Tanaisha Coleman is responsible for managing the administrative and programmatic operations of the SDAB centers at Cal Poly. As the Director of Student Diversity and Belonging, she intentionally develops and sustains strategic vision planning and direction surrounding program priorities, monitors progress toward achieving program goals, and conducts assessments to evaluate program effectiveness. Additionally, she serves as a principal advisor to the Student Affairs AVP for Diversity and Inclusion on strategies to accomplish Student Affairs goals and objectives.

 

Tanaisha is a liberation-centered strategist with a background in higher education, DEI training and development, and the educational non-profit sector. Over her 7-plus-year career, she has driven transformative practices in education and workplace landscapes by driving social change through strategic partnership engagement, conducting cultural assessments, designing and facilitating training and workshops, and assisting entities with mindful strategic planning. Also, she has experience with creating higher education curriculum for students designed to transform students’ perspectives through identity awareness dialogues, programs, and retreats focused on intersectionality and diversity-centered practices. While working at the University of Vermont, Hendrix College, and Cornell College she cultivated climates that encouraged students, staff, and faculty to reflect on their identities, aspirations, and intersectional approaches to community needs in their personal and professional lives. She is committed to advocating for diverse communities and being a collaborative change partner.

As a first-generation college graduate and Latinx woman of color, Kristine’s lived experiences developed a nuanced understanding of marginalization and other systems of oppression and created in her a focused passion to protect, educate and uplift others that share these experiences. Kristine serves the Cal Poly community, through Student Diversity and Belonging (SDAB), in fostering an environment that is centered on inclusivity and community-building for all students navigating their intersectional identities and to have a strong sense of belonging. Kristine comes to Cal Poly from the Capital Region of NY where she worked
at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as the Assistant Dean of Students and served as Chair for the Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART).

Kristine’s time at RPI focused on student intervention and support,
advisement of identity-based student organizations, and policy-making for the Dean of Students to strengthen inclusion and accountability.

As a first-generation Black college student with progressive growth, Christina has worked toward becoming an accomplished leader by integrating, coordinating, and fostering student development. Christina credits the influence of becoming empowered to contribute to providing transformative and empowering educational experiences with the encouragement and guidance received by the Black staff, faculty, and administrators at Cuesta College.

 

She further credits her mother’s passion for education and her work as a bilingual elementary school aide for inspiring her to create a safe, diverse, and dynamic learning experience to empower students to accomplish their goals. Previously, Christina served as the Program Coordinator for the Cal Poly Scholars Program. At Cuesta College, she served as the Financial Aid Specialist and liaison for the Monarch Dream Center, an assistant to the CalWorks, Foster Youth, and EOPS/CARE (CaFE), and an assistant to the Counseling department.

Jeremiah was born and raised in Santa Maria, CA, and is a third-generation resident on this unceded territory of the Chumash Nation. He identifies as Mexican and Filipino American, as “un pocho” through generational assimilation, and as a proud product of a working-class family and community. He attended public schools throughout Santa Maria but cut his education short after receiving an academic dismissal from Allan Hancock Community College. He eventually returned to Hancock College and later transferred to Cal Poly, graduating with honors from both institutions. These experiences led Jeremiah to establish his mission: to make an impactful and lasting change in our world by helping others.

 

While the foundation of Jeremiah’s goal is built from his experiences living in Santa Maria and on the Central Coast, education has made the most significant impact in his life and guided him to want to work with students. Jeremiah has held numerous student and staff positions throughout higher education, working in varying programs supporting low-income students, first-generation students, ethnic minorities, foster youth, and more. He also has academic experience as a teaching assistant, providing guest lectures, participating in institutional and community research projects, and facilitating educational groups and programming.

Meet David Gudiel, a passionate advocate for positive change in higher education. As a
first-generation college graduate, David's journey began in the vibrant city of San Diego, CA, where he was born and raised. He shares his life with his cherished pug/poodle mix, Coco, and finds solace and inspiration in being active outdoors, dancing, and expressing himself through various forms of art.

 

David is a proud alumnus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, holding degrees in Psychology and Comparative Ethnic Studies. During his time at Cal Poly, he was deeply involved in campus life, serving as a Cross-Cultural Experience Leader, a member of the United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC)/Interfraternity Council (IFC), and a dedicated Student Assistant for both the Multicultural Center and the Men & Masculinities Center. His multifaceted passions extend to nurturing a healthier society by emphasizing the importance of mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

 

After his time at Cal Poly, David ventured into diverse roles, including working as a Registered Behavioral Technician, assisting young students with learning disabilities, and contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the Coachella and Stagecoach Music and Arts Festivals as a Peer Support Specialist for mental health initiatives. He was particularly dedicated to supporting and highlighting the experiences of Queer/Trans Black Indigenous People of Color at these festivals.

 

Now, David is excited to return to San Luis Obispo and continue the legacy of shaping the bright minds of the future through the "Learn by Doing" Cal Poly motto. In his role as the Coordinator for the Men and Masculinities Center, he remains committed to fostering inclusive dialogues, empowering individuals to redefine healthier models of masculinity, and building a more equitable and compassionate future.

 

Join David on this transformative journey towards building a brighter tomorrow at Cal Poly.

 

Nevan helps support the Cal Poly Cultural Centers and SDAB initiatives to provide holistic and genuine support to students, in order to ensure their success on and off campus. In working with individuals with a variety of intersectional identities to create holistic wellness and awareness to their communities’ narratives, Nevan has found his long-term passion of working with students to help reshape the way college communities have been inequitably structured. 

 

Prior to Cal Poly, Nevan served as a coordinator for the Men of Color Alliance at California State University, Monterey Bay where he worked with the student members to create spaces and opportunities for men of color to succeed within the higher education system. Being motivated by his personal experiences and identities, he also worked with abolitionist groups to research how a sense of safety and belonging is impacted by police in college communities. Additionally, he has aided in facilitating conversations and action around the creation of Latinx and Pride cultural centers, which are close to his heart. 

 

He enjoys working with groups and coalitions that focus around Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities in his communities. In his free time, you can find him hiking, drinking coffee, or listening to and playing music. 

Ashlee organizes and implements administrative systems and procedures while also assisting The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs. In addition, Ashlee supports the Student Diversity and Belonging Department with day-to-day operations of the office.

 

Ashlee found that working in the service of equity is a personal passion and an area she wishes to advocate for the students of Cal Poly and beyond. Ashlee hopes to serve the community here as a resource and ally and is always eager to learn and engage in ideas of inclusion.

 

Dr. Jamie S. Patton is responsible for developing, implementing and managing new programs and initiatives that advance diversity and inclusion at Cal Poly. As a division-wide leader and diversity officer, he provides direction and consultation for services and policies to ensure inclusive practices across all Student Affairs departments. In addition, he helps provide campus-wide support for diversity and inclusion efforts in partnership with the Office of University Diversity and Inclusivity.

 

A native of north Philadelphia, Dr. Patton is a first-generation college graduate with more than 15 years of experience as a higher education administrator. Prior to Cal Poly, he served as the Assistant Dean of Students for Ohio University, where he directed the Parent and Family Program, co-initiated programming to increase graduation and retention rates among African-American male students, and implemented social justice development workshops for Student Affairs staff. Dr. Patton found his passion for a career in Student Affairs at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, where he held student leadership roles as Vice President of the Student Cooperative Council, President of the Black Student Union and founder of the Distinguished Gentlemen. He later served in several positions during a nine-year period at Northern Arizona University, including Director of the Student Learning Centers and Director of Inclusion and Multicultural Services.