Dean's Momentum Series

MOMENTUM Speakers Series

The Momentum series serves as an ongoing dialogue platform and the dean's vehicle for fostering deep mindfulness and productive conversations.

Its primary aim is to close the equity gap, champion inclusivity, advance social justice reform, and deliberately confront structural racism within our educational institutions, both in the classroom and throughout the broader community. Its overarching goal is to bolster optimism, emotional regulation, empathy, diverse perspectives, pro-social objectives, and mindful awareness among all participants.

This space is dedicated to discussing and mobilizing strategies to more effectively support our college’s efforts in achieving equitable policing and eradicating racism definitively

Upcoming Events 

May 22: "Kintsukuroi" – Film Screening

Guest: Kerwin Berk, Film Director

• Date: Thursday, May 22
• Time: 12:30-3 p.m.
• Location: California History Center

Moderators: Elvin Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Laura Chin, Instructor, Political Science

Everyone is welcome to attend this event in observation of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. After the screening, we'll have opportunities for Q&A and community networking.

Lunch and coffee will be available.

June 12: Living Your Best Life

Adding Global Experiences to Your Portfolio

Guests: Nicole Trevena Flores, Southeast Community College; Marcela Murillo, Santa Fe College; Stacye Fraser Thompson, Jefferson State Community College 

• Date: Thursday, June 12
• Time: 12:30-2 p.m.
• Location: Online via Zoom
  • Meeting code: 821 4658 3632
  • Passcode: 715716

This event will be a panel discussion on studying abroad and global experiences.

June 18: Alumni Success Story–His Humble Beginnings

Guest: Patrick Ahrens, California Assembly Member

• Date: Wednesday, June 18
• Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
• Location: Online via Zoom
  • Meeting code: 844 2647 2928
  • Passcode: 611285

Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens is a former De Anza College student and former member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees.  

Previous Events in the Series

• WINTER 2025

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  March 19: Humanizing Education and Student Success

  • Guest Speaker: Rowena Tomaneng, Deputy Chancellor, California Community Colleges
  • Sponsor: Social Sciences and Humanities Division 

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  March 18: The Need for Transgender Community in Difficult Times

  • Guest speaker: Alicia Mullens, Instructor, Meteorology
  • Co-sponsors: Social Sciences and Humanities Division and the De Anza Pride Center

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  March 11: Immigration Justice

  • Guest speaker: Amanda Bernardo, Deputy Director, American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project
  • Sponsor: Social Sciences and Humanities Division 

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  Feb. 26: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally – Sustainable Development Goal 4 in Sierra Leone

  • Guest speaker: Joseph Koroma, Dean of Financial Aid, Laney College
  • Sponsor: Social Sciences and Humanities Division 

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  Feb. 10: A Life Story of Resilience

  • Guest speaker: Melinda Hughes, Faculty Assistant Director, EOPS
  • Sponsor: Social Sciences and Humanities Division 

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  Feb.5: Equity – The Easiest Hard Thing You'll Ever Do

  • Guest speaker: René Alvarez, Dean of Academic Success and Student Equity, San José City College
  • Sponsor: Social Sciences and Humanities Division 

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  Feb. 3: If HIV Is Not a Crime, Why Do We Criminalize It? Confronting Stigma in Policy and Practice

  • Guest speaker: Robert Suttle, Chair, Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Council of Justice
  • Sponsor: Social Sciences and Humanities Division

• FALL 2024

  Dec. 4: Race, Class and Gender in Mid-1800s California

  Guest Speakers: Ruben Abrica, emeritus instructor, Spanish Language and Culture, and David Howard-Pitney, emeritus instructor, History

  Co-sponsors: California History Center and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division

  

  

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  Nov. 4: Real Talk About Veterans: Misconceptions, Misperceptions and the Truth

  • Guest Speaker: Lessie Branch, Author and U.S. Navy Veteran
  • Sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Division

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  Oct. 25: Building a Culture of Strengths – Enhancing Collaboration Among Peers

  • Guest speaker: Daniel Almeida, Associate Professor, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
  • Sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Division

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  Oct. 9: From Incarceration to Education –Building Safe Spaces for Formerly Incarcerated Students

  Guest Speaker: Donnie Veal, Program Coordinator, Cabrillo College Rising Scholars

  • Sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Division in collaboration with the De Anza Rising Scholars program

• SPRING 2024

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  May 30: History Making: A Retrospective of "Cruisin' J-Town"

