hala Madanat
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Christy Samarkos
Jerry Sanders
Adrienne Vargas
Christian Holt (past member)
Austin Barber
Hala Madanat
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Hector Ochoa
Brittany Santos-Dereig
Jerry Sheehan
Adrienne Vargas
Luke Wood
Wil Weston
Christian Holt (past member)
Tom McCarron (past member)
GOAL 3: Invest in organizational practices that prioritize the responsible management of resources with a focus on global and environmental sustainability.
Key Activities:
Tenaya Bearmar
Glen Brandenburg
Liv Humphrey
Simran Jain
Keven Jeffery
Maribel Madero
Daryn Ockey
Tyler Rogers
Dave Weil
Charlotte Roberts (past member)
Jessica Barlow
Instructional Faculty for the School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Li An
Tenaya Bearmar
Trent Biggs
Glen Brandenburg
Eric Hansen
Simran Jain
Laura Shinn
Josh Mays
Paul Melchior
Charlotte Roberts
Presidential Task Force for Climate Action
Eric Frost (past member)
Robert Shultz (past member)
Tenaya Bearmar
Asfaw Beyene
Glen Brandenburg
Adrienne Fusek
Simran Jain
Keven Jeffery
Charlotte Roberts
We Are É«ÇéÊÓÆµ.
Executive Sponsor: Jerry Sheehan, Vice President for Information Technology
GOAL 1: Foster an inter-connected and equitable É«ÇéÊÓÆµ experience through implementing resource generation and allocation, communication and information-sharing, and systems of transportation.
Key Activities:
Wil Weston
Head of Collection Management, Chair of the University Senate 2020-2021
Julieanna Gutierrez
Daniel Nieto
Amando Sepulveda
Mark Wheeler
Carlos Careaga
Pete Delaney
Margot Emer
Adrian Gonzalez
Kate Halvoet
Noah Hansen
IT
ITS
Kevin Jeffrey
Giselle Luevanos
Michelle Peterson
Rachel Raynoha
Amando Sepulveda
Mark Siprut
Joe Wolfman
Mark Wheeler
Tammy Blackburn
Deborah Brighton
Giselle Luevanos
Shawki Moore
Amando Sepulveda
Catherine Snapp
Raquel Herriot (past member)
Karina Esteban
Josh Mays
Lisa Pearson
Steve Schnall
Amando Sepulveda
Janusz Supernak
Joe Wolfman
Rachel Szakmary (past member)
Karina Esteban
Josh Mays
John Moreno, Jr.
Amando Sepulveda
Henry Villegas
Lawson Hardick (past member)
Daniel Nieto (past member)
Miguel Rahiotis (past member)
Rachel Szakmary (past member)
Rachel Gregg
Eric Hansen
Victor Penera (past member)
Amando Sepulveda (past member)
Rachel Szakmary (past member)
Gina Jacobs (past member)
Amando Sepulveda (past member)
Laura Shinn (past member)
Rachel Szakmary (past member)
GOAL 2: Expand É«ÇéÊÓÆµâ€™s academic infrastructure and partnerships to meet the needs of broadly diverse learners in our region, across the nation, and the world.
Key Activities:
Karen Myers-Bowman
Radhika Seshan (past chair and member)
Jacq Banal
Edgar Hodge
Christy Samarkos
Crystal Sanchez
Mark Wheeler
Stephen Schellenberg
Ari Weizman
David Kamper
Luke Wood
Crystal Sanchez (past member) (Associated Students)
Adrienne Fusek
Noah Hansen
Lawson Hardick
Stefan Hyman
Linda Osuna
Eddie West
Crystal Sanchez
Jennifer Schenkenfelder
Sandra Temores-Valdez
International Coordinators representing each college across campus
Andrew Bohanak
Lawson Hardick
Linda Osuna
Crystal Sanchez
Jennifer Schenkenfelder
Gregorio Ponce (past member)
Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do
Executive Sponsor: J. Luke Wood, Ph.D., 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.
Key Activities:
Erica Aros
Director of Student Ability Success Center
Rahim Baker
Accessible Technology Initiative Coordinator
Austin Barber
Mark Figueroa
IT
Donald Kirson
Stacy Warner
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Diversity Liaisons
Sim Baweja
Jenny Bramer
Elizabeth Cordero
John Crockett
Kristine Catano
Anne Donadey
Theresa Garcia
Gabriel Gonzalez
Thom Harpole
Jennifer Lakin
Daniella Luistro
Arion Mayes
Deb Naylon
Claire Norberg
Melanie Patton
Amy Randel
Patricia Rea
Jessica Rentto
Gloria Rhodes
Nate Rogriguez
Sweta Sarkar
Cristian Sterling Aquino
Mary Taylor
Sarah Vanderburgh
Allison Vaughn
Aurora Velasco
Roy Whitaker
David Engstrom (past member)
Raquel Herriott (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Paula Peter (past member)
Rick Schultz (past member)
Mark Figeroa
Kayla Mari Vale Cruz
Jessica Nare
Andrew Pierson
Dion Akers (past member)
Daniella Luistro (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Diversity Liaisons
Sim Baweja
Jenny Bramer
Elizabeth Cordero
John Crockett
Kristine Catano
Anne Donadey
Theresa Garcia
Nina Go
Gabriel Gonzalez
Thom Harpole
Jennifer Lakin
Arion Mayes
Deb Naylon
Claire Norberg
Melanie Patton
Amy Randel
Patricia Rea
Jessica Rentto
Gloria Rhodes
Nate Rogriguez
Sweta Sarkar
Cristian Sterling Aquino
Mary Taylor
Maya Taylor
Sarah Vanderburgh
Allison Vaughn
Aurora Velasco
Roy Whitaker
David Engstrom (past member)
Raquel Herriott (past member)
Daniella Luistro (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Paula Peter (past member)
Rick Schultz (past member)
Daniella Luistro
Sandra Wawrykto
Isabella Marteelino (past member)
GOAL 2: Foster and sustain an environment where all students, faculty, staff and alumni feel welcomed, supported, and valued by the university.
