Aukeem Ballard is a former secondary public-school educator, organizer, and school leader whose pedagogy and practices remain grounded in critical love. Aukeem is currently a PhD candidate in the School of Education at UC Berkeley where his research focuses on the gendered and racialized educational experiences, conditions, and practices that constitute (and are shaped by) hard-to-trace phenomena such as love, hope, healing, and courage as mediated through, thereby informing, often oppressive and dehumanizing spaces. Aukeem seeks to highlight and examine under-investigated, yet...
Travis J. Bristol is a professor of teacher education and education policy in Berkeley’s School of Education and (by courtesy) the Department of African American Studies. He is also the faculty director of the Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity. Before joining Berkeley's faculty, he was a Peter Paul Assistant Professor at Boston University. Using qualitative methods, Dr. Bristol explores three related research strands: (1)...
Melika Jalili holds a Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley, where she honed her passion for interdisciplinary, innovative, and community-driven solutions. Her mission is to dismantle systemic barriers and to collectively engage and implement programs to drive transformative social change, championing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging alongside anti-racist principles.
As a first-generation graduate and BIPOC woman, Melika brings a unique perspective, drawing from her personal and professional journey to...
Christian Majalca is a sophomore at UC Berkeley, intending to major in Nutritional Sciences. As a first-generation college student, Christian’s love for education developed through years of tutoring peers from middle school through high school. Here, he witnessed the progressive power of mentorship and academic support. He deepened his interest in research through the UC Davis Young Scholars Program, where he contributed to a genomics project focused on pistachio kernel development. Through this experience, Christian developed skills in data analysis, scientific communication, and...
Dr. Jacquelyn Ollison is distinguished in the field of education for her dedicated commitment to equity and justice. With a heartfelt focus on improving educators' well-being and professional development, Dr. Ollison has spent over two decades making significant strides in transforming teaching and learning environments. Her pioneering work addressing teacher retention, particularly in underserved schools, emphasizes the crucial challenge of compassion fatigue among educators—a deeply personal matter to her and the centerpiece of her doctoral studies....
Samara Stamps is an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Educational Sciences. As a transfer student from Santa Monica College, Samara’s commitment to education is rooted in her passion for mentorship and academic equity. This semester, she is an intern for the Starting Point Mentorship Program (SPMP), providing critical resources to community college students navigating the transfer process. In addition to her work at Berkeley, she is a tutor for K-12 students throughout the Bay Area and a Project Associate at Bio Equity Ed, supporting outreach efforts to expand educational...
Vincent Torres is a first-generation, Latine, transfer graduate from UC Berkeley in Film & Media and Ethnic Studies. He is passionate about filmmaking and social media marketing to support and uplift underrepresented communities and stories. He joined CREEO as a Media and Communications Student Assistant, and now serves as a CREEO Fellow specialized in Communications to leverage his multimedia skills and assist with social media and website management to highlight and promote CREEO programs and resources, expanding access to educational opportunities to educators.
I am from Berkeley, CA, and graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies. I am currently a master’s student in the School of Education at UC Berkeley.
I have spent more than a decade working in education, focusing on creating opportunities for young people and communities that have been historically marginalized. My work is guided by a deep love for the African Diaspora and the Black experience in America.
Prior to joining CREEO, I served as the Community Partnerships Program Manager at The Hidden Genius Project, where I...