  • Guest Speaker: Duane Kubo, Film Director and Former Dean, Intercultural and International Studies

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  May 14: Faculty Wisdom Discoveries with Dr. Ameeta Tiwana

  • Guest Speaker: Ameeta Tiwana, Chair, Anthropology
  • This event is also part of the Social Sciences and Humanities Division annual retreat

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  May 3: Maximizing Research: Library Databases and Your Students

  • Guest Speaker: James Perla-Adams, Equity and Instructional Librarian
  • Co-sponsors: Office of the President, Foothill-De Anza Foundation, Office of Professional Development, Online Education and Learning Resources Division, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

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  May 2: Cultivating Queer Roots: Queer and Now Conference

  • Keynote Speaker: Bamby Salcedo, CEO of the TransLatin@Coalition
  • Co-sponsors: Pride Center, Equity and Engagement Division, Foothill-De Anza Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

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  April 22: Cultivating Inclusive Excellence in Online Learning

  • Guest Speaker: Davinder Kaur, Vice President, Online Learning, LIM College
  • Co-sponsors: Foothill-De Anza Foundation, De Anza College Office of the President, Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

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  April 16: What's In Your Heart?

  • Guest Speaker: Danee Black, Teacher, Artist, Poet
  • Co-sponsors: Foothill-De Anza Foundation, De Anza College Office of the President, Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

• WINTER 2024

  

  March 12: Empowering Community Through Filipino Food and History

  • Guest Speaker: Rachel Lucero, Artist and Community Educator
  • Co-sponsors: Foothill-De Anza Foundation, De Anza College Office of the President, Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

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  Feb. 29: Diasporic Imagination and the Arts

  • Guest Speaker: Meesha Goldberg, Painter, Poet and Performance Artist
  • Co-sponsors: Foothill-De Anza Foundation, Office of the President, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

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  Feb. 13: Striving Together: Black History Month

  • Guest speaker: Joe Canton, Educator and Business Consultant
  • Co-sponsors: California History Center; Foothill-De Anza Foundation; the Office of the President; and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

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  Jan. 31: The Practices of Reflection

  Guest Speakers: Angela Pool-Funia and Tony Summers, co-authors of "The Reflective Administrator"

  Co-sponsors: Foothill-De Anza Foundation, the Office of the President, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division.

  

  

• FALL 2023

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  Nov. 20: Desi Dreams – Indian Immigrant Women Build Lives Across Two Continents

  • Guest Speaker: Ashidhara Das, Instructor, Anthroplogy
  • Co-sponsors: De Anza College Office of the President, Foothill-De Anza Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division

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  Nov. 8: The Relevancy of Liberal Arts in the AI Generation

  • Guest speaker: Lee Lambert, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District
  • Co-sponsors: California History Center, De Anza College Office of the President, Foothill-De Anza Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Division

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  Oct. 18: Investing In You, Our Future

  • Guest speaker: Ryan Letada, CEO and Founder, NextDayBetter
  • This event was part of the first-ever De Anza Kapuso Conference, in celebration of Filipino American History Month
  • Co-sponsors: De Anza College Office of the President, Foothill-De Anza Foundation, Equity and Engagement Division, Social Sciences and Humanities Division, and IMPACT AAPI.

• SPRING 2023

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  June 14: Leading Change Together

  • Guest speaker: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Founder, Global Tassels
  • Moderators: Javette Johnson, Specialist, U.S. Department of Education, and Albert Pearsall III, Professor, Unversity of the District of Columbia

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  June 13: La Cultura Cura – A Community and Cultural Strengths Journey

  • Guest speaker: Alicia Cortez, Dean, Equity and Engagement
  • Moderators: Steve Nava, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  June 6: Queer and Now – Be Unapologetically You!

  • Guest speaker: Honey Mahogany – performer, activist, small business owner
  • This event is part of the annual Queer & Now Conference organized by the De Anza Pride Center

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  June 5: Rebounding Through Life – Lessons From Legends

  • Guest speaker: Stephanie Gilmore, Director, Student Intercultural Affairs, Washington College
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  June 2: Your Phone – Friend or Foe? Discern the Reality and Fortify Against Cyber Threats

  • Guest speaker: Sandra Estok, Founder, Way2Protect
  • Moderators: Javette Johnson, Former Momentum Speaker, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 31: Alternative Academic History Career Paths

  • Guest speaker: Hadassah Saint-Hubert, Community Leader
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 23: Everything I learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant 

