The HSI Collaborative at Sacramento State will work to support Sacramento State in examining current practices and processes aimed at serving Latine students and community. Through this work, the Collaborative will work to curate a collective understanding of Sacramento State initiatives aimed to support our Latine student holistic success and to define the metrics by which we can measure our success at serving the Latine student population. The Collaborative will work to develop recommendations that are rooted in what it means in both purpose and practice to holistically serve the Latine community at Sacramento State and expand on our initiatives targeted to support Latine undergraduate students' holistic success. To learn more about the HSI Collaborative, please email us at ie-hsi@csus.edu.

Lilia A. Contreras Ramirez

Role: HSI Director

Bio: Lilia Alejandra Contreras Ramirez is a dedicated advocate for educational equity and a passionate leader in higher education. Holding a Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, Lilia combines her academic background with extensive experience supporting college students from historically marginalized backgrounds. As the first in her family to pursue higher education, Lilia has navigated the challenges of academia as a non-traditional student. This personal journey provides her with deep insights into the obstacles faced by those lacking social advantages, fueling her commitment to fostering a sense of belonging, academic success, and personal and professional development among underserved populations. Lilia believes in the transformative power of education and is dedicated to developing and implementing policies that promote access, degree completion, and career advancement for all students.

Amber M. Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Role: Professor, Child and Adolescent Development (CHAD)

Bio: Amber M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. is a tenured Professor in the Child and Adolescent Development (CHAD) program at California State University, Sacramento. Using participatory action research and mixed methods, her scholarly activities focus on exploring the influence of social support networks and institutional structures on Latine college student identity development and educational and career aspirations and motivations. In addition, she explores the ways in which students use these aspirations and motivations to ensure their success, manage failure, and persist. Her scholarly work has been published in the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, Journal of Educational Research, and College Student Journal. In addition to her scholarly activities, she serves as an academic advisor to students of color and faculty advisor to multiple Latine student organizations. In addition to her engagement with students, she serves as an active member of the Faculty Senate at Sacramento State and has led efforts in creating programming to support and retain faculty of color. Through her multiple roles on campus, she has collaborated with various university stakeholders to address inequities within campus policies, programming, and practices. Her institutional and community service and leadership activities center on advocating for equity and social justice for students and faculty of color.

Melissa Repa, Ed.D.

Role: Director of Career Center; Principal Investigator for Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions' Degree with a Purpose Project

Bio: Dr. Melissa Repa, Director of the Career Center at Sacramento State, has over 20 years of experience supporting student success. A leading grant writer and fundraiser, she has secured over $12 million for campus programs. She also serves as principal investigator for the Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions' Degree with a Purpose Project and College Corps. Previously, she led multiple student support initiatives, including CAMP, High School Equivalency Program, Project Rebound, Accessible Technology Initiative, TRIO SSS and Services to Students with Disabilities. Holding degrees from the University of Michigan (B.S. & Teaching Certificate), UCLA (M.A.) and Sacramento State (Ed.D), Dr. Repa is dedicated to fostering inclusive excellence. She is also the proud mother of two daughters.

Jose M. Ballesteros, Ph.D.

Role: Associate Dean of Student Engagement and Success; Division of Student Affairs

Bio:Dr. Jose Ballesteros is the Associate Dean of Student Engagement and Success in the Division of Student Affairs at California State University, Sacramento. He works to support student life and success outside of the classroom so that students can thrive at the university. Some of the centers and programs Dr. Ballesteros currently supports include College Assistance Migrant Program, Career Center, First Star Academy, Guardian Scholars Program and Veterans Success Center. He is dedicated to providing equitable access to education for all students as he believes that access to education is a human right.

Juana Zaragoza

Role: Director, Serna Center

Bio: Juana Zaragoza serves as Director of the Serna Center at Sacramento State University, where she previously worked as Program Coordinator. A Sac State Political Science graduate from Guadalajara, Jalisco and raised in Ukiah, California, she was actively involved in campus life during her studies. Her professional accomplishments include developing successful programming like the annual Chicanx/Latinx Recognition Ceremony, securing substantial grant funding, and fostering community partnerships. Juana has prioritized community building and creating a sense of belonging for students. She is an alumna of the Chicano/Latino Youth Leadership Project and YDN's Creciente Latinx Leadership Fellowship Program.

Kelly McDonald

Role: Professor, Biological Sciences; Director, Center for Science and Math Success

Bio: Dr. McDonald is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Director of the Center for Science and Math Success at Sacramento State. She obtained her BS and Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, performed post-doctoral work in environmental toxicology for the US Geological Survey, and spent five years in the biotechnology industry before joining the faculty at Sacramento State in 2009. She transitioned to STEM education research approximately 15 years ago, and her research program, comprised of graduate and undergraduate researchers, examines the impacts of inclusive academic practices and interventions related to STEM teaching and learning, especially those focused on undergraduate research and experiential learning activities. She served on the Center for Teaching and Learning advisory board for over twelve years and currently serves on advisory boards for multiple K-14 programs and community organizations. She is the PI of an NSF I-USE Institution and Community Transformation grant to engage faculty and students in course-based, authentic learning experiences related to Northern California’s waterways, and serves as a co-PI on NSF-funded LSAMP Alliance and Center for HSI Community Coordination grants.

Shiva Pillai

Role: Director of Institutional Research, Data and Analytics

Bio: Shiva Pillai is the Director of Institutional Research, Data and Analytics at Sacramento State. In this role, he leads campus efforts to transform data into actionable insights that advance student success, equity, and institutional effectiveness. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Shiva specializes in data-informed decision making, strategic planning, and student outcomes assessment. He is deeply committed to using analytics to identify and remove barriers to graduation, particularly for historically underserved populations. His work supports cross-divisional collaboration to ensure that students are not only enrolled, but supported and empowered throughout their academic journey.

Dr. Marcellene Watson-Derbigny

Role: Associate Vice President, Student Retention and Academic Success

Bio: Dr. Marcellene Watson-Derbigny serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Retention and Academic Success. Providing broad oversight to over 25 plus educational excellence support programs and components. She is well versed in educational practice, program development, and in the strategic planning of retention initiatives within complex higher education structures, overseeing a vast realm of programs and initiatives that leverage the success of students. She is nationally known for her work in learning community planning and design for freshmen and transfer student populations having led such efforts for over 17 years and possesses over 27 years of educational experience.