2025 Equity Champion Awards
This year's Equity Champions will be honored at an event on Wednesday, June 11, from 2-3:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms A&B of the Campus Center.
And the winners are ...
- Matsuko Estrada Nakamatsu – Student
- Jamie Pelusi – Faculty Member
- Shaila Ramos-Garcia – Classified Professional
- Lydia Hearn – Administrator
- Higher Education for AB 540 Students (HEFAS) – Program
Please read below to see why each of these winners is an equity champion!
Matsuko Estrada Nakamatsu – Student
Matsuko is a third-year English and Humanities major whose work with HEFAS, the ESL Club and DASG has centered undocumented, low-income and first-generation students. As a mixed Peruvian-Okinawan immigrant, she founded a nonprofit resource center from her home to uplift students who, like her, come from the margins. Through storytelling, advocacy and community, Matsuko continues to break generational chains and redefine what leadership looks like.
Jamie Pelusi – Faculty Member
Jamie Pelusi is a queer educator, artist and community worker who's been faculty coordinator
of De Anza's Pride Center since it opened in 2022. They've been working in education,
service-learning (locally and internationally) and community-based arts for the past
15 years. The central throughline in their work is a passion for supporting students
and creating spaces for them to be their full and authentic selves. They humbly walk
in the footsteps of all the amazing organizers and educators who came before them
and are working to continue to ensure that De Anza is a campus that supports, uplifts
and fully recognizes the amazing spirit of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Shaila Ramos-Garcia – Classified Professional
Shaila Ramos-García is the undocumented student support and UndocuSTEM program coordinator
and co-founder of HEFAS. She is a culture maker, activist, poet, educator and leader
within the immigrant community. For the last 16 years, she has dedicated her career
to become an equity practitioner and expert on higher education access for undocumented
students. She believes in fighting for social justice and leading from a place of
empathy.
Lydia Hearn – Administrator
Lydia Hearn has served De Anza College in a series of leadership positions – most
recently as interim vice president of Instruction. She joined the college as an English
faculty member in 2000 and was president of the Academic Senate, interim dean of the
Language Arts Division, and interim associate vice president of instruction on two
occasions. As a faculty member, she has been an instructor and co-coordinator for
the Puente Project, co-founder and instructor for REACH (Reading, English, Athletics,
Counseling and Humanities), and taught for Sankofa Scholars – a forerunner to the
Umoja program. She also taught in Summer Bridge and coordinated the Honors program.
She was the instructional liaison on the first AANAPISI grant awarded to the college
in 2008, and served on the work team for the 2021 AANAPISI application.
Higher Education for AB 540 Students (HEFAS) – Program
HEFAS was started for and by students in 2012. Ever since, HEFAS students have been
leaders in advocacy, access and education regarding undocumented student support in
higher education. HEFAS students have started new programs such as UndocuSTEM, planned
yearly conferences and events, provided resources and advocated for student rights
and needs. Their power lies in their resilience in the face of fear and challenges:
Undocumented and Unafraid!
Award Criteria
We recognize that there are multiple ways of demonstrating commitment to these values. The following are examples of ways that nominees may exemplify their commitment to equity:
- Promoting a deeper understanding of equity by advancing best practices in their respective office or program
- Exhibiting leadership qualities in their work through collaboration, courageous conversations, inclusion through an intersectional lens, and fosters accountability.
- Prioritizes student needs and advocates for systemic and institutional change to address them to ensure equitable opportunities.
- Serves as a creative and equity-minded decision-maker in the shared governance process
- Fosters practices that help bridge the student equity gaps
The individual or team being nominated should also embody the spirit and principles reflected in the above criteria.
For more information, please contact EquityOffice@deanza.edu or 408-864-5636.