This page serves as a listing of the Students of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program. After graduation listings will include dissertation title and, when available, a link to the ScholarWorks listing for the dissertation.

Vanessa Buitrago-Galvis

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Dr. Vanessa Buitrago-Galvis is the Superintendent of Modesto City Schools and a passionate advocate for equity and Chicana/Latina leadership in education. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, where her dissertation, Mentorship Reimagined: Creating Professional Spaces for Chicanas/Latinas to Thrive in High School Leadership, explored transformative mentorship models for women of color. With a career rooted in high school leadership and systemic change, Dr. Buitrago-Galvis brings visionary guidance and a deep commitment to inclusive excellence across the district.

Michaela Edwards

Path: Educational Leadership, Higher Education

Michaela Edwards, Ed.D. is Director of College Access & Completion at Improve Your Tomorrow, where she leads initiatives to increase college enrollment and graduation among young men of color. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation titled A Letter to My Brother: Unpacking College Aspirations and College-Going Identity in Black and Latino Boys. Michaela’s work challenges deficit narratives and uplifts the brilliance, resilience, and potential of marginalized youth.

Anya-Jael Woods

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Anya Woods, Ed.D. is a transformative heart leader, community connector, and champion for equity with over a decade of experience at SMUD. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation titled You Can't Teach Children You Don't Love: Sista Circles with Black Mothers as Subject Matter Experts in Caring for and Educating Black Youth. Anya’s work centers on love-led leadership, intergenerational wisdom, and building systems of care that honor Black motherhood and educational justice.

Caroline Thao

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Caroline Paaj Zaub Thao, Ed.D. is an educator and researcher dedicated to Hmong language and cultural sustainability. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation titled Portraits of Cultural Security: A Critical Framework for Hmong Language and Culture Sustainability – Kom Ruaj Le Zeb Khov le Tsua. Her work centers on cultural preservation, critical frameworks, and empowering Hmong communities through education.

Yareli Ramirez Paredes

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Yareli Ramírez Paredes, Ed.D. is Assistant Principal at Heredia-Arriaga School in Natomas Unified School District. She specializes in dual language immersion, educational leadership, and coaching, with a focus on advancing language and literacy initiatives. Yareli recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, where she deepened her commitment to equity and multilingual education.

Marisa Castro

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Marisa Castro, Ed.D. is a Xicanx educator and advocate whose work centers on resistance, identity, and equity in education. They recently earned their Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation exploring counternarratives and transformative pedagogy in times of crisis. Marisa’s scholarship and teaching challenge oppressive systems while uplifting marginalized voices.

Nikki Khamsouksay

Path: Educational Leadership, Higher Education

Nikki Khamsouksay, Ed.D., EMBA is Director of Presidential Business Operations at California State University, Sacramento. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a dissertation titled Get Lao'Ducated on the Stories of Being, Stories of Resilience, Stories of Reclaiming Lao'dness, Stories of Honoring and Building Legacies. As the first Lao American to receive an Ed.D. from her university, Nikki’s work centers on cultural preservation, intergenerational healing, and uplifting the voices of Lao American college students. Her journey—from refugee camps to doctoral regalia—embodies resilience, advocacy, and legacy-building.

Rosemary Mitchell

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Rosemary Mitchell, Ed.D. is Program Director at the Shasta County Office of Education, where she leads regional efforts to transform schools into thriving community hubs across rural Northern California. With expertise in cross-sector partnerships, community schools, and equity-driven leadership, she recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, graduating with distinction. Her work centers on empowering students, families, and educators to co-create inclusive, resilient learning environments

Asianya Jones

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Asianya Jones, Ed.D., LMFT, PCC is a therapist, lecturer, and founder of Art of Heart Healing, where she integrates mental health justice with liberatory education. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation focused on abolishing the school-to-prison pipeline through the lens of healing-centered engagement. Rooted in love, equity, and care, her work empowers communities to reimagine systems that nurture brilliance rather than punish it.

Stevie Cook

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Stevie Cook, Ed.D. is an educator and researcher whose work explores resistance, identity, and equity in learning spaces. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation titled Disrupting Fascist Tendencies in Educational Environments: Educating @ The Edge, Elucidating Conversations with Self-Identified Antifascist Educators. Her scholarship centers on transformative dialogue and liberatory pedagogy.

Silvia Figueroa

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Silvia Figueroa, Ed.D. is a Child Development Consultant at the California Department of Education, with over a decade of experience in early childhood education. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, and is committed to creating joyful, inclusive learning environments that engage children, families, and educators alike

Connie Ayala

Path: Educational Leadership, Higher Education

Dr. Connie Ayala, Ed.D., M.S. is an equity-driven educator and systems change leader with over 25 years of experience in higher education. As EOPS Coordinator at American River College, she champions student success through culturally responsive counseling and inclusive support services. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, deepening her commitment to transformative practices in community colleges.

December Jones

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

December Jones, Ed.D. is an advocate and researcher dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices in special education. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation titled Using My Pain for Purpose: Amplifying the Voices of Parents of African American and Latinx Students in Special Education. Her work centers on equity, empowerment, and transformative change for families navigating educational systems.

Beatriz Alcazar Alvarez

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Beatriz Alcazar, Ed.D. is Director of School-Based Mental Health and Wellness at the Sacramento County Office of Education. A clinician, coach, and consultant, she specializes in restorative practices and culturally responsive mental health supports. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, advancing equity-driven systems that foster emotional resilience in schools

Joseph Navarro

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Joseph Navarro, Ed.D. is an educator and researcher whose work focuses on health literacy and educational equity. He recently earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sacramento State, with a dissertation titled Understanding Health Literacy Through Student and Teacher Educational Experiences. Joseph is committed to empowering students with the knowledge and skills to navigate health information critically and confidently.

Courtney Rasmussen

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Courtney Denise Rasmussen, Ed.D. is a Lecturer in the English Department at California State University, Sacramento. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with a dissertation titled To Pen or Bot: Exploring the Writing Process through an AI-Integrated Case Study in First-Year Writing. Her work bridges technology and pedagogy to reimagine how students engage with writing in the digital age.

Sheila Stein

Path: Educational Leadership, P-12

Sheila Stein, Ed.D. is a School Psychologist at Roseville Joint Union High School District, specializing in crisis response, culturally responsive assessment, and systems-level mental health initiatives. A national presenter and published author, she also serves on the editorial board of School Psychology Review.