2025 CCPA Leadership Team
Director of Professional Development
Director of Equity & Social Justice
President
Dennis McIver, PhD
University of California Office of the President
An professional with more than 15 years of experience, Dennis McIver currently works for the University of California Office of the President as EDIB Program Manager. His award-winning background in higher education includes advising, athletic compliance, admissions, academic records and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dennis has significant experience as a staff leader and advocate. As 2022-23 Chair of the Council of UC Staff Assemblies, the CUCSA delegation explored employee retention through three lenses, expanded its outreach throughout the University of California, and developed a five-year strategic plan. Dennis’ previous service includes being a past President of University of California Riverside (UCR) Staff Assembly and past Chair of UCR’s Black Faculty And Staff Association (BFASA). He is also a Co-Founder of the Black Leadership Alliance Council at the University of California (BLAC@UC). Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Dennis earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies from California Baptist University. Dennis also earned master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he was a Phi Kappa Phi inductee, and the University of Baltimore. Dennis earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland where he was an inaugural recipient of the Geppi-Aikens award, and member of the Green & Grey Society.
President Elect
Samantha Bautista
Fresno State
Samantha Bautista is a dedicated higher education professional with a passion for student success. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Criminology, and a Master’s degree in Counseling, option in Student Affairs and College Counseling from California State University, Fresno (Fresno State). In her current role, as the START Project Director, she leads an advising program aimed at enhancing student success through holistic advising practices at Fresno State. With over six years of experience working with students from diverse backgrounds, she is committed to providing personalized support to help students navigate their college journey. In her leadership roles, she has actively served as the CCPA Director of Communications (2023–2024), and CCPA Publicity & Marketing Co-Chair for the CCPA Fall Institutes (2023-2024), which she has supported communication efforts on newsletters and social media platforms. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She is passionate about serving students, seeking professional development opportunities, and building meaningful connections within the higher education community.
Past President
Jose L Medina III
University of California, Merced
Jose L. Medina III, a native of the Central Valley and Merced, California, is a formidable presence within the University of California, Merced (UC Merced). Serving with distinction in the Division of External Relations since 2022, Jose brings a wealth of expertise and an unyielding dedication to empowering and advocating for Central Valley students. At the core of his educational philosophy is a profound belief in the collaborative nature of higher education, emphasizing mentorship and support for students and emerging professionals in student affairs. His academic journey is marked by academic excellence, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master of Science degree in Counseling with a notable emphasis on Student Affairs and College Counseling. Jose’s scholarly pursuits underscore his commitment to advancing the intellectual discourse within his field. Jose’s leadership has been showcased in various pivotal roles, including his tenure as Interim Director of Professional Development (2023), Director of Membership (2022-2023), and Graduate Student Representative (2020-2022). In addition to his institutional contributions, he serves as the Chair of Outreach for the Staff and Faculty of Color Association at UC Merced, embodying a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity. With an unwavering connection to the Central Valley, Jose takes pride in his scholarly and professional endeavors, particularly in championing college access for local students. His strong ties to the Merced community fuel a dedication to continued support, mentorship, advocacy, and research, with a focus on implementing best practices to serve the diverse student population of the Valley. Jose’s unflagging commitment to the Central Valley and higher education has rightfully positioned him as a leader of influence in his field. His extensive experience and scholarly expertise uniquely qualify him to drive meaningful change and make a lasting impact on the academic landscape, both within the Central Valley and beyond.
Director of Professional Development
Ashley Gutierrez
Arte Américas
As s a young Latina professional, Ashley has passionately advocated for students by meeting them where they are at across the Central Valley rural communities. Currently, she works as the Internship Coordinator for Arte Américas – a Latinx nonprofit based in Central CA. With this role, she has been able to partner with faculty and student affairs professionals from UC Merced, CSU Fresno, and SCCCD on ways to recruit undergraduate college students with interests in the arts and museum sector. Most recently, she was Program Manager for Youth Leadership Institute and partnered with 5 nonprofit organizations that pertain to youth mental health in Merced County. Ashley is a proud first-generation student where she attended Reedley Community College from 2011-2015, as well as a double-alumnus from CSU Fresno with a B.A. in History (2018) & M.S. in Student Affairs & College Counseling (2023). Throughout her time in higher ed, she has been part of various programs at CSU Fresno, such as Academic Success Coaching, Transfer Success Center, & Dog Days Orientation. Other higher ed experiences include working at Reedley Community College as a Dual Enrollment Counselor/Coordinator where she coordinated & instructed college courses to high school students. Her professional accomplishments include serving as Student Liaison Chair for Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals (2023) where she helped bridged the gap between higher ed & nonprofits. Ashley has sat on CA College Personnel Association’s Leadership Board for three years as Graduate Representative (2023), Member-at-Large Chair (2024), and Director of Professional Development (2025). She hopes this next term as Director of Professional Development will bring cohesive & collaborative engagement across the various student affairs professions.
