Dr. Maria Sandra Jimenez President-Elect Truckee Meadows Community College
Gema Quiroz Torres Secretary West Valley College
Nilda Iniguez Chief Financial Officer
April Ortega Arizona Central Arizona College
Tira Lawhorn Northern California Columbia College
Sureima Santillan Central California Fresno City College
Sarah Mooteb Pacific Islands College of Micronesia
Ramón Gallegos Jr., MPA Southern California Volunteers of America Los Angeles
Jennifer Zarco Nevada University of Nevada, Reno
Diana Vasquez Professional Development Chair CSU Fullerton
Dr. Kimberly Jones Parliamentarian Nevada State College
Victoria Garcia Membership & Elections Chair California Lutheran University
Ana Prado Fair Share Cal Lutheran University
Laura Shepherd Technology Central Arizona College
Noah Walls Public Relations University of Nevada, Reno
Jesus Maldonado Legislation and Education Co-Chair CSU Long Beach
Sergio Galvez Legislation and Education Co-Chair California Lutheran University
Olga Nunez Professional Development Chair Fresno State University
Michele Scott Archives Chair CSU Long Beach
Ben Reynoso Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Chair Fresno City College
Kyle Ethelbah TRIO Alumni University of Nevada, Las Vegas
James Oda Resource Development Pacific Islands Chapter
Past Leadership
Dr. Charles Ratliff President 1978-79 & 1979-80 California State University, Long Beach
Robert Norris President 1980-81 University of San Francisco
Keith Hori President 1981-82 University of California, Berkeley
David Godoy President 1982-83 California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Juan Mestas President 1983-84 & 1987-88 San Jose State University
Michael Dang President 1984-85 Asian-American Communities for Education
Sandy Matsui President 1985-86 & 1989-90 California State University, Bakersfield
Dr. Harold Campbell President 1986-87 California State University, Hayward
Janice Dirden-Cook President 1988-89 & 1991-92 University of San Francisco
Munyiga Lumumba President 1990-91 University of California, Berkeley
David Ferguson President 1992-93 California State University, Chico
Sergio A. Lopez President 1993-94 Imperial Valley College
Cheryl Arnold-Moore President 1994-95 California State University, Long Beach
Denise K. Benton President 1995-96 California State University, San Bernardino
Adrian Tanakeyowma President 1996-97 Northern Arizona University
Dr. Connie Baker President 1997-98 San Jose State University
Joe Ramirez President 1998-99 California Lutheran University
Gerald Bryant President 1999-00 University of the Siskiyous
D. Matthew Benny President 2000-01 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Leonard Woods President 2001-02 University of Nevada, Reno
Irvin L. Coin President 2002-03 Arizona State University
Darlene Conwell President 2003-04 University of San Francisco
James Oda President 2004-05 Leeward Community College
Jose Martinez-Saldana President 2005-06 California State University Monterey
Lydia Perez President 2006-07 Arizona State University
Dr. Joy Brittain President 2007-08 Pasadena City College
Tomasa Mauricio President 2008-09 San Diego State University
Michele Scott President 2009-10 California State University, Long Beach
Ralph Topete President 2010-11 Edvolution, Inc.
Donelle Davis President July 2011 University of California, Davis
Sergio Galvez President 2011-12 & 2012-13 California Lutheran University
Olga Diaz President 2013-14 Arizona Department of Transportation
Anita Blanco President July 2014-Jan 2015 Stanford University
Cristina Aguirre President 2014-15 & 2015-16 Barrio Logan College Institute
Dr. Diana Tapia-Wright President 2016-17 Reedley College
Samuel Blanco III President 2017-18 University of California, Davis
Michelle Thomas President 2018-19 Arizona Western College
Bernardo Reynoso President 2019-20 Fresno City College
Dr. Kimberly Williams President 2020-21 Nevada State College
Jesus Maldonado President 2021-22 Occidental College
Armando Bustos Jr. President 2022-23 Azusa Pacific University
Victor Rojas President 2023-24 Cal State Los Angeles
Award Recipients
In 1979, the “It’s Tough to be a Director Award” was initiated to honor our most senior directors. When Steve Holeman, one of WESTOP’s founders, passed away in 1983, the award was amended to honor his legacy. The award now acknowledges the accomplishments of directors of educational equity programs who have demonstrated continuing dedication to the cause of excellence and equity, who show concern for the development of their students’ potential and who demonstrate professionalism in the administration of their programs.
