Student Profile

Horacio Corona Lira

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 17

Background

Horacio Corona Lira was born in Las Tortugas, Michoacán, Mexico, and raised in Lindsay, California. He is the first in his family to attend and graduate from college, receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in education and Chicano studies from the University of California at Berkeley. He attributes much of his success to the work ethic instilled in him by his parents and his campesino upbringing. Horacio has over 10 years of professional experience in student affairs, student equity, and leadership in higher education.

Student Profile

Leroy Roches Gaines

Ed.D Student CANDEL Cohort 17

Background

Leroy Gaines brings over 19 years of combined professional experience working in both urban public-school districts and non-profits paving the way for education reform. He believes all children deserve equal access to high-quality education and school leadership as a key lever in the transformation process required to put students on a path to college and career readiness. Leroy currently serves as the Network Superintendent for the Oakland Unified School District.

Student Profile

Jose Gutierrez

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 17

Positions

Assistant Principal

Social Science Teacher

Research Interests

Trauma Informed Care

Restorative Justice

Multi Tiered Systems of Support

Student Profile

Peter Lê

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 17

Portrait of Peter Le

Background

Peter Lê (he/him) was born and raised in East Oakland. He possesses over 12 years of experience in K-12 and higher education. He has taught biology at the high school, community college, and university levels. In addition to his teaching experience, Peter has held roles in college and career counseling and school-based health.

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Student Profile

Julian Ledesma

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 17

Background

Julian comes from a family of undocumented immigrants and a bracero father. The youngest and only US born member of his family, he is a product of blue collar and racially diverse East Oakland. Since 2016, Julian has served as Executive Director of Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3), helping to lead a cluster of over ten programs that specialize in serving the more than 13,000 non-traditional and historically marginalized students at Berkeley.

Student Profile

Diana Lizarraga

Ed.D. student-CANDEL Cohort 12

Headshot of Diana Lizarraga

Education

  • MA, University of San Francisco | Human Resources and Organizational Development. Emphasis in Higher Education structures, STEM diversity, and leadership development.
  • BS, UC Davis | Agricultural Systems and Environment.  Emphasis in Communications and Information Systems. McNair Research Scholar, NSF LSAMP/CAMP- MURALS Research Scholar, and Hugh Edmondson Pathology Research Fellow, CALESS Member.
  • AA, Math, Engineering, and Science | Sacramento City College.
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Student Profile

Abigail Garcia Patton

Ed.D. Student CANDEL Cohort 17

Background

Abby Garcia Patton grew up in East Los Angeles and was the first in her family to pursue higher education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Spanish and a Masters in Secondary Education. She has over 17 years of experience in the field of education, starting her career as a high school English teacher and union president. 

Student Profile

Isela Pena-Rager

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 12

Education:

  • Ed.D. – Educational Leadership – UC Davis (in progress)
  • M.A. – Spanish, Applied Linguistics & Graduate Certificate in Second Language Studies – Purdue University
  • B.A. – Art, specialization in Photography – University of La Verne

Research Interests:

Student Profile

Katrina Rice

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 17

Portrait of Katrina Rice

Katrina is a National Board Certified Teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience in urban secondary classrooms. She began her career at June Jordan School for Equity, in San Francisco, where she also worked as an administrator. Katrina then worked at her former high school, Jesse M. Bethel High School, in Vallejo, where she spent six years as the Lead Teacher of the Law Academy. Under her leadership, the Law Academy earned the Diversity Champion Award from California LAW.

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Student Profile

Quinten R. Voyce

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 16

Background

Raised and currently residing in Fairfield, CA. Is excited to be an Aggie for the third time having completed a B.S. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Cellular & Molecular Biology as a first-gen college student and then continued to receive teaching credentials and M.A. in Education.

With a small teacher cohort, created a dual-enrollment high school program founded in 2014 where he continues to teach high school Biology, Chemistry, and a Senior Project capstone course.

Student Profile

Lydia Iyeczohua Zendejas

Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 17

Lydia Iyeczohua Zendejas

Background

My path to my higher education profession started in 1990 as a student in the UC San Diego Summer Bridge program. It was there that I met a network of caring and dedicated student staff, administrators, and faculty. This network was central to my retention as a Xicana where, at the time, Latinx only represented 9% of the undergraduates. As of fall 2020, Latinx students represent 21% of the undergraduate population. After graduating, I made the conscious choice to apply to a Masters program in higher education in the east coast for two reasons.

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