Director of Communications
Andrew Blanco
California State University, Los Angeles
I am a Los Angeles grown student affairs professional who started their journey in 2019 as a student Orientation Leader and Program Assistant. Since 2022, I have started working professionally as a coordinator for first-year retention programs where I work with our Peer mentor program for our black student population, our men of color success program, and our University’s first year cohort program.
Director of Membership
Vacant
Director of Equity & Social Justice
Nicole Belisle, PhD
Palomar College
Dr. Belisle has a BA in Sociology with a minor in Education from UC Santa Cruz. After taking some time to work with elementary youth in the Bay Area, she went on to pursue her MA from Teachers College, Columbia University in Sociology and Education with an emphasis in Education Policy. She also graduated with her Ph.D. from the joint program at San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University in Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs and Higher Education. She has over nine years’ experience working in higher education and over fifteen years’ experience in education overall. In her current role, she serves as the Chief Diversity Officer, supporting diversity, equity, inclusion accessibility and antiracism initiatives throughout the community college district she works in. Dr. Belisle’s research interests extend to supporting all marginalized students whether through multicultural education and other diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and/or through effective collaboration across and within academic and student affairs.
Historian
Julia Stanton
Loyola Marymount University
Julia Stanton received her master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University and has worked in orientation, first-year experience programs, residential life, student conduct, and student activities. After moving to California, Julia got involved with CCPA in 2013, supporting the annual CCPA Institute planning. In 2017, she won the award for Outstanding Service to the Association, served as CCPA’s Director of Professional Development from 2017-2018, and most recently served as President of CCPA from 2019-2021. She has worked for three different universities in California and currently works as the Director of Orientation Programs at Loyola Marymount University.
Member at Large
Antonia DeMichiel
Stanford University
Antonia DeMichiel currently serves as a Disability Advising Manager in the Office of Accessible Education at Stanford University. Her journey to higher education began as an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon where she advocated for policy changes and program enhancements for disabled students. During this time Antonia was fortunate to be mentored by the then Vice President for Student Affairs who exposed her to Student Affairs as a field and career path. She holds a Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of San Francisco. She has worked in Disability Services for five years at a variety of institution types including a public university, a small, private arts college and a religious affiliated university. Her professional practice is deeply informed by her lived experience as a physical disabled woman and the principles of the social model of disability. She regularly presents and writes on topics related to disability identity development and service provision for AHEAD and ACPA. Antonia was the 2024 recipient of the Disability Leadership Award from ACPA’s Coalition for Disability in recognition of her contributions to the field of Disability Services. She is also a published scholar-pratitioner. Her narrative essay appears in the “DISABLED Faculty and Staff” anthology published by AHEAD. She is a co-author of a forthcoming chapter on disabled student success for the Routledge Handbook on Student Success (2025).
Graduate Representative
Eulyses Lopez
Fresno State
Eulyses Lopez (he/him/his) is a trailblazing first-generation Latino graduate student, currently immersed in the pursuit of his Master’s in Student Affairs and College Counseling at Fresno State. Having earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Deaf Studies from Fresno State, Eulyses hails from the rural town of Corcoran in the heart of the Central Valley. Eulyses’ journey in higher education began after returning back to in-person classes in the Fall of 2021 where he became a Neighborhood Ambassador for the Off-Campus Student Life Program. In this role, he assisted commuter students in finding community on campus while providing them with resources to help navigate the college environment. He also held the role of being an Academic Coach for Academic Success Coaching under the Fresno State Learning Center. His duties involved supporting academic probation students holistically while providing student success strategies such as time management, study skills, and self-care. Eulyses currently serves as a Graduate Assistant for the Fresno State College Corps program where he orchestrates and facilitates program events and projects, all while serving as a mentor to fellows. His passion lies in forging meaningful connections with the fellows at Fresno State College Corps, cherishing the opportunity to get to know them on a profound level. Simultaneously, he also works as a Graduate Assistant for the Fresno City College TRIO Upward Bound program. Eulyses also serves on the SACC Graduate Student Association as the Vice-President.