  • Guest speaker: Curtis Chin, Author, Producer, Director and Activist
  • Moderators: Debbie Lee, Dean, Intercultural and International Studies, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 15: Last Chance U – Conversation, Reflection and Application

  • Guest speakers:
    • John Beam, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Laney College
    • John Mosley, Head Men's Basketball Coach and Kinesiology Instructor, East Los Angeles College
  • Moderators:
    • Eric Mendoza, Dean, Physical Education and Athletics
    • Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities
  • This event was a conversation with two community college coaches whose teams were featured in the Netflix video series "Last Chance U"

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  April 17: Empathy Versus Antipathy: Necessary Guidelines

  • Guest speaker: Samuel Natale, Professor, Strategic Management, Adelphi University
  • Moderators: Javette Johnson, previous Momentum speaker; and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  April 10: Immigrants in Entrepreneurship

  • Guest speaker: Shenje Hshieh, Professor, City University of Hong Kong
  • Moderators: Javette Johnson, previous MOMENTUM speaker, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

   

• WINTER 2023

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  March 22: Level Up – Strategies for Developing a Definitive Plan for Your Future

  • Guest speaker: Kandice Whitaker, Career Coach, CEO, Alpha and Omega Consulting
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 27: The Power of Connection – How a 94-Year-Old Filipino Matriarch and Her Unemployed Grandson Became Illustrators Together

  • Guest speaker: Kenneth Tan, Artist and Author
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 7: Anti-Racist Organizing – In Dialogue with Steve Phillips

  • Dialogue with De Anza College, facilitated by Nicky Gonzalez Yuen, Instructor, Political Science
  • Momentum talk moderated by Derrick Felton, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 25: Misinformation in the Mainstream News – A Case Study of Two Articles

  • Guest speaker: Jonathan Axelrad, Retired Attorney, Goodwin Procter LLP
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

• FALL 2022

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  Dec. 5: Keepin' It Real: A Conversation

  • Guest Speaker: Derrick E. Felton, Instructor, Psychology; Member, Black, Faculty, Staff and Administrators (BFSA) Network
  • Moderators: Dujuan E. Green, Instructor, Administration of Justice, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Nov. 9: Transformational Policing Model: Bridging the Racial Divide

  • Guest Speaker: Tommy Tunson, author, professor and retired chief of police
  • Moderators: Derrick E. Felton, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Co-sponsors: Social Sciences and Humanities Division and the Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators (BFSA) Network

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  Oct. 20: Kapamilya – The Life Experiences of Filipino Caregivers

  Celebrating Filipino American History Month

  • Guest Moderator: Felwina Opiso-Mondina, lawyer and community organizer
  • Panelists: Epie Anisco, Tess Brillante and Lala Placides 
  • Co-sponsors: Social Sciences and Humanities Division, Foothill-De Anza Foundation and the California History Center

• WINTER 2022

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  March 18: Nourishing the Educated Soul

  • Guest: Michelle C. Chatman, Acting Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences Division, University of the District of Columbia
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  March 7: Equity and Access in Education

  • Guest: Monique Chism, Under Secretary for Education, Smithsonian Institution
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  March 2: Leading From the Foundation of Care

  • Guest: Judy Miner, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District
  • Moderators: Sal Breiter, Instructor, Humanities, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 8: Public Safety, Reimagined

  • Guest: Daniel Acosta, Chief of Police, Foothill-De Anza Community College District
  • Moderators: DuJuan Green, Instructor, Administration of Justice, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 4: Inviting You Home – Cultivating Mindful Awareness for Everyday Living

  • Guest: David W. Robinson-Morris, Executive Director, The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 25: Faith and Social Justice: What Does "Justice" Really Mean?

  • Guest: Kevin Lee, Instructor, Paralegal Studies
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 21: The Price We Pay With Authenticity

  • Guest: Javette Johnson, Owner, JJ Enterprise Solutions; Analyst, U.S. Department of Education
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 11: The Filipinx Experience – Through a Millenial Lens

  • Guest: Brendan Flores, National Chairman, National Federation of Filipino American Associations
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 5: El Professora – An Elder Reflection on Being a Latina Mentor to Marginalized Students

  • Guest: Raysa Amador, Retired Professor and Department Chair, Adelphi University
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

• FALL 2021

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  Dec. 7: Reflections on What It Means to Decolonize Our Curriculum and Our Institution

