Association Leadership

Horacio Aceves
Horacio Aceves
President
Occidental College		 Yara Jimenez
Yara Jimenez
President-Elect
California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Maria Sandra Jimenez
Past President
Truckee Meadows Community College
Gema Quiroz Torres
Secretary
Cal Poly Humboldt


Wendy Adams
Chief Financial Officer
Mesa Community College
Manuel Salazar
Parliamentarian
Mission College

Chapter Officers


Dr. Lydia Perez
Arizona
Mesa Community College
Catherine Ybarra
Central California
College of Sequoias


Trinity Wilson
Northern California
Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA
Geannine Jordan
Nevada
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jana Wilkinson, Ph.D.
Pacific Islands
University of Hawaii Maui College
Amel Khan
Southern California
California State University, Dominguez Hills

Service Council


LaToya Thompson Harvey
Alumni Chair
UC Davis
Larry Wakakoro
Archives
Palau Community College
Lia Mauga
Annual Conference Co-Chair
California State University San Marcos
Tomasa Mauricio
Annual Conference Co-Chair
Barrio Logan College Institute
Keyanna Houser
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Chair
University of California, Berkeley
Ana Prado-Fernandez
Fair Share Chair


Ramon Gallegos
Legislation and Education Co-Chair
Volunteers of America - Los Angeles


Victoria Garcia
Membership & Elections Chair
California Lutheran University
Olga Nunez
Professional Development Chair
California State University, Fresno
Ben Reynoso
Professional Development Chair-ELI
Fresno City College
Channie Phantharath
Public Relations Chair
Nilda Iniguez
Resource Development
Fresno City College

Leslie Imelda Serpas
Technology Chair
California State University, Dominguez Hills		  

Past Leadership

1978–79 & 1979–80 Dr. Charles Ratliff California State University, Long Beach
1980–81 Robert Norris University of San Francisco
1981–82 Keith Hori University of California, Berkeley
1982–83 David Godoy California State University, Los Angeles
1983–84 & 1987–88 Dr. Juan Mestas San Jose State University
1984–85 Michael Dang Asian-American Communities for Education
1985–86 & 1989–90 Sandy Matsui California State University, Bakersfield
1986–87 Dr. Harold Campbell California State University, Hayward
1988–89 & 1991–92 Janice Dirden-Cook University of San Francisco
1990–91 Munyiga Lumumba University of California, Berkeley
1992–93 David Ferguson California State University, Chico
1993–94 Sergio A. Lopez Imperial Valley College
1994–95 Cheryl Arnold-Moore California State University, Long Beach
1995–96 Denise K. Benton California State University, San Bernardino
1996–97 Adrian Tanakeyowma Northern Arizona University
1997–98 Dr. Connie Baker San Jose State University
1998–99 Joe Ramirez California Lutheran University
1999–00 Gerald Bryant University of the Siskiyous
2000–01 D. Matthew Benny Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2001–02 Leonard Woods University of Nevada, Reno
2002–03 Irvin L. Coin Arizona State University
2003–04 Darlene Conwell University of San Francisco
2004–05 James Oda Leeward Community College
2005–06 Jose Martinez-Saldana California State University Monterey
2006–07 Lydia Perez Arizona State University
2007–08 Dr. Joy Brittain Pasadena City College
2008–09 Tomasa Mauricio San Diego State University
2009–10 Michele Scott California State University, Long Beach
2010–11 Ralph Topete Edvolution, Inc.
July 2011 Donelle Davis University of California, Davis
2011–12 & 2012–13 Sergio Galvez California Lutheran University
2013–14 Olga Diaz Arizona Department of Transportation
July 2014–Jan 2015 Anita Blanco Stanford University
2014–15 & 2015–16 Cristina Aguirre Barrio Logan College Institute
2016–17 Dr. Diana Tapia-Wright Reedley College
2017–18 Samuel Blanco III University of California, Davis
2018–19 Michelle Thomas Arizona Western College
2019–20 Bernardo Reynoso Fresno City College
2020–21 Dr. Kimberly Williams Nevada State College
2021–22 Jesus Maldonado Occidental College
2022–23 Armando Bustos Jr. Azusa Pacific University
2023–24 Victor Rojas Cal State Los Angeles
2024–25 Dalia R. Hernandez California State University, San Bernardino
2025–26 Dr. Maria Sandra Jimenez Truckee Meadows Community College

Award Recipients

About the Award: 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
2025 Lia Magua Educational Talent Search, California State University, San Marcos
2026 Bernardo "Ben" Reynoso UB/UBMS Programs, Fresno City College
About the Award: 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.
1997 Monte Perez President, Perez & Associates, Tucson, 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
2008 Irvin L. Coin Director Of TRIO Programs, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2010 Cynthia Darché Park Professor, College Of Education, And TRIO Director, Pre-College Programs, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
2012 José Martinez-Saldaña President And Founder, Edvolution, Inc.
2016 Yoichi K. Rengiil Director, TRIO Programs, University Of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
2017 Michele Scott Director, Educational Opportunity Center, California State University-Long Beach
2018 Dr. Joy Brittain Senior Director Of Early Outreach And Support Programs, California State-Monterey Bay
2024 Lydia Perez President, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ

Archives

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