LEADERSHIP
Susanna Cooper, Executive Director
Before coming to UC Davis to establish Wheelhouse, Ms. Cooper served as an independent consultant and as longtime advisor on pre-K-to-14 education issues for the leader of the California State Senate. In that role, she shaped and shepherded the Pro Tem’s education agenda, provided counsel on state education budget matters, and led multi-year campaigns to increase quality pre-kindergarten opportunities for low-income children, reduce the number of high school dropouts, and strengthen pathways to college. She is Special Advisor to the Stuart Foundation, Chair of the Board of the James B. McClatchy Foundation, past President of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit EdSource, and a member of the board of the non-profit Ten Strands. She brings deep experience in project initiation and management, policy development and advocacy, research translation, communications, government affairs and philanthropy.
Francisco Rodriguez, Chancellor in Residence and Chancellor Emeritus, Los Angeles Community College District
Chancellor Emeritus Francisco Rodriguez joined Wheelhouse in 2020 as its first Chancellor in Residence, where he shares his time, talents, and expertise as a presenter and facilitator for our CEO Institute on Leadership and Advancing Leaders Institute. He also helps shape our research projects and ensures they are closely tied to the California community colleges’ real-time policy and practice needs.
A noted scholar and education activist, Dr. Rodriguez’s career spans close to 40 years within California public higher education, including 10 years as Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District, superintendent/president of the MiraCosta Community College District, president at Cosumnes River College, and Executive Dean (now president) at Woodland Community College.
Dr. Rodriguez’s engagement with Wheelhouse is a homecoming of sorts. UC Davis is where he began his educational career and earned his BA in Chicano Studies and MS in community development. Dr. Rodriguez possesses a PhD in education from Oregon State University and an honorary doctoral degree from Loyola Marymount University.
Michal Kurlaender, Lead Researcher, Professor
Dr. Kurlaender is Professor and Chancellor’s Fellow at the UC Davis School of Education. She investigates students’ educational pathways, in particular K-12 and postsecondary alignment, and access to and success in postsecondary education. She has expertise in alternative pathways to college and college readiness at both community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. Kurlaender works closely with national data and administrative data from all three of California’s public higher education sectors systems. She also studies the impact of racial and ethnic diversity on student outcomes. She has been a visiting scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation and was elected to the National Academy of Education in 2020.
Edward Bush, Senior Fellow
Dr. Bush is President of Cosumnes River College and a founder of African American Men in Education and Development. He is an innovative leader with over 21 years of experience in higher education — 18 of those years in the California Community College system. Dr. Bush has a history of developing programs and services that foster both student access and success as well as creating successful targeted programs for historically underserved populations. He has served as Vice-President of Student Services, Dean of Student Services, tenured associate faculty member in student activities, and an adjunct professor for several graduate programs. At Wheelhouse, he conducts and provides counsel on community college research and leads sessions in the Institute on Leadership. He earned his doctorate from the Claremont Graduate University.
TEAM
Elizabeth Friedmann, Research Fellow
Dr. Friedmann is a postdoctoral researcher for both Wheelhouse and its partner center, the California Education Lab. She received her PhD in Education with an emphasis in School Organization and Education Policy from UC Davis. Her research focuses on college access and success, financial aid and transfer pathways from community colleges. Dr. Friedmann produces independent research and provides administrative and organizational support for the Wheelhouse Institute on Leadership and the Scholars’ Network. She also lectures at CSU East Bay.
Karina Jimenez, Administrative Assistant
Karina Jimenez is the Administrative Assistant for the California Education Lab and Wheelhouse. She assists with research and administrative activities across the two centers. Before working for the School of Education, Karina worked as a Peer Advising Counselor and Special Projects Assistant for the UC Davis Center for Educational Opportunity Program. Karina holds a B.A. degree in History and two minors in English and Latin American and Hemispheric Studies from the University of California, Davis, and graduated with High Honors.
Robbie Linden, Research Fellow
Robbie Linden is a research fellow at Wheelhouse and an affiliate of the California Education Lab. In this role, he conducts quantitative analyses on student outcomes in the California Community Colleges. His completed reports include an evaluation of how the Student-Centered Funding Formula affected student financial aid receipt and a description of how student enrollment patterns changed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Robbie holds a PhD in Education and master’s in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Davis and a bachelor’s in public policy from the University of Michigan.
Nikhil Masand, Student Assistant
Nikhil Masand is a transfer student from the Contra Community College District where he holds Associates Degrees in Automotive Services and Political Science. As a nontraditional student who firmly believes in student support, Nikhil served in student government as an Executive Vice President, Co-Chaired the Student Success Committee, and organized Contra Costa College’s second Annual Holiday Toy Drive. In recognition of Nikhil’s involvement, he won the 2024 Board of Governors Student Leadership Award. At UC Davis Nikhil is majoring in Political Science-Public Service and minoring in Accounting. Contributing much of his success to his involvement in community college, Nikhil is also a part of the Student Speaker’s Bureau for the I CAN go to college campaign where he travels the state to share his journey with rising community college students. Experiencing the transformative value of higher education first-hand, Nikhil envisions himself becoming a leader in the field and contributing to research efforts that can make education accessible to even more students.
Mayra Nuñez Martinez, Research Fellow
Mayra is a postdoctoral scholar at Wheelhouse and an affiliate of the California Education Lab. In this role, she contributes to research on student outcomes and experiences in California Community Colleges and provides administrative and organizational support for the Wheelhouse institutes. Her research focuses on addressing educational inequities impacting Latinx students in rural areas, particularly in terms of college access, retention, and completion. Mayra holds a PhD in Education with an emphasis on School Organization and Education Policy, a master’s degree in Education from UC Davis, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Hilary Strain, Associate Director
Hilary Strain is a passionate and dedicated professional with a rich background in the field of higher education technology. With over 17 years of experience, Hilary has made a significant impact on college institutions through her diverse roles in the ed tech sector. Throughout her career, Hilary developed a deep appreciation for community colleges and the vital role they play in promoting equity and social justice. Driven by a desire to make a more direct impact on the educational landscape, Hilary sought to transition to a hands-on role within a college environment. This aspiration led her to discover the perfect opportunity at Wheelhouse.
Jacqui Zuniga-Dunkin, Events Manager
Jacqui Zuniga-Dunkin is the Events Manager for Wheelhouse. With over a decade in the hospitality industry, she has extensive program development and marketing experience. Jacqui led events at Walt Disney World, Austin Business Journal, and Autism Speaks before joining the UC Davis team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in merchandising and marketing from Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte and an MBA from Baylor University.
