Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committees include the leadership programs, and professional development webinars and institutes. Leadership Programs include Undergraduate Fellows, Graduate Fellows, Faculty Fellows, New Leadership Academy, and Outstanding Dissertation Competition

Professional Development Committee Members

James Rodriguez, PhD, Professional Development Committee Chair
Dean of Extended Education and Global Outreach
Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs
California State University, Bakersfield   

Graduate Student Fellowship Program

Jasmine Haywood, PhD, GSFP Board Liaison
Strategy Director
Lumina Foundation 

Stacey Speller, PhD, GSFP Co-chair
Program Coordinator
Howard University

Cydney Caradonna, GSFP Co-chair
Graduate Research Assistant, the Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison 
University of Utah

Mitzi Ceballos, GSFP Alumni Coordinator
University of Utah

Danielle Aguilar, GSFP Alumni Coordinator
University of Colorado Boulder

Armando Lizarraga, MA, GSFP Social media
Doctoral Student
The University of Texas Austin

Joselin Castillo, GSFP Social media
University of New Mexico

Ariana Ordoñez, GSFP Recruitment coordinator
University of California, San Diego

Faculty Fellowship Program

Hermen Diaz, PhD, Co-chair
Assistant Professor, Higher Education Administration Department
Buffalo State University – SUNY

Melissa Navarro, PhD, Co-chair
Associate Professor
Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education
San Diego State University

Outstanding Dissertation Award

Maria Oropeza-Fujimoto, PhD, Chair

Revised November 20, 2025