Cohorts and Testimonials

 

In this Section: LDI Home Page • Cohorts and Testimonials • Meet the LDI Faculty • Cohort Expectations • More Information
The PACRAO Leadership Development Institute is really making an impact on its participants. Please read the testimonials within each cohort from your fellow PACRAO members participating in the LDI. 

Past Cohorts and Testimonials

 
+ 2023-2024
       
LDI Participant 
Institution
Estella Gonzalez
California State University-Fresno
Liz Johnson
University of Utah
Adam Lucero
Portland Community College
Lizette Madrigal
Bakersfield College
Arial Mendoza
Chaminade University
Melissa Padron
Clackamas Community College
Jennifer Russell
University of the Fraser Valley
Rena Schneider
University of California, Merced
Alyona Selhay
University of Alaska Anchorage
Lindsay Stadler 
Pomona College
Kris Thrasher 
University of Phoenix
Anika Usher   
California State University-Northridge
Ronald Venegas  
La Sierra University


 
 
+ 2022-2023
  • Danielle Cobb, Chapman University
  • Peyton Coronas, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Jenny Diaz, California State University, Fresno
  • Deslie Ghiorzi, University of Phoenix
  • Alyssa Haesu Kim, California Institute of the Arts
  • Molly Kirsch, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
  • Andrew McNeill, Western Seminary
  • Kyle Milanowski, Boise State University
  • Jullisa Sanchez, University of Arizona
  • Jenny Taufa, Truckee Meadows Community College
  • Jarrell Townsend, Oregon State University
  • Lydia Villoria-Thoulag, Chaminade University of Honolulu
 
+ 2021-2022Our annual double cohort meeting with the incoming 2021-2022 cohort and outgoing 2020-2021 cohort.
 
  • Bert Annear, University of British Columbia
  • Amanda Geilman, Weber State University
  • Shelly Hsu, California State University, Fullerton
  • Danielle Jeffress, Fresno Pacific University
  • Christine Lee, Thompson Rivers University
  • Valerie Nordin, Northcentral University
  • Carmen Padilla, California State University, Bakersfield
  • Belen Perez-Lazzari, Stanford Unviersity
  • Jill Rodgers-Lash, University of the Pacific
  • Gabe Solseng, Seattle University
  • Kathleen Tuntisukharom, California State University, Northridge
 
+ 2020-2021
  • Carlyn Cudiamat, California State University, Northridge
  • Michael Galeana, California State University, Northridge
  • Katrina Highland, University of Oregon 
  • Cori Horne, Weber State University
  • Chris Hunt, Oregon State University
  • Ashley Kennedy, Stanford University
  • Colton Lindelof, Washington State University, Vancouver
  • Yobel Mengistu, Seattle University
  • Ben Perlado, California State University, Bakersfield
  • Amanda Sainburg, American Film Institute
  • Andrea Siegrist-Baez, University of Phoenix
  • Lee Ann Walker, Yavapai College
Testimonials:

LDI was a remarkable experience that affirmed my commitment to our profession and afforded me meaningful connections within a network of passionate colleagues and mentors. These connections have been an ongoing resource to share strategies, benchmark practices, and collaborate on conference presentations. The learning environment was highly collaborative and helped me to hone my presentation, research, and project management skills while reading deeply about important topics. I saw numerous cohort members leverage LDI’s lessons to move into more senior roles, and these lessons helped me to become a significantly better leader, supervisor, and team-builder. The program was supportive, inclusive, and uplifting.

-Cori Horne

Participating in the LDI program created an avenue for guidance and conversation with candid feedback in a professional arena to discern varying work and personal contexts in un-biased space. The guidance and feedback were timely during a time in my career where significant life changes occurred including a role-shift and direct care of family members, while undergoing organizational change at the workplace, and helped provide an overall outlook on personal purpose in this field. Overall, the experience as an LDI participant was unique, in that I shared a cohort-and-a half experience with the program. In doing so, I was afforded the challenge and opportunity to test my ability to balance, pivot, discern and set priorities, both family and career, while growing as a leader and mentor. This was among diverse colleagues and an array of educational institutions making it one the best leadership programs experienced. 

