Opening Plenary Featured Speaker, Sunday
Dr. Eddie R. Cole
Bio: Eddie R. Cole, Ph.D., is Professor of Education and History at UCLA and a 2023-24 fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. He is also author of the multi-prize-winning book, The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom (Princeton University Press, 2020). His commentary on American higher education and racial policies has appeared in TIME, The Guardian, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Chronicle of Higher Education; and he has appeared as expert commentator for CNN, BBC World News, MSNBC, and C-Span Book TV.
Keynote Speaker, Monday morning
Dr. Keith Curry
Dr. Keith Curry serves as President of Compton College and CEO of the Compton Community College District (CCCD), where he oversees District operations and serves as secretary to the CCCD Board of Trustees. Known for his dynamic leadership and commitment to innovation, Dr. Curry is a passionate advocate for student equity, access, and basic needs support in higher education.
Dr. Curry holds leadership roles in several organizations, including the Statewide Association of Community Colleges (SWACC), the Statewide Educational Wrap Up Program (SEWUP), and the Foundation for the Compton Community College District. He is also active in the Association of Community College Trustees, and the Presidents’ Roundtable.
Dr. Curry co-founded and chairs Black Student Success Week. He chaired both the National Panel on Black Student Enrollment and the Black Student Enrollment Expert Advisory Committee. He served on the California Alliance for Open Education Steering Committee and the University of Southern California Racial Equity in Guided Pathways Commission Task Force.
Dr. Curry’s accolades include: the 2025 California Legislative Black Caucus Unsung Hero Recognition from the 65th California Assembly District; 2024 Diverse Issues in Higher Education – Diverse Champion Award; 2024 African American California Community College Trustee and Administrators Caucus – Chief Executive Officer of the Year Award; 2024 University of California, Santa Cruz – Alumni Awards; 2023 CCEJ Humanitarian Award; and 2022 Equity Champion Award.
Dr. Curry earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Irvine and a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Luncheon Featured Speakers, Monday
Kannessa R. Marshall
Title: Admissions and Residency Specialist
School: California State University, Northridge
As a first-generation college graduate and doctoral student, I bring my lived experience to my work with students. I am passionate about making the path to college clearer, especially for students who have limited access to guidance. I want to help institutions recognize barriers in their processes and give more students a fair opportunity to pursue higher education.
Juan Silva
Title: Director of Enrollment Services
School: Orange Coast College
With nearly 20 years of purpose-driven service in education (from private and public K-12 institutions to both the community college and the California State University systems) my path has led to progressive experience advancing student success, enrollment strategies, educational equity, and institutional effectiveness. Through roles in admissions, enrollment services, and university registrar operations, I have worked with students from different educational, socioeconomic, cultural, and life circumstances. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that institutions have an obligation to examine their processes from the student's perspective, particularly when a process that appears straightforward to an administrator may create a significant barrier for a student.
Duane Voigt
Title: Registrar
School: Santa Clara University
Duane has worked in undergraduate advising and in a registrar's office capacity for over 40 years, the last 8 at Santa Clara University, and prior to that for 9 years as the registrar in the newly-formed New York University Abu Dhabi and Shanghai degree-seeking campuses. His favorite past-time these days is serving as granddad to two grandkids!
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