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Schedule & Speakers

Wednesday, March 13, 2024
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Hispanic Leadership Conference

Schedule & Speakers

Time Event Location
8:00 AM Buses Arrive/Registration Main Lot and Unity Center
9:00 AM

Opening Remarks

CU Center
9:15 AM

Keynote: Beatriz Ceja Williams, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education, where she has served in several roles for 20 years.

CU Center
9:35 AM

Panel
"Where I Started":

CU Center
10:05 AM Break
10:15 AM

Breakout Sessions

Presenters:

1. College Readiness, Jacob Lange, HSI Tutoring Coordinator

Learn how to develop study skill tools in preparation for college academics. This is an opportunity to learn about academic support services in college.

  • Grimm Hall 120

 

2. Careers in Education, Dr. Tim Young

Hear about different career opportunities in the field of education and learn about scholarship opportunities offered in the School of Education through our Hispanic Serving Institution grant.

  • Grimm Hall 302

 

3. Careers in Science

Are you interested in seeing what a science classroom looks like?

Check out our Marine Bio Lab with hands-on demos with Dr. Sean Bignami

  •  Founders Hall, 101

Check out the Engineering classroom with hands-on demos with Dr. Gabriela Espinosa.

  • LB Arts, 123

 

4. Transfer Session, Joie Annunziato, HSI Transfer Success Coach

Are you considering going to a community college?
Learn what it takes to transition from community college to a four year university from current transfer students, admissions counselor, and financial aid staff.

  • Grimm Hall, 128

 

5. Imposter Syndrome? Why You Belong, Monique Nunes, Associate Dean of Student Engagement

  • CU Center

 

6. Parent Session, Lester Larios

Informational session for parents to learn key tools to support their first generation students navigate college.

  • Grimm Hall, 121
 
11:00 AM

STUDENT Panel: College Life: What to Expect

CU Center
 

PARENT Session: College Tools

Grimm Hall, 121
11:30 AM

Lunch & Resource Fair

Student Union Lawn
1:30 PM

Buses depart Concordia University Irvine

Main Lot

Hispanic Leadership Conference Information Fair

Concordia University Departments and Programs

Biology - Physics – Chemistry Program
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Career Center
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Fine Arts Department
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Healthcare Administration Programs
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Nuestra Voz Club
Nuestra Voz is a club at CUI that represents all of Latino cultures, strives to help others have a better understanding of who they are as people and achieve their goals.

Nursing Department
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Residential Life
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Password: KOMININT

School of Education
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School of Business
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Step One
Step One is a club that was created in hopes of aiding First Generation Students navigate their way through their years at Concordia University.
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Undergraduate Student Advising/Financial Aid
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Wings/JumpStart Program
WINGs is an admissions based academic program designed to provide extra assistance to this student population. Jump Start is an optional academic program designed to provide extra assistance to our first-generation population.
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Writing Center
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Meeting ID 665 641 8366

Community Colleges

Coastline Community
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Saddleback College
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Santa Ana College
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Irvine Valley College
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Financial Support

Thrivent Financial
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Concordia majors, programs, and clubs include:

  • Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • Black Student Union
  • Career Services
  • Christ College
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Science
  • English Senate Student Club
  • Fine Arts
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Nuestra Voz Hispanic Student Club
  • Nursing
  • Psychology
  • Residential Life
  • School of Business & Economics
  • School of Education
  • Step One FirstGen Student Club
  • Undergraduate Student Advising/Financial Aid
  • Wings/Jumpstart
  • Writing Studio

Community Colleges (confirmed so far)

  • Coast College
  • Irvine Valley College
  • Saddleback College
  • Santa Ana College
Beatriz Ceta-Williams

Beatriz Ceja Williams

Keynote Speaker

Beatriz Ceja-Williams is the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) at the U.S. Department of Education. She has served at the Department of Education for over 20 years in various capacities. Most recently, Ceja-Williams was the Senior Director for Institutional Service (IS) in the Office of Postsecondary Education at the Department where she was responsible for the Divisions that administer the discretionary and formula grant programs to Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, Predominately Black Serving Institutions, and other minority serving institution programs. Prior to that she was the Division Director for Hispanic Serving Institutions.