  • Guest: Edmundo Norte, Dean, Intercultural and International Studies
  • Moderators: Michele LeBleu-Burns, Dean, Student Development, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Nov. 29: In the Heights: From Dominican Immigrant to Coffee CEO – A Young Latinx Story to Remember

  • Guest: Hector Castillo Carvajal, CEO, Don Carvajal Café
  • Moderators: Steve Nava, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Nov. 22: Writing As a Way of Learning and Becoming Together

  • Guest: Nate Mickelson, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Professional Development, New York University
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Nov. 16: Supporting Good Trouble With Good Facilitation

  • Guest: Meredith Curry, Executive Director, Northern California College Promise Coalition
  • Moderators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Karen Chow, Instructor, English

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  Nov. 9: Achieving Educational Equity – By Teaching Students How To Learn

  • Guest: Saundra McGuire, Director Emerita, Center for Academic Success; Retired Assistant Vice Chancellor, Louisiana State University
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Oct. 26: We Are Still Here – How Indigenous Art and Activism is Challenging Colonial Narratives and Power

  • Guest: Barbara Mumby-Huerta, Visual Artist; Community Organizer; Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
  • Moderators: Maristella Tapia, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Oct. 20: "Nurse Unseen" – A Conversation and Reflection

  • Guest: Michele Josue, Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker
  • Moderators: Francesca Caparas, Instructor, English and Asian American and Asian Studies, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Oct. 12: From Poverty to Destiny With Love – Bringing Hope to the Global Village

  • Guest: Anne Mungai, Co-Founder, The Caroline Wambui Mungai Foundation
  • Moderators: Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Oct. 8: Beyond Equity Into Justice

  • Guest: Sobia Khan, Dean of Academic Success, San Antonio College
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Sept. 29: Confidence in the BIPOC Communities

  • Guest: Dana Blair, TV Host and Producer
  • Moderators: Maristella Tapia, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Sept. 22: The State and Impact of Criminal Justice Reform

  • Guest: Khalil Cumberbatch, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Council on Criminal Justice
  • Moderators: Derrick Felton, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Sept. 15: Becoming a Student-Ready Campus

  • Guest: Lasana Hotep, Educator and Entrepreneur
  • Moderators: Alicia Cortez, Dean, Equity and Engagement, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

• SUMMER 2021

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  Aug. 9: Coming of Age – Finding a Voice Among Many and the De Anza APASA Story 

  • Guest: Susanne Chan, Faculty Member (Retired) and Founding Member, APASA
  • Moderators: Khoa Nguyen, Counselor, Math Performance Success, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Aug. 3: Designing Global Education Programs With Attention to Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Impact

  • Guest: Kevin Murungi, Director of Global Journeys, Avenues: The World School
  • Moderators: Michele LeBleu-Burns, Dean, Student Development and EOPS, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  July 27: Envisioning Public Education: A Post-COVID-19 Synthesis

  • Guest: Annetra Peete, Program Manager, District of Columbia Public Schools
  • Moderators: Latosha Baldwin, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  July 20: Asian Values on Business, Research and Education

  • Guest: Rachel Yager, CEO and President, FortuneTimes Group
  • Moderators: Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  July 13: Exploring Cultural Humility

  • Guest: Maleea D. Johnson, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Carlow University
  • Moderators: Lori Clinchard, Instructor, Humanities, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  July 7: De Anza 2026 – Building On Our Strengths to Enhance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

  • Guest: Mark Healy, Department Chair, Psychology 
  • Moderators: Derrick Felton, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

• SPRING 2021

  June 21: Black Deaf History – How Scholarship Became Personal

  • Guest: Sandra Jowers-Barber, Director of Humanities, University of the District of Columbia Community College
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  June 18: Journey to the Presidency – Leading During a Global Crisis

  • Guest: Lloyd A. Holmes, President, De Anza College
  • Moderators: Wendy White, Instructor, Humanities, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  June 7: The Believe Project – Racially Relevant Literacy

  • Guest: Julius B. Anthony, Founder and President, St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature, The Believe Project
  • Moderators: Susan Thomas, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  June 2: Igniting Fire in Our Youth to Transform Systems

  • Guest: Cassandra Williams, Clinical Assistant Professor of Africana Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
  • Moderators: Steve Nava, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 25: What We Bring With Us – Honoring the Cultural Strengths of Low-Income, First-Generation and Students of Color

