To learn more about the candidates for each position, please view the Links below. CCPA members will receive an official ballot with election instructions via email.
Director of Professional Development
President-Elect
Samantha Bautista
California State University, Fresno
Candidate Statement:
As the CCPA President-Elect, I would be honored to expand on my leadership in CCPA by advancing professional development opportunities, fostering meaningful connections, and promoting equity in higher education. My leadership experiences as CCPA Director of Communications (2023–2024) and Publicity & Marketing Co-Chair for the CCPA Fall Institutes (2023–2024) have deepened my appreciation of ACPA’s & CCPA’s mission and values. My goals include promoting inclusive professional development opportunities within ACPA and CCPA, and creating networking opportunities for members to strengthen professional connections. I aim to leverage my communication and organizational skills to strengthen member engagement and ensure that CCPA remains a valuable resource for student affairs professionals across California. My vision for this role is to cultivate supportive and collaborative spaces, that empower members to thrive both professionally and personally. Together, we can continue making a lasting impact on our campuses and communities. Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am honored to be nominated, and look forward to contributing to the shared mission of CCPA.
Candidate Biography:
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.
Director of Professional Development
Ashley Gutierrez
Arte Américas
Candidate Statement:
I am interested in running for the Director of Professional Development position because I believe I can make a difference in this role. I have previously served two years on the CCPA Board – my first year was Graduate Representative & my second year was Member-at-Large. While I have grown throughout each term, I believe that I am looking for more opportunities to give back to CCPA’s mission and vision. As Director of Professional Development, I envision this role to be engaging and collaborative with student affairs professionals as I find creative ways to add to their skills through professional development. Likewise, I hope to also provide clarity and insight for post-graduate students who are either transitioning into their new field or looking for ways to grow into a PhD program. Lastly, my goal with this role is to give my time to support the chosen president and fellow board members for the annual fall institute, while engaging more with one another as we work towards our end goal. Since this is a two-year term, my hopes is to continue to grow within my own career as I look for creative ways to continue the legacy of the Director of Professional Development, and I hope to bring this to life if I am chosen to be elected.
Candidate Biography:
As a young Latina professional, I have passionately advocated for students by going out into the communities across the Central Valley rural communities. I am a proud first-generation student where I attended Reedley Community College from 2011-2015, as well as a double-alumnus from CSU Fresno with my B.A. in History (2018) & M.S. in Student Affairs & College Counseling (2023). Throughout my time in higher ed, I have been part of various programs at CSU Fresno, such as Academic Success Coaching, Transfer Success Center, & Dog Days Orientation. Soon after, I began working at Reedley Community College as a Dual Enrollment Counselor/Coordinator where I coordinated & instructed college courses to high school students. Currently, I work as an Internship Coordinator for Arte Américas – a Latinx nonprofit based in Central CA. With this role, I have 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. My professional accomplishments include graduating from Central Valley Latino Leadership Academy (2020), where I obtained skills for serving on boards & directors. Through this experience, I have successfully served on two boards of directors. In 2023, I was Student Liaison Chair for Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals (2023) where I bridged the gap between higher ed & nonprofits. Lastly, I have sat on CA College Personnel Association’s Leadership Board: as Graduate Representative (2023) & Member-at-Large Chair (2024).
Director of Communications
Andrew Blanco
California State University, Los Angeles
Candidate Statement:
As the Director of Communications, my goals would be to increase attendance of the CCPA Fall Institute by capitalizing on the essentials: The value of the workshops / speakers, capitalize on the beauty of the host campus, and the importance and community that is fostered by higher ed professionals in a field where we need people to share our love and frustrations with. Another goal would be highlighting the work being done on other campuses that can prove useful for members through newsletters.
Candidate Biography:
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.