Jacob Lange

Jacob Lange

Session #1: College Readiness

Hello, everyone! My name is Jacob, and I serve as the Tutoring Coordinator and Success Coach at CUI. I graduated from Concordia with a B.A. in History and Political Thought in 2021 and received an M.A. in History from California State University, Fullerton in 2023. Now, I help oversee the WINGS Program and direct Peer Tutoring Services at Concordia to provide academic support to students. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, playing soccer, and playing my trumpet.

Dr. Tim Young

Tim Young

Session #2: Careers in Education

Dr. Tim Young currently serves in the School of Education as Director of the PPOHA (Promoting Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans) grant and as the Ed.D mentor and Assistant Professor. Dr. Young is dedicated to creating opportunities for graduate students to excel in their degree programs and to eliminating barriers to student access and success.

Prior to joining Concordia, Dr. Young served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Operations at Vanguard University. In this role, he provided leadership to both student affairs and campus operations departments. He has experience leading and developing teams to foster student success through the development of programs and services tailored to a Hispanic Serving Institution. He also has extensive experience with university operations.

 

Dr. Gabriela Espinosa

Dr. Gabriela Espinosa

Session #3: Careers in Science

Dr. Gabriela Espinosa joined Concordia University Irvine as the founding Director of Engineering in 2021. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in Applied Physics followed by MS and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis, respectively. Dr. Espinosa also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. Her research has focused on the interaction between mechanical forces and biological systems, such as the role of blood flow on congenital heart defects and the use of mechanical stimuli for improved orthopedic tissue engineering.

Dr. Sean Bignami

Dr. Sean Bignami

Session #3: Careers in Science

Dr. Sean Bignami graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a B.S. in Aquatic Biology and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science with a Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries. He is the founder and Director of the CUI Marine Lab, which supports CUI classes, student and faculty research, and a mobile touch-tank educational outreach program. Dr. Bignami's current research interests span a range of areas in the marine sciences, including experimental, ecological, and fisheries/conservation biology.

Joie Annunziato

Joie Annunziato

Session #4: Transfer Session

Hello! My name is Joie (pronounced like "Joey"), and I am so excited to join the Concordia community! I am an alumnus of U.C. Irvine and have my B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior. I am passionate about helping students achieve their goals and succeed in their higher education journey.

A little about me: I love personality tests and all things psychology (I am an Enneagram Type 1 and Myers-Briggs ESTJ). In my free time, I love going on walks, hammocking, listening to podcasts, and spending time with my friends and family. What I’d love to know about you: your personality type, favorite coffee shop, favorite shop to binge-watch, favorite resource on campus, and how I can better support you!

Lester Larios

Lester Larios

Session #6: Parent Session

Lester is a FirstGen Latino professional with over 10 years of experience in higher education, non-profit organizations, and community development. Born and raised in Los Angeles to two immigrant parents from Nicaragua, Lester knows the challenges and resilience of navigating a world where you don't know what you don't know and is a resource and advocate for anyone seeking to advance and grow holistically. Lester is passionate about building connections, empowering others, and inspiring Black & Brown communities to thrive. As he likes to share with his students, he's not just a first-generation student, he lives a First Gen Life.

Monique Nunes

Monique Nunes

Session #5: Imposter Syndrome? Why You Belong

Monique Nunes (affectionately known to students as “Ms Mo”) is a dynamic educational leader with a diversity of experiences. Her background, in both public and Lutheran education, includes teaching in a kindergarten classroom, administrating as a  high school principal, and serving as Associate Dean for Student Engagement, here at Concordia University, Irvine. She is regarded as an advocate, a wise guide, and an energetic cheerleader for students.Monique’s career has taken her to Dallas, TX, Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD, Valparaiso University (Indiana) and Concordia College New York in Bronxville, NY. 

Monique created the popular Women of Worth empowerment series which has been featured on several college campuses. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Development from Concordia University Ann Arbor and Master of Arts in Human Resource Administration from Webster University. She also holds several teacher and administrative certifications. Her musical skills as a vocal performer often highlight her presentations and show up in her pedagogy. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She and her husband, Concordia College, New York President, Rev. Dr. John Nunes, have six adult children and a growing entourage of grandchildren.

Erika Sanchez

Erika Sanchez

Panelist

Equipped with a bachelor's in Sociology and Biblical studies from Biola University and a Masters in Transformational Urban Leadership (MATUL) from Azusa Pacific University, Erika spent four formative years in the Philippines living in slum communities and launching faith rooted programs that equip and empower urban poor youth to critically address issues of urban poverty, environmental justice, land rights, health, and education in their community. She has 10 years of experience in higher education access work; scholarship development, first-gen support services, etc. Erika is a proud first generation Latina and Santa Ana native. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Tagalog.