It’s Tough To Be A Director Award Past Recipients
1979
Lack Lima, Upward Bound, Humboldt State University
1980
Arturo Oosterveen, Upward Bound, University of California, Santa Barbara
1981
Octavio Boubion, Upward Bound, Harvey Mudd College
1982
Charlene Folsom, Educational Talent Search, PACT San Francisco
Steve Holeman Award Past Recipients
1983
Keith Hori, Upward Bound, University of California, Berkeley
1984
Robert Norris, Upward Bound, University of San Francisco
1985
Dr. Juan Mestas, Upward Bound, San Jose State University
1986
Dr. Charles Ratliff, Educational Opportunity Program, California State University, Hayward
1987
Rosalie Lopez, Upward Bound, Imperial Valley College
1988
Dr. Sylvia Lopez-Romero, Educational Opportunity Program, California State University, Chico
1989
Janice Dirden-Cook, Upward Bound, University of San Francisco
1990
David Ferguson, Upward Bound, California State University, Chico
1991
Mary Anne Hamann, College Readiness, Monterey Peninsula College
1992
Lawanda McCullon, Upward Bound, Mills College
1993
Yoichi Rengiil, TRIO Programs, University of Guam
1994
Jack Rolinger, Student Support Services, Phoenix College
1995
Irvin L. Coin, Upward Bound, Arizona State University
1996
Melvin Yoshimoto, Student Support Services, University of Hawaii, Manoa
1997
Dr. Connie Baker, ASPIRE/McNair, San Jose State University
1998
Sandi Matsui, TRIO Programs, Windward Community College
1999
Dr. Cynthia Park, Pre-College Program Institute, San Diego State University
2000
Robert Zuniga, Upward Bound, East Los Angeles College
2001
Cornelia Anguay, Upward Bound, University of Hawaii, Hilo
2002
Loretta Enriquez-Najera, Educational Talent Search, Imperial Valley College
2003
Norris Sanders, Educational Talent Search, University of California, Berkeley
2003
Denise Benton, Upward Bound, California State University – San Bernardino
2004
Maria Godoy, Upward Bound, California State University, Los Angeles
2005
Susan Madrid-Simon, Upward Bound, Occidental College
2006
Ron Muriera, Upward Bound, Japanese Community Youth Council
2007
Dolores Diaz, Educational Talent Search, Imperial Valley College
2008
Ping Chan, Upward Bound, University of California, Davis
2009
Liane Richelieu-Boren, College Options/Educational Talent Search, University of California, Davis
2010
Martina Granados, Upward Bound, California State University, Fresno
2011
Gustavo Oceguera, TRIO Programs, Norco College
2012
Michele Scott, Educational Opportunity Center, California State University, Long Beach
2013
Emalyn Lapus, AACE Talent Search and SF College Access Center, Japanese Community Youth Council
2014
Dr. Joy Brittain, Early Outreach and Support Programs, California State University, Monterey
2015
Leonard Woods, TRIO Student Success Programs, University of Hawaii, Hilo
2016
Cesar Velasquez, Upward Bound, California State University – Monterey, CA
2017
Lydia Perez, Student Support Services, Mesa Community College
2018
Sara Boquin, Upward Bound Program, Barrio Logan College Institute
2019
Matt Benney, Associate Vice President Student Affairs, Sonoma State University
2020
Norma Romero, Upward Bound, Loyola Marymount University
2021
Dalia Hernandez, Upward Bound, CSUSB
2022
Tomasa Mauricio, Barrio Logan College Institute
2023
Jen Dyke (JD), TRIO Upward Bound, Cal Poly Humboldt
2024
Sam Blanco III, Pre-College TRIO Programs, UC Davis
Walter O. Mason Award. The Council for Opportunity in Education established the Walter O. Mason, Jr. Award in 1988 to honor outstanding educational opportunity professionals who exemplify leadership. This award acknowledges the contribution of dedicated professionals who have generated individual and community change throughout their entire careers.
2018
Dr. Joy Brittain, Senior Director Of Early Outreach And Support Programs, California State-Monterey Bay
2017
Michele Scott, Director, Educational Opportunity Center, California State University-Long Beach
2016
Yoichi K. Rengiil, Director, TRIO Programs, University Of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
2012
José Martinez-Saldaña, President And Founder, Edvolution, Inc.
2010
Cynthia Darché Park, Professor, College Of Education, And TRIO Director, Pre-College Programs, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
2008
Irvin L. Coin, Director Of TRIO Programs, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2005
William W. Sullivan, Associate Vice President For Retention And Outreach, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas, And Executive Director, Center For Academic Enrichment And Outreach, Las Vegas, NV
1997
Monte Perez, President, Perez & Associates, Tucson, AZ
2024
Lydia Perez, President, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ
