Our Executive Officers have been elected by our entire membership. Our organization is a dynamic community dedicated to nurturing the next generation of visionaries and change-makers. Through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on experience, we empower individuals to harness their potential and drive impactful change in their communities and beyond. Join us on a journey of growth, leadership, and endless possibilities by contacting your campus leader
SDCAAWCC President 2022 - 2024
Bio: Coming Soon
SDCAAWCC President Elect: 2023 - 2024
Bio: Coming Soon
SDCAAWCC Treasurer 2023 - 2025
Leticia A. Díaz serves as the Dean of Student Success and Equity at San Diego Mesa College. Leticia has developed a passion and desire to increase awareness of the importance of higher education and student support programs and services. Leticia is also interested in supporting the development of individuals that would like to pursue and/or grow a career at a Community College. She served as SDAAWCC Campus Lead for Mesa College for two years and is now serves as Treasurer.
Leticia earned her Associate degree from Southwestern College (SWC); Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and obtained her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Currently, Leticia is pursuing a joint Doctorate of Educational Leadership degree at California State University, San Marcos and at the University of California, San Diego.
Founding President
Brieanna Cuellar is a dynamic and accomplished Technology Project Manager with a rich background in student services, amassing a decade of diverse experience in various capacities from student worker to classified and administrative positions. Armed with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, her expertise lies in seamlessly merging the realms of education and technology to drive organizational efficiency and elevate educational outcomes.
In her career, Brieanna has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the advancement of education within the community college landscape. With a keen eye for detail and a strategic approach to project management, she has led and overseen numerous transformative technology initiatives that have significantly enhanced learning environments and operational processes.
Currently enrolled in a PhD Program for Education for Social Justice, Brieanna is dedicated to furthering her knowledge and expertise to address the critical intersection of technology, education and social equity. This commitment reflects her passion for advocating for equal educational opportunities and fostering a just and inclusive society.
Brieanna embodies a forward-thinking and compassionate approach, consistently seeking ways to leverage technology for the betterment of education and society. With an insatiable drive for continuous improvement and a vision of an equitable educational landscape, she is a beacon of change in the realm of community college education.
Jenny Fererro (she/her) is a professor in the Child Development & Education department at Palomar College and has been actively involved in shared governance and social justice issues throughout her 19 years as a full-time faculty member. In addition to being a former department chair and current/past representative on many committees and councils, she is currently the Faculty Senate Vice President, the lead negotiator for the Palomar Faculty Federation, the liaison to the Early Childhood Education Lab School, and helps lead the Palomar College Pronoun Project. Jenny was the 2021-22 Palomar College Woman of the Year, honored for her work and leadership on DEIAA issues.
Outside of Palomar College, she is the elected Catalyst Liaison for California Community College Early Childhood Educators (CCCECE), a statewide advocacy and leadership group in the child development field and serves on several steering committees and boards, including San Diego American Association for Women in Community Colleges (SDAAWCC). She is a doctoral student in Community College Leadership at SDSU (CCLEAD Cohort 16). Jenny is the author of a book for ECE professionals titled Guidance for Supporting Gender Diversity in Early Childhood Education which was published by Gryphon House in fall 2022.
Nora Kenney (she/her), Ph.D., Palomar College interim director of Occupational and Noncredit Programs, is an experienced administrator, teacher, and researcher with a background in correctional education, adult education, and higher education. In her role, she oversees credit and noncredit programs for currently and formerly incarcerated college students, noncredit programs for adult learners, and career and technical education (CTE) programs for high school students who simultaneously earn high school credit. Before joining Palomar College, she taught in correctional adult education, community college, and university. As an administrator, she ran afterschool programs in Oakland, California as part of a large federal grant. Dr. Kenney earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of California, Berkeley, where she led multiple studies in underserved communities and taught for about eight years. For her doctoral research, Dr. Kenney explored the in- and out-of-school experiences for young African-American men as they transitioned from high school to higher education; her data and findings have implications related to mass incarceration. Before she became an educator, Dr. Kenney worked in marketing and public relations for high tech companies in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and San Diego. She lives in North County with her partner, artist and community advocate Peter Whitley, and considers Oceanside and Oakland home.
Ask Krista what has most shaped her career and she will say, “a passion for people and a drive to be useful.” As a seasoned non-profit leader and Certified Fundraising Executive currently serving the San Diego Mesa College Foundation, she is fortunate to fulfill both purposes. Since 2010, she has worked alongside impassioned leaders from public, private, and non-profit sectors—as well as exceptionally dedicated community members—to create a more equitable San Diego.
After attending De Anza Community College her senior year in high school and spending a year traveling and working abroad, Krista graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in literature, writing from UC San Diego. She is also a Certified Fundraising Executive; obtained the Cornell graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; graduated from the National University Institute of Philanthropy; is a San Diego Leadership Alliance Fellow and former Board Member; a fellow of the Fieldstone Leadership Network Leadership Reading Circle; is a member of Women Give San Diego where she currently serves on the Transformational Committee and previously served as Co-Chair of the Grants Committee; was a participant in the San Diego Chamber of Commerce's Lead IMPACT Class of 2019 and is a current participant in the ADVANCE Class; and serves as a member of the leadership team for the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.
Krista is also the proud mother of a precocious toddler. Her "troupe" consists of herself, 3 year-old Milan (the one running the show), and their rescue dog Pita. As a single mom from day one, Krista has learned to truly value a cup of coffee.
Stefanie Johnson Shipman is a mother of twins who are in first grade, and she is a Professor of English and ELAC (English Language Acquisition) at San Diego Miramar College where she is also serving as Online Faculty Mentor and Assistant Department Chair. She has previously served as co-chair and co-coordinator of several grants, initiatives, and committees, such as the Success in English, ELAC, and Math Committee; basic skills and AB705; and Interest Area Success Teams of Guided Pathways.
Stefanie holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She also has certificates in yoga teaching and Postsecondary Reading and Learning. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of San Diego. She centered her doctoral research on mother-leaders in California community colleges, and she was nominated for the William P. Foster Dissertation of the Year award.
Stefanie is active in her community; she serves on her neighborhood’s executive board and is an active volunteer at her kids’ public school. She loves spending time with her spouse, Eric, and their twins, including going to the beach as often as possible, adventuring, reading, doing art, and simply just playing. In her free time, Stefanie enjoys running, yoga, being a member of her local winery, and—perhaps unsurprisingly as an English professor—reading.
Dr. Samone Sayasenh has worked in the educational system for over twenty-five years. She previously worked as an EOP Counselor at San Diego State University and currently works as an EOPS Counselor at Southwestern College. She has been involved in multiple campus committees and community organizations throughout her time as an educator. She is passionate about students and the work she does on their behalf.
Dr. Sayasenh obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Master of Science in Educational Counseling from San Diego State University (SDSU), and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of Southern California (USC).
Julia has over 6 years of experience in Mediation with extensive customer service, accounting, and budget experience in education. Specialized in Conflict Resolution with over 5 years of experience focusing on social perceptiveness and relationship building. Her expertise is in team building, team performance, innovation, and strategic planning. Julia is a leader and effective communicator, with a love for problem-solving, and critical thinking. She is organized and detail oriented, with a passion for languages and traveling.
In addition, Julia values community involvement, which is why she became a member of the San Diego American Association for Women in Community Colleges, she is the secretary/treasurer for the San Diego Community College District Continuing Education Classified Senate, and is currently a volunteer for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Julia loves the outdoors but can be happy with a good book in her hands.
Julia received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University Dominguez Hills in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding. She currently works for the San Diego Community College District Continuing Education at North City as Administrative Assistant III.
Bio Coming Soon
Bio Coming Soon