As the HSI Project Director she oversees Concordia University-Irvine's largest federal grant in its history: $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education for its Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program. Her role is to ensure this grant enhances support services for Hispanic students and all Concordia students.

Cody Mendoza

Cody Mendoza

Panelist

Cody Mendoza currently serves as District Director for Congresswoman Katie Porter, who represents California’s 47th Congressional District. Having worked for Congresswoman Porter for five years, Cody has developed a passion for engaging with the community to learn about the issues residents are facing and developing ways to assist. Prior to joining Congresswoman Porter’s staff, Cody attended Chapman University where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. As a first-generation college student, Cody now enjoys serving as a mentor to help current first-generation students successfully navigate the higher education system.

Lalo Alvarado

Lalo Alvarado

Panelist

Lalo is the current franchise owner of the Camp Transformation Center Santa Ana. He is also the co-owner of Irvine, Perris and Clovis. At the Camp Transformation Center, they focus on weight loss and strength training in a safe, fun environment. They educate, connect, and coach their clients on all fitness levels.

Education:

High school - Redlands High

College - UC Riverside, degree in Administrative Studies

James Morrison

James Morrison

Panelist

As a dedicated Christian, husband, and father, I view learning and education as crucial pathways to independence. My academic journey led me to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, after which I pursued an MBA at Concordia, a faith-based institution that aligned perfectly with my values. The program's emphasis on helping you explore and refine your talents resonated with my educational spirit, making Concordia the unparalleled choice for me. Education, for me, represents not just a career path but a journey toward independence and the freedom to manage my own schedule.

My dedication to service extends beyond my professional endeavors. I proudly served in The United States Army Reserve for 14 years, during which I was deployed on three combat tours in Iraq. This experience has imbued me with a deep sense of discipline, leadership, and resilience, qualities that I bring to all aspects of my life and career.

David Benavides

David Benavides

Panelist

David Benavides serves as Executive Director/CEO of KidWorks. KidWorks is a community development non-profit that operates community centers in three under-resourced neighborhoods of Santa Ana, CA. Programs include preschool, after school tutoring, and personal, spiritual, and leadership development for children, youth, and parents. Our vision is to unleash youth potential; to develop young leaders who are making a lasting impact in their communities.

David is the fourth of seven children born to immigrant parents from Mexico. He was born and raised in East Los Angeles and was the first in his family to go to college. David attended Biola University. As a college student in 1996 he participated in an 8-week internship with KidWorks, at the time a small summer program. As part of his internship he moved into one of the most challenged neighborhoods of Santa Ana to mentor youth. He still lives and works in that neighborhood today. His work with Santa Ana youth and families prompted him to run for City Council. He served as a Santa Ana Councilman from 2006 to 2018.

David and his wife Erika have four children, three are college-age and one in high school. In their spare time, David and Erika go out for rides along the coast on their Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Lou Correa

U.S. Congressman Lou Correa (CA 46)

Keynote Speaker

U.S. Congressman Lou Correa represents California’s 46th District—Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, and Santa Ana—in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. As a member of Congress, he serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the Subcommittee on Immigration and Boarder Security, and the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. He is also a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management.

A native of Anaheim, and a son of working-class parents, Congressman Correa learned the value of a strong work ethic through his parents’ example. His mother, who cleaned hotel rooms across from Disneyland, and his father, who held a manufacturing job at a paper mill, encouraged their children to pursue an education. Watching his parents’ dedication to build the American Dream for their children, Lou became the first in his family to go to college and earn a degree. Before running for office, he worked in the private sector in the banking industry, and was also a licensed attorney and licensed real estate broker. He started serving in public office in Sacramento as a member of the California State Assembly for three terms. Later, he served as a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors before returning to Sacramento to represent Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster in the California State Senate. As a State Senator, the first-generation elected official supported local public health and safety services, mental healthcare, and health and safety programs for children. Lou created Operation Kid Prints, a safety program that partners with local schools to provide free finger printing and safety information for parents. And he also pioneered the statewide Young Senators Program which brought teenagers from all walks of life to learn about the California State Legislative process, and the importance of community service. He has served on numerous boards of the Orange County Family Justice Center, the Orange County Board of Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (G.R.I.P.), the California Small Business Board, and the Orange County Community Development Council, the county’s anti-poverty council. Prior to earning his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of California, Los Angeles, Congressman Correa earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from California State University, Fullerton.

