Author: Armand Santos

Dr. Abdimalik Buul is currently serving as the Visiting Executive of Institutional Equity, innovation and strategic impact at the California Community College Chancellor’s office. During this tenure he is assisting in ensuring equal employment opportunities and initiatives are connected to the classroom for the largest system of higher education in the nation comprising over 116 colleges and 73 districts. He is also an award-winning professor, antiracist activist, and emancipatory educator.  Known as an international keynote speaker and innovative dynamic leader.  He co-chairs the Statewide Equal Employment Opportunity Diversity Advisory Committee (EEODAC) and oversaw its deployment of the 2022 EEO Best Practices handbook and 2023 Ten Point Plan for faculty diversification. Under his leadership he crafted a funding allocation for $20 million-dollars in EEO funding to improve equitable hiring practices for the state of California. He is a scholar practitioner with over 10 publications in the fields of Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility and Antiracism. He has a keen focus on racial equity and an asset based approach on countering Anti-Blackness . He completed his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in community-based counseling and social justice, both from San Diego State University (SDSU).  He completed his doctorate work in Educational leadership with an emphasis in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC).  Dr. Buul is also a lecturer at San Diego State University (SDSU) where he teaches Restorative Practices and Conflict Transformation to students in the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Recovery & Trauma-informed Care MA in Education with concentration in Counseling program. Dr.Buul conducts numerous speaking engagements, workshops and keynotes for multiple system stakeholders as he specializes in providing equity based strategic solutions to organizations and institutions. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Authentic Leadership
• Leading with Core Values and Empathy
• Leadership Ethics

Check out Dr. Elliott’s YouTube Channel

Dr. Elliott is dedicated to uplifting and liberating people by instilling the importance of education through community involvement and service. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, M.A. in Creative Arts Interdisciplinary Studies, and a B.A. in Music and Black Studies from San Francisco State University. As founder and artistic director of Black Song and Poetry, Dr. Elliott led a group of 30 students to Ghana, West Africa in 2002 to participate in a choral musical festival at the National Theater. He was a featured presenter at the Kumasi Cultural Centre as part of Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return festivities and recorded original music with his students at the Cultural Links Music Studio in Accra, Ghana. He was the founder and co-director of the African American Male Leadership Program (AAMLP) at Diablo Valley College; a tenured board member of the California statewide community college organization, African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND); past Division Dean of Natural, Social, and Applied Sciences-Contra Costa College; and former Senior Dean of Instruction at Los Medanos College. Dr. Elliott finished his teaching career as a Professor of Music at Diablo Valley College where he taught the History of Hip-Hop Music and Culture, and Introduction to Social Justice. His recent books—Spirit, Rhythm, and Story: Community Building and Healing through Song, involves the power of music and music therapy toward healing communities; and Hip-Hop Music: History and Culture, the first e-textbook for Hip Hop Music instruction in the California community colleges.

Dr. Elliott currently completed his Sound Healing Certificate and now focuses his time and efforts working in the community to help with stress management, anxiety, depression, and male anger issues for Black Americans, through drum circles, sound healing treatments, podcast, and cultural lecture series.

Mr. Herbert L. English, Jr. “Herb” has over 16 years of experience in higher education with 13 of those years in the California Community College system. Herb currently serves as the Vice- President of Student Services at West Hills College Coalinga in Central Valley California. Herb has served as the Director of EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Valley- Bound Commitment an award winning First Year Experience program and Dean of Student Equity and Success at Victor Valley College. Herb also served as an academic advisor and p/t faculty teaching First Year Experience at CSU San Bernardino.

In addition, Herb has served on numerous college, district, and state-wide committees throughout his career and has been active in several community organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Gils Club of San Bernardino and the African American Male Educational Network and Development (A²MEND).  Herb is an innovative leader that has a history of developing programs and services that foster both student access and success; including the development of targeted programs for historically underserved populations. Herb has also worked as a Social Worker for Riverside County Child Protective Services and Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino. He loves working with young people and inspiring them to pursue a college education. Herb received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, San Bernardino, Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Redlands and is presently pursuing his doctorate degree at Bradley University in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Dyrell Foster is a student-centered leader, with a proven track record of advancing educational access, equity, student retention and success.  He is collaborative in his approach to implementing institutional practices, behaviors, and policies that provide a positive climate on campus and effectively addresses the diverse needs of students. 

As President of Las Positas College, Dr. Foster is committed to providing strong leadership with a high degree of integrity, passion, and commitment to fully serving our students in a growing and supportive community. Dr. Foster is passionate about cultivating effective partnerships and promoting innovative approaches to enhancing equitable student success outcomes for the students at Las Positas College and building the workforce and talent pipeline in the Tri-Valley region.

Previously, Dr. Foster served as the Vice President of Student Services at Moreno Valley College; Dean of Student Affairs at Rio Hondo College; Associate Dean of Counseling and Director of Student Life at Mt. San Antonio College; Director of Student Life at Evergreen Valley College; and Activities Coordinator at San Jose State University.  In addition, Dr. Foster has served as a part-time lecturer in the College of Education at both, California State University, Long Beach and California State University, Fullerton. 

Being the first in his family to attend college, Dr. Foster received his Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern California, his Master of Science in Counseling: Student Development in Higher Education from California State University, Long Beach, and his Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavioral Science from the University of California, Davis, where he served as co-captain of the UC Davis Aggies football team.  He and his wife, Tami, have two children, Maylea and Daylen.

Dr. Amanuel Gebru, President of Los Angeles City College, brings a unique perspective to higher education and a keen understanding of the needs of Los Angeles’ diverse population. Having navigated college as a first-generation student, Dr. Gebru’s personal experience mirrors that of many residents within the United States. He immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 8 and as a member of the international community, he is a visionary who sees excellence in education as a pathway to economic and social mobility.

His pioneering work in international education creates experiences for students and mentors to understand their role in the world. Committed to mentorship and knowledge-sharing, he has empowered countless individuals to reach their fullest potential. Dr. Gebru’s tireless advocacy for underrepresented student populations, particularly Black males, has left an indelible mark on the community college system.

Extending his dedication to equity beyond borders, he played an instrumental leadership role in acquiring 10.3 acres of land to build and develop a Racial Trauma, Wellness, and Healing Center in Ghana. He also serves on the committee for the All-African Diaspora Summit, furthering connections and collaboration on a global scale.

Dr. Gebru received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Communication and his Master’s of Science degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Student in Development in Higher Education from California State University, Long Beach and completed his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at the University of La Verne.