REGISTER

PANELISTS

Michael Itzkowitz
Founder and President at The HEA Group

With 10 years of experience in federal education policy, Michael Itzkowitz has held senior roles inside and outside of government. His work and expertise is often cited by national news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and NBC. Prior to beginning the HEA Group, Michael worked as a presidential appointee in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Education, assuming a number of roles in K-12 and higher education. Most notably, he was the director of the administration's College Scorecard, an initiative focused on higher education transparency and accountability. The Scorecard, announced by the President in February 2013, is the largest release of higher education data ever by the federal government. Michael also served as the deputy chief of staff in the Office of Postsecondary Education, where he helped oversee the policy and administrative functions of the office, which includes over 180 employees across three divisions that disburse approximately $2.5 billion in grants and establish policy for nearly $120 billion in federal student aid every year. There, he led the office’s organizational performance team and directed policy initiatives on accreditation, minority serving institutions, financial aid award letters and data transparency.

Amanda DeLaRosa
Director of Program and Strategy at the College Futures Foundation

Amanda DelaRosa plays a key leadership role as director of program and strategy at the College Futures Foundation. Previously, Amanda was strategy officer for state policy at Lumina Foundation. Prior to that, she held the position of chief of staff for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures, and policy and advocacy manager at Scholarship America. Her career and commitment to student success began as legislative director at the University of California Student Association. She brings extensive experience in the public, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Amanda received her master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado, Denver and her bachelor of arts in politics and sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Eloy Ortiz Oakley
President and CEO of the College Futures Foundation

Eloy Ortiz Oakley is an American educator, leader and advisor. He is considered a leading voice on improving equity in higher education and positioning institutions for the global shifts in the workforce and the future of learning. Oakley was appointed president and CEO of the College Futures Foundation on August 1, 2022, where he leads California’s premiere philanthropic and postsecondary success organization focused on improving economic mobility for underserved learners through the lever of postsecondary credential attainment. Previously, he served as chancellor of the California Community Colleges for six years, leading the nation’s largest and most diverse system of higher education. Under his leadership, the California community colleges were positioned as a vital source for maintaining the global competitiveness of the California workforce. In 2021, while on a sabbatical, he served as senior advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and the Biden Administration. He supported the development and communication of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda for Higher Education and the America’s College Promise proposal. Oakley’s work included the establishment of the California College Promise, the design and implementation of the system’s strategic vision, the Vision for Success, the elimination of standardized testing, the reform of remedial education, the adoption of a student-centered funding formula, the reform of state-based financial aid for community college students and the design and launch of California’s first public fully online competency-based education college. Oakley serves on the boards of MDRC, Western Governors University and the Board of Trustees for the University of California, Irvine, and is a regent emeritus of the University of California Board of Regents. He currently serves as a commissioner for the Academy of Arts & Sciences Commission on Opportunities Beyond High School and as a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on the American Workforce. Oakley advises various education-related companies such as Guild Education, OpenClassrooms, EdVisorly and Certree. For his leadership, Oakley has been recognized with the 2014 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, as a 2016 President Barack Obama White House Champion of Change, the 2018 Higher Education Dive President of the Year, the 2018 Roybal Foundation Medal of Courage in Education and the 2021 Diverse Champions Award.

Ashanti Hands
President of San Diego Mesa College

Dr. Ashanti T. Hands is the seventh president of San Diego Mesa College, one of the largest community colleges in California. She is a student-centered practitioner and disruptor of the status quo with a deep commitment to equity, excellence, inclusion and belonging. Her “why” is rooted in love, joy and creating conditions that matter for students to succeed. Dr. Hands has led transformative efforts to advance student equity and success, workforce development and institutional accountability. She is guiding the implementation of the college’s Mesa2030 Master Plan and supporting regional prosperity through Mesa’s contribution to the San Diego Community College District’s $5.8 billion annual economic impact. She is also an alumna of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship and Wheelhouse CEO Institute and was named one of the San Diego Business Journal’s 500 Most Influential People in San Diego in 2024. Prior to her presidency, Dr. Hands served as dean of student affairs and vice president of student services at Mesa College, and as dean of student affairs at UC San Diego. She earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership with a specialization in community colleges and an M.A. in education/multicultural Counseling from San Diego State University and a B.A. in sociology with a minor in ethnic studies from UC San Diego. Dr. Hands brings empathy, compassion and a profound belief in students’ inherent worth and potential to every space she leads.

Mac Powell
President of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)

Dr. Mac Powell serves as president of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), a federally recognized institutional accreditor overseeing 139 institutions and the education of 3 million students in California, New York, Arizona and the Pacific. He was the youngest college president in the United States at the time of his first installation and served as president of three universities, including John F. Kennedy University, where he led the institution’s successful efforts to become a service-learning institution and a federally recognized and funded Hispanic Serving Institution. Dr. Powell has contributed to the strategic direction of higher education through his service as chair of the American Council of Education’s Commission on Educational Attainment and Innovation, as a commissioner on the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Commission, as a graduate of the WASC Assessment Leadership Academy and as chair of the Council of Applied Master’s Programs in Psychology. He currently serves as vice chair of the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) and on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Committee on Recognition. His most recent scholarship focuses on the value of higher education and the role of accreditation in promoting institutional transformation to serve all students. Dr. Powell holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and sociology, a master’s degree in sociology and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Missouri, as well as an MBA from National University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University.

Keith Curry
President/CEO of the Compton College and Compton Community College District (CCCD)

Dr. Keith Curry is responsible for overseeing all departments and functions of Compton College and Compton District and serves as secretary for the CCCD Board of Trustees. Dr. Curry promotes student enrollment, success and retention, while working with the college’s vice presidents to develop strategic plans and procedures that enhance their academic and student services programs. Under his leadership, many existing student services programs have been expanded and others created, including the First Year Experience (FYE) program, Tartar Support program for students facing food and housing insecurities and the award-winning F.I.S.T. program for formerly incarcerated students. He previously served as interim CEO of CCCD and dean of student services for El Camino College Compton Center. Prior to joining the district, Dr. Curry worked at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) as director of the Early Academic Outreach Program. Dr. Curry has also presented at numerous conferences, workshops and symposia. His areas of expertise include preparing students for higher education, guided pathways, bridging the digital divide, establishing partnerships among postsecondary institutions and ensuring access for all students. He has received multiple awards, including the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award and was honored as one of three Champions of Equity at the 2019 Community College League of California (CCLC) annual conference. Dr. Curry earned his doctorate in educational leadership from UCI, and a bachelor’s degree in American studies from UC Santa Cruz.