Key Activities:
Elzbeth Islas
Virginia Loh-Hagan
Joy Moore
Megan Newton
Wesley Palau
Melissa Porter
Darren Wilson
Tiffany Dykstra-DeVette
Lisa Haney
Paige Hernandez
Caryl Montero Adams
Darren Wilson (past member)
Karina Esteban
Joyce Gattas
Maribel Madero
Ragini Parkhi
Aresa Rochester
Eric Smigel
Anahi Aceves
Anne Donadey
Edgar Hodge
Madhavi McCall
Joy Moore
Gloria Rhodes
Carolina Rodriguez-Uribe
Jennifer Stanley
Randy Timm
Tiffany Dykstra-DeVette (past member)
Raquel Herriot (past member)
Maria Keckler (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Jessica Chang
Diversity Officer for Student Engagement, Center for Intercultural Relations
Nicole Belisle
Jessica Chang
Sureshi Jayawardene
Alan Mobley
Joy Moore
LaWana Richmond
Alanie Abron (past member)
Justine Darling (past member)
Anne Guanciale (past member)
Tierney Trujillo-Harrison (past member)
Jennifer Imazeki
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty & Staff
Francisco Velazquez
Director of New Student and Parent Programs
Joanna Brooks
Jessica Chang
Belen Gamino
Daniel Reinholz
Allison Vaughn
Gianna Wood
Ed Balsdon (past member)
Sarah Elkind (past member)
Darren Wilson (past member)
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«ÇéÊÓÆµ.
Joanna Brooks
Thom Harpole
Frank Harris III
Jessica Rentto
Gianna Wood
Thierry Devos (past member)
Allen Gontz (past member)
Max Johnson (past member)
Charlie Sallee
Dustin Thoman
Karen Whited
Mari Luisa Zuniga
Joanna Brooks (past member)
Allen Gontz (past member)
Max Johnson (past member)
Joanna Brooks
Courtney Harmon
Jennifer Imazeki
Allen Gontz (past member)
JR Lauron (past member)
Students at Our Core
Executive Sponsor: Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President
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.
Key Activities:
Jennifer Imazeki
Alane Lockwood
Michelle Lopez
Estralita Martin
Madhavi McCall
Salvador Hector Ochoa
Noemi Portillio
Sonja Pruitt-Lord
Norah Shultz
Randy Timm
Joanna Brooks (past member)
Sarah Elkind (past member)
Ashley Tejeda (past member)
Amanda Fuller
Tito Hernandez
Stefan Hyman
Michelle Lopez
Christine Molina
Jose Preciado
Randy Timm
Joyce Chen (past member)
Kristie Dock (past member)
Jerry Sheehan (past member)
Salvador Hector Ochoa
Alexia Oduro
Nina Potter
Ashley Tejeda
Stephen Schellenberg (past member)
Reynaldo Monzon (past member)
Research Affairs
Joyce Chen
Martha Enciso
Megan Mahoney
Malerie McNeill
Christy Samarkos
Kristie Dock (past member)
James Tarbox (past member)
Research Affairs
Ramona Acuna
Josh Barfuss
John McMillan
Tina Tan
Allison Vaughn
Feion Villodas
Kylee Webster
James Tarbox (past member)
GOAL 2: Expand access to affordable, high-quality university undergraduate and graduate education for the people of our region and beyond.
Key Activities:
Sarah Hoang
Miguel Rahiotis
Christy Samarkos
Jeanne Stronach
Sandra Temores-Valdez
Henry Villegas
Fabiola Moreno (past member)
Joanna Brooks
Sean Hauze
Ray Savage
Ashley Tejada
GOAL 3: To support student success and well-being both inside and outside the classroom, É«ÇéÊÓÆµ will strategically increase its programming, resources and capacity to provide mental health, wellness and basic needs support for all undergraduate and graduate students.
Key Activities:
ECRT Committee
Chelsea Payne
Ava Grell
Abigail Tamayo (past member)
Ray Savage
Kole Wellenstein
Nola Butler Byrd (past member)
Jen Rikard (past member)
Abigail Tamayo (past member)
ECRT Committee
Gener Abdon
Dustin Adkins
Keiara Allen
Stephanie Dathe
Ava Grell
Chelsea Payne
Mayah Taylor
Vanessa Malcarne (past member)
Rosanne Pasenelli (past member)
Todd Summer (past member)
Abigail Tamayo (past member)
Strategic Planning Committee

Co-Chair
Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D.
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Provost and Senior Vice President

Co-Chair
J. Luke Wood, Ph.D.
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity
Strategic Planning Team Organizational Structure
Committee Members
University Senate Chair and Professor of Philosophy
Meet our Consultants
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ 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«ÇéÊÓÆµ 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«ÇéÊÓÆµ main campus, É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Imperial Valley, and the potential development of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ 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«ÇéÊÓÆµâ€™s future vision, mission and strategic priorities.