Liz is passionate about empowering students and creating opportunities for growth and success. She currently serves as the Learning Communities Center Coordinator. She has also contributed to various campus initiatives, including the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Leadership Committee and the Chicano Latino Affairs Council (CLAC), Nuestra Recognition Ceremony (aka Latino Graduation), Cabrillo Talks, and more. As a proud Latina, daughter of immigrant farmworkers, and single mother to two teenagers, Liz brings her personal experiences and cultural background into her commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success. She is a proud Cabrillo graduate and is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Public Relations at San José State University, with aspirations of becoming a leader in higher education administration. As a former Cabrillo Talks 2025 speaker, Liz hopes to inspire others to share their stories, embrace their voices, and recognize the power of empathy, courage, and resilience.

Andrea (she/her) is a multi-hyphenate theatre-maker whose work ranges from creating large, sprawling devised pieces to writing opera librettos,to directing classic musicals to designing and building masks and shadow puppets. Her work has been supported by grants from Puffin Foundation West, Theater Bay Area, and Venturous Theater Fund, and has been developed and performed at UTNT and Hyde Park Theatre in Austin, TX, Thompson Street Opera in Chicago, #AmericanAF Festival in NYC, Great Plains Theatre Conference, the MacDowell Colony, CounterPulse, 6NewPlays, and others. Recent credits include directing a reading of Novid Parsi's THE LIFE YOU GAVE ME at the BIPOC Playwrights Festival in Boise, ID; directing MARIE ANTOINETTE for Cabrillo College, writing and directing MURKY AS HELL at UTNT in Austin, devising a geo-triggered audio journey, and working with composers and dancers on an immersive, participatory theatrical event. This summer she will direct Santa Cruz Opera Project's immersive DIE FLEDERMAUS. She holds an MFA in Directing from UT Austin and currently serves as the Artistic Director of Cabrillo Stage. www.andreaLhart.org

Donnie is a proud graduate of Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz. As the Program Coordinator for the Rising Scholars Program, Donnie is passionate about empowering students, creating opportunities, and helping individuals overcome barriers to achieve their educational and personal goals. Their own educational journey has shaped their commitment to mentorship, student success, and the transformative power of higher education. As a former Cabrillo Talks 2024 speaker, Donnie understands the importance of sharing personal experiences and inspiring others through storytelling. Now serving on the Cabrillo Talks Planning Committee, Donnie continues to encourage others to find their voices, embrace their journeys, and recognize the power of empathy, courage, and resilience.

Pamela came to Cabrillo College in 2023 with a lifelong dream of becoming a college graduate, but along the way, she discovered a supportive community that encouraged her to grow, succeed, and find her voice. Over the past three years, she has transitioned from a student to a student employee, and now to a full-time staff member and proud Cabrillo College graduate. During her journey, she served as a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for two years and worked in the CTC before stepping into her current role as FSS for ELLA and Instruction. As a 2025 Cabrillo Talks speaker, Pamela experienced firsthand the power of storytelling and the importance of sharing personal journeys. She hopes to inspire others to find their voices, share their experiences, and recognize the courage and resilience within their own stories

Dr. Devin currently serves as the Director of Equity and Student Success at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California. He earned his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Texas at Austin in 2018 where his research focused on the intersection of race, sports and education as well as the influence of global education on student’s self-concept, national identity and future orientation. Devin is a co-founder of the Black Student-Athlete Summit and the founder and CEO of World Walker LLC, an organization focused on providing transformational education abroad opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

Kendall is a full-time Instructor in Communication Studies, also teaching in Environmental Science and Engineering. Kendall is a Cabrillo College alumni and a current doctoral student in Sustainability. Kendall has taught public speaking for 10 years and focuses on empowering students to share their narratives to foster social and environmental change.