  • Guest: Rebecca Covarrubias, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Moderators: Steve Nava, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 19: Heritage, Identity and Community – The Voices and Strengths in Numbers

  • Guest: Naomi Story, Founding Board Member and Executive Director, National Asian Pacific Islander Council
  • Moderators: Mylinh Pham, Instructor, History, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 12: The Quest to Advocate For and Retain a Diverse Faculty

  • Guest: Mayra Cruz, Instructor, Child Development and Education
  • Moderators: Sal Breiter, Instructor, Humanities, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  May 4: Today's Youth Program Leadership – Trauma-Informed and Transformational

  • Guest: Mercedes Santoro, Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation
  • Moderators: Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  April 28: Young People in Government – Making Change Despite Imposter Syndrome

  • Guest: Ryan Middleton, Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Prince George's County, Maryland
  • Moderators: Derrick Felton, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  April 22: Commitment to Fairness, Equity and Justice for All

  • Guest: Tom Izu, Representative, ACLU of Northern California
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  April 13: Caring for Our Leadership Skills and Other Parts of Ourselves

  • Guest: Karen Chow, President, Academic Senate; Instructor, English
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  April 9: Implicit Bias in Retirement Plans – What Is It and Why Should I Care? 

  • Guest: William Huston, Founder and Director of Institutional Services, Bay Street Capital Holdings
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

• WINTER 2021

  March 23: Representation Matters – Diversifying Our Children's Literature

  • Guest: Khalil Munir, Performer, Tap Dancer, Speaker and Author
  • Moderators: Fatemeh Zarghami, Instructor, Child Development and Education, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  March 19: Black History Saved My Life – How Tragedy Can Lead to Triumph for Yourself and Your Community

  • Guest: Ernest Crim III, Teacher, CEO and Author
  • Moderators: Michele LeBlue-Burns, Dean, Student Development, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  March 8: Policing, Social Media and Crisis Communications

  • Guest: Chris Hsiung, Deputy Chief, Mountain View Police Department
  • Moderators: Mallory Lawlor, Instructor, Administration of Justice, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  March 2: Modeling Vulnerability and Authenticity as a Classroom Strategy

  • Guest: Sal Breiter, Instructor, Humanities
  • Moderators: Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 23: The Phenomenon of Compassion Fatigue

  • Guest: Carlene Fider, Core Faculty Member, Pacific Oaks College
  • Moderators: Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 17: Art and Social Justice

  1500 Stories and more ...

  • Guest: Jennifer Myhre, Instructor, Sociology
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 10: Increasing Inclusivity With the ENHANCE Learning Model 

  • Guest: Morris Thomas, Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Assessment at Howard University
  • Moderators: Ravjeet Singh, Instructor, Economics, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Feb. 1: The Intersection of Corporate and Personal Responsibilities

  • Guest: Veena Jayadeva, Assistant Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Guardian Life
  • Moderators: Latosha Baldwin, Instructor, Psychology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan 27 – Building Coalitions With Messages of Hope

  • Guest: Jason Tengco, Former Coalitions Chief of Staff, Biden for President
  • Moderator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 22 – The New Face of Criminal Justice

  • Guest: Fayola L. Charlet, Senior Assistant District Attorney, Nassau County, New York
  • Moderators: DuJuan Green, Instructor, Administration of Justice, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 11 – Poetry and Activism

  • Guest: Janice L. Sapigao, 2020-21 Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County
  • Moderators: Mari Tapia, Instructor, Sociology, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Jan. 8 – Advocacy in Real Time: Role Modeling Civic Engagement

  • Guest: Robert Stockwell, Instructor, Political Science
  • Moderators: James Nguyen, Instructor, Political Science, and Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

• FALL 2020

  Dec. 14: Opening to Change While Promoting Change

  • Guest: Carl Moore, Assistant Chief Academic Officer, University of District of Columbia
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Lori Clinchard, Instructor, Humanities

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  Dec. 7: Project Chrysalis – Rethinking Streets for Transportation Equity

  • Guest: Brian Barnacle, Founder, Project Chrysalis
  • Facilitator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Dec. 2: Speak Your Truth: Farm Boy Turned Engineer, Turned Storyteller

  • Guest: Xavier Hernandez, TEDx Speaker and USC Graduate
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Mylinh Pham, Instructor, History

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  Nov. 23: Redesigning Support Structures to Center All Students

  • Guest: Robyn Attebury Ellis, Program Officer, The Crimsonbridge Foundation 
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Latosha Baldwin, Gallup Coach and Director of Student Success