-Ben Perlado


 
 
+ 2019-20
  • Les Apouchtine, Vancouver Community College, British Columbia
  • Helena Babiski, Coconino Community College
  • Annette Casas, Chapman University, California
  • Erin Collins, California Institute of the Arts
  • Tiffaney Duane, Pierce College, Washington
  • Bonnie Gutierrez, University of Oregon
  • Erin Jensen, Portland State University, Oregon, then Washington State University
  • Biljana Jovanovska, University of Idaho, then Washington State University
  • Karen Khuu, University of Washington
  • Stephanie Pak, Northcentral University
  • Sean Pattison, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Ben Perlado, California State University, Bakersfield
  • Tina Richardson, Blue Mountain Community College, Oregon
  • Brenda Rojas, University of California, Merced
  • Taya Winter, Western Washington University
Testimonials:

PACRAO’s Leadership Development Institute is next level of professional development. You don’t just walk away with new skills and identified or accomplished goals. You walk away with internal growth and a community of support.  While the program is focused around leadership education for PACRAO members, its content crosses all aspects of our lives; professional and personal.  The commitment you put into the LDI well exceeds what you get out of it.  You will be challenged; you will read A LOT; but you will have some of the most enlightened conversations with your peers that you’ve ever had.  The support I’ve received has been immeasurable, it truly is a community!

-Helena Babiski

LDI is an inspirational experience that I will always be grateful of. I truly believe that I have professional grown since being involved with LDI in 2020. Through my journey during and after LDI, I gained confidence to become board president of Washington AACRAO (2021), and eventually got more involved with PACRAO. I started as a volunteer to being on local arrangements (LAC), and now I am Treasurer Elect for PACRAO. My network of colleagues (and who are now considered friends) grew beyond the direct circle of colleagues I worked with at my institution. That allowed me the privilege to connect with them for any professional needs (advice, opinions, play the [email] a friend card when needing help seeking presenters for WaACRAO during my presidential year because we needed session slots filled, etc.). The established network I gained through professional development also led to my transition to a new role at a whole new institution. For someone who did not directly work with me, they saw and trust my potential, my passion to put student success first, and my drive for professional advancement to become a leader. You're not only learning leadership lessons through the curriculum, but you are also learning from your peers and mentor. I am not kidding when I say the connection you establish from this one-year program will be forever.

-Karen Khuu

 
 
+ 2018-19
  • Kylie Borges, Stanford University
  • Krystal Cortez Bates, Gonzaga University
  • Adam Gleed, Utah State University
  • Dan Guthrie, College of Southern Idaho
  • Michelle Faul, University of the Pacific
  • Jonathan Graff, U of Phoenix
  • Nola Green, University of California, San Diego Extension
  • Alisha Higley, Southern Oregon University
  • Samantha Marquez, University of Southern California
  • Rachel Sowell Keil, Antioch University
  • Chelsea Peoples, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Chynna Sandgren, Truckee Meadows Community College
  • Jason Trosine, Washington State University, Spokane
  • Nabel Villafana, Harvey Mudd College
  • Inga Wheeler, Okanagan College
Testimonials:

My time with the LDI was a transformational experience that quickly evolved into a professional and personal growth journey.  Because of the LDI, I became more involved in PACRAO and found an entire network of colleagues and friends who encouraged me to continuously challenge myself and strive for more.  I can honestly say that being a part of the LDI changed my life in the most unexpected and wonderful ways.  Although I have since relocated to a different region, the PACRAO family will always be near and dear to my heart. 

-Krystal Cortez Bates

Being a part of the first PACRAO LDI cohort has been rewarding in multiple ways. I have had the opportunity to know people from diverse backgrounds and have been able to learn how their experiences bring value to so many aspects of life. As a result, I am able to reflect on my own experiences and I have been able to learn so much about myself, about others, and about the importance of being a leader in the work that I do both for the institution where I work and for the places where I can impact change. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a great program and am looking forward to continue to learn more as the LDI progresses. I want to continue to lead by example, and the LDI is helping to support my leadership passion and my desire for professional and personal growth.
-Nabel Villafana