The Congressman, who was named “Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Association of Orange County, lives in Santa Ana with his wife and their four children and can be found at community events every weekend.

Victor Hugo Miranda

Victor Hugo Miranda

Latin American Spanish Language Specialist, Blizzard Entertainment
Irvine, CA

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Hugo immigrated to the United States at the age of 17. His family’s reason for landing in California: to help improve his performance in school. And it must have worked. After high school, he became the first member in his family to attend college in the United States. However, that goal was short lived when he became concerned for his legal status; he soon returned to Costa Rica. As he taught English there, he always kept his mind open for new opportunities. That’s when he applied for a language scholarship to learn Mandarin in Taiwan, and he got it. While continuing his studies in Taiwan, he soon returned to the United States. Teaching Spanish and Chinese while attending California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), Hugo earned his Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from CSUF. Before graduating from college, though, he was hired by Blizzard Entertainment, an American video game developer and publisher based in Irvine, CA. Today, the first-generation Costa Rican native works at Blizzard as a Latin American Spanish Language Specialist. He donates his time in the community by showcasing his work to bilingual learners at local schools as a way to empower them. Like the heroes in video games, Hugo believes that bilingual and bicultural students have a special ability, or super power, and embracing it is the key to success. In addition to being a native Spanish speaker, Hugo is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and English.

Marcie Perez

Marcie Perez

Principal & Founder, Agency M Media
Los Angeles, CA

Born and raised in Anaheim, CA, Marcie Perez is the first person in her family to go to college. Today, she’ a marketing communications executive who has taken her heart—compassion for causes—together with her talent—executing successful communications campaigns—to impact social initiatives throughout Southern California and abroad. Marcie began her career working at various award-winning public relations agencies overseeing campaigns for a variety of clients. She was later tapped to work in-house at corporations overseeing communications strategies. Today, she runs her own public relations and marketing practice, Agency M Media in Los Angeles, where she is responsible for developing social impact, consumer lifestyle, and marketing communications campaigns for national foundation, non-profits and the County and City of Los Angeles. Her work in the public sector has given her the opportunity to apply her expertise to cause-related public awareness campaigns and social impact initiatives. As a proud Latina, Marcie understands how her radio, television and print media experience as on-air and staff talent gives her valuable insight into what consumers want, and what media and influencer platforms need for inspirational content and meaningful connections. Some of her clients include the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Consumer & Business Affairs, Koreatown Youth + Community Center, and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Marcie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in public relations from California State University, Fullerton and her Master of Science degree in Leadership & Management from the University of La Verne.

Roberto Saldivar

Roberto Saldivar

Principal, Anaheim High School
Anaheim, CA

Roberto Saldivar has two firsts to his name. As the son of immigrant parents from Zacatecas, Mexico, Roberto is a first-generation American. And as the first member in his family to attend college and earn a degree, he’s a first-generation college graduate. Though his parents never attended high school after immigrating to the United States, much less earned their college degrees, the support at home and from his parents, combined with perseverance, inspired Roberto to cross that finish line and earn his first college degree in 2001—a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Health Science from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). He later earned his Master’s degree in Education, as well as his teaching credential, from Azusa Pacific University. Roberto launched his teaching career at his alma mater, Anaheim High School, where he taught and coached various sports teams. Soon after, he earned his administrative credential from CSUF allowing him to become an assistant principal at local junior high schools, and most recently he was appointed principal of Anaheim High School where he’s been serving since 2014. But Roberto’s proudest accomplishment is marrying his high school sweetheart, a fellow Anaheim Colonist, where together they are parents to three young children.

Concordia - Turtle Rock Campus

Map of Concordia University Irvine

Concordia majors, programs and clubs include:

  • Athletics
  • Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • Black Student Union
  • Career Services
  • Christ College
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Science
  • English Senate Student Club
  • Fine Arts
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Music
  • Nuestra Voz Hispanic Student Club
  • Nursing
  • Psychology
  • Residential Life
  • School of Business & Economics
  • School of Education
  • Servant Leadership Institute - High School Leadership Academy
  • Step One FirstGen Student Club
  • Undergraduate Student Advising/Financial Aid
  • Wings/Jumpstart
  • Writing Studio

Community Colleges:

  • TBD
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