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  Nov. 17: Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: A Fierce Perspective

  • Guest: Wendy White, Instructor, Humanities
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Steve Nava, Instructor, Sociology

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  Nov. 10: Honoring Veterans – What They Bring To Our Classrooms

  • Guest: David Joseph, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Oakland Veterans' Center
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Derrick Felton, Instructor, Psychology

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  Nov. 6: Razing the Bar: A Foster Youth Journey

  • Guest: Dontae Lartigue, CEO and Co-Founder, Razing the Bar
  • Facilitator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Oct. 28: The Beginning – A Kaleidoscope of Who We Are

  • Guest: Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Sal Breiter, Instructor, Humanities

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  Oct. 21: Reclaiming Our Humanity

  • Guest: Marc Bertrand, Bertrand Education Group
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Tom Izu, Interim Executive Director, California History Center

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  Oct. 14: Addressing the Racial Wealth Gap in Housing

  • Guest: Ron Chavez, California Community Builders
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Fatemeh Zarghami, Instructor, Child Development

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  Oct. 5: Inspired, Engaged and Empowered! 

  • Guest: Nicky Gonzalez Yuen, Chair, Political Science
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Robert Stockwell, Instructor, Political Science

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  Sept. 29: Of Course, Black Lives Matter!

  • Guest: Robert A. Scott, Ph.D., President Emeritus, Adelphi University
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Michele LeBleu-Burns, Dean, Student Development

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  Sept. 23: The Future of Work: Inequality, Equality and Justice

  • Guest: JoAnn Rolle, Dean, Medgar Evers College, City University of New York
  • Facilitator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

   

• SUMMER 2020

  Sept. 18: Exercising Our Minds, Our Voices And Our Actions

  • Guest: Kelly Mikel Williams, Creator and Host of Black Politics Today
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Mark Healy, Instructor, Psychology

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  Sept. 9: Social Justice, Nonviolence and Economic Equity

  • Guest: Nane Alejandrez, California Coalition of Barrios Unidos
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Sal Breiter, Instructor, Humanities

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  Sept. 4: The Privilege of Leading As a Person of Color

  • Guest: Carolyn Wilkins-Greene, Former Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Facilitator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Aug. 25: What Is Diversity?

  • Guest: Della Hudson, Retired Associate Dean, Adelphi University
  • Facilitator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  Aug. 19: Teaching Race: Anti-Racist Pedagogy and Practice

  • Guest: Jason Ottley, CEO and Founder, The Bond Educational Group
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Tamara Williams, De Anza Graduate, Class of 2020

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  Aug. 10: Learning From the Bumps in the Road

  • Guest: Holly Bruno, Retired Professor, Speaker and Author
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education

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  Aug. 4: The Forces of Our Youth – They Matter

  • Guest: Isiah Hall, Compliance Manager, National Urban League
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Jayanti Roy, Instructor, Child Development and Education

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  July 30: Be Present Enough To Know What's Right

  • Guest: Daria J. Willis, President, Everett Community College
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Steve Nava, Instructor, Sociology

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  July 20: Peace and Justice to Action

  • Guest: David Coulibaly, Professor, Pace University
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Mylinh Pham, Instructor, History

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  July 14: Civilian Rights and Policing Protocols

  • Guest: Don Swain, Chief of Police, Calhoun Community College
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Latosha Baldwin, Gallup Coach

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  July 8: Staying Grounded With Our Students

  • Guest: Dr. Shanté Bassett, Professor, LaGuardia Community College
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Susan Thomas, Instructor, Psychology

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  July 1: The Power of Community and the Need To Keep Going

  • Guest: Paul Bains, Pastor, Saint Samuel Church in East Palo Alto
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; DuJuan Green, Instructor, Administration of Justice

   

• SPRING 2020

  June 25: Revisiting the Characteristics of Systemic Racism

  • Guest: Shelyna V. Brown, Judge, Santa Clara County Superior Court
  • Facilitators: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities; Sgt. DuJuan Green, Instructor, Administration of Justice 

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  June 16: Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

  • Guest : John Brown Childs, Distinguished Emeritus Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz.
  • Facilitators: Karina Castillo, Instructor, Administration of Justice; Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities

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  June 8: Do Now – The Importance of our Vulnerability

  • Guest: Albert Pearsall III, Professor, University of the District of Columbia

  • Facilitator: Elvin T. Ramos, Dean, Social Sciences and Humanities