AI Fellows Cohort

Folsom Lake College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: North Far North Regional Consortium (NFNRC)

Dr. Suha Aljuboori is chair of the Artificial Intelligence Department at Folsom Lake College, where she launched one of Northern California’s first AI programs in 2022. With over 19 years of experience in computer science education and research, she previously chaired the Computer Science Department. As a lead facilitator for AI workforce programs and an AI Fellow, she focuses on building inclusive, future-ready pathways that connect education to industry. Her work emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning, real-world problem solving, and cross-sector collaboration. She earned a doctoral degree, master’s degree, and bachelor's degree from University of Al-Nahrain, Iraq. 

West Valley College

Primary focus: AI Student Supports and Services
Regional focus: Bay Area Community College Consortium (BACCC)

Alicia Cardenas is a counselor and instructor at West Valley College in Saratoga with 23 years of community college experience. Her extensive work spans various student support programs including EOPS, TRIO, and Athletics, where she has supported first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students. She also advocates for AI integration as a fundamental educational tool that will prepare diverse student populations for the future. As a member of her college district's AI Taskforce, she is committed to helping students navigate AI technologies confidently and effectively. She has a master’s degree and bachelor's degree from San Jose State University.

Fullerton College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC)

Miramar College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: San Diego and Imperial Regional Consortium, (SDIRC)

Dr. Jacqueline Hester is the dean of Public Safety at Miramar College, overseeing Fire Technology, EMT, Lifeguard, San Diego Regional Police Academy, and San Diego Sheriff and Detention Academies. With over a decade in higher education leadership, she has led innovative programs, including the Non-Credit to Credit Alignment initiative, recognized by the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges. Previously, she served as dean at San Diego College of Continuing Education and Kennedy-King College, co-leading technology and workforce initiatives. She earned a doctoral degree, master’s degree, and bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University.

Santiago Canyon College

Primary focus: AI in Teaching and Learning
Regional focus: Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC)

Scotty James is a professor and the Distance Education coordinator at Santiago Canyon College. He started his career helping disabled students use technology to overcome learning barriers, which also provided him with a strong background in ADA Accessibility. He’s been in higher education for more than 25 years, teaching for 11 years, and is passionate about integrating technology to promote learning and engagement. James teaches courses on educational technologies, including AI for educators and instructional design for online learning. He earned a master’s degree from Pepperdine University, a bachelor's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and an associate degree from Santiago Canyon College.

Moreno Valley College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: Inland Empire/Desert Regional Consortium (IEDRC)

Donnell Philip Layne is an educator, technologist, and director of the iMAKE Innovation Center at Moreno Valley College. He’s secured over $12 million in federal funding for STEM equity and led the development of a 5,000 sq. ft. innovation hub and mobile makerspace. He co-founded Twinflame Ventures and Catalysts Design Studios, advancing entrepreneurship, AR/VR, and creative technology. Layne focuses on preparing learners for the future of work through AI, workforce training, and immersive learning, with a deep commitment to underserved communities and early childhood education. He earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University.

Los Angeles Mission College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC)

Dr. Parvaneh Mohammadian is a licensed pharmacist, biomedical researcher, and professor of Life Sciences at Los Angeles Mission College, where she also serves as Vice Chair of the department. With a Ph.D. in Human Biology and over two decades of experience in higher education and interdisciplinary research, she is a champion of equitable access to STEM and allied health education. Her AI Fellowship will focus on leveraging AI to support curriculum redesign and student support structures within nursing and life science pathways. She has a doctoral degree, master’s degree, and bachelor’s degree from University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Moorpark College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: South Central Coast Regional Consortium (SCCRC)

Trudi Radtke is an instructional technologist / designer at Moorpark College. They are a believer in education technology, open access advocacy, and Al integration. As an Open access advocate and researcher, they served as the lead editor for over 100 open access textbooks and advocated for open access policies at the state, federal, and international level including crafting policy briefs for U.S. Congress and driving systemic change through equitable access policies. They earned a master’s degree from California State University, Northridge and a bachelor's degree from The Master’s University.

College of the Siskiyous

Primary focus: AI Assessment and Learning Analytics
Regional focus: North Far North Regional Consortium (NFNRC)

John “JT” Tarantino is the director of Planning, Assessment, and Research at College of the Siskiyous, where he combines business operations acumen with educational purpose. After over a decade in the technology industry, he transitioned into higher education to create transformative impact—implementing intuitive data platforms, streamlining institutional processes, and delivering accessible analytics that elevate student success. Known for translating complex data into clear, poignant stories, Tarantino advocates equity through numbers and empowers teams with meaningful insights. He’s currently working toward a doctoral degree from Rockhurst University and has earned a master’s degree from University of Portland.

Porterville College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: Central Valley Mother Lode Consortium (CVML)

Dr. Rachel Tatro-Duarte is a professor of English at Porterville College. She holds advanced degrees in English Literature and a doctoral degree. Her dissertation, “Starting to Connect the Dots: Using Virtual Reality to Engage Students in Deep Learning and Literature Appreciation”, introduced the VR Learning Model to foster experiential engagement in literature classrooms. Her immersive studies—of Sappho in Greece as a Graduate Scholar Award recipient and the Etruscans in Italy as a National Endowment for the Humanities scholar—inspired her mission to recreate transformative learning through virtual reality and intelligent technologies. She earned her doctoral degree from California State University, Bakersfield.

Glendale Community College

Primary focus: AI Professional Development and Training
Regional focus: Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC)

Fabiola Torres is a Chicana storyteller and Ethnic Studies professor at Glendale Community College, recognized as a statewide leader in culturally responsive AI integration. With over 15 years in community colleges, she bridges critical pedagogy and emerging technologies to transform learning environments into spaces of equity, belonging, and innovation. As Faculty Lead for Glendale’s GLOW UP (Glendale Learning Online With Uplifting Pedagogy) initiative, she supports online faculty development in inclusive, healing-centered design. She earned a Master of Education degree from Pepperdine University, and a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge.

Cañada College

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: Bay Area Community College Consortium, (BACCC)

Dominique Wu is an XR creator, AI strategist, educator, and author of Spatial Design. With over 15 years of experience across XR, UX, and AI industries, she’s designed for tech giants like Meta and Walmart, where she shaped user-centered products that reimagine how we interact with the world. She’s an adjunct faculty member at Cañada College, where she teaches Unity, XR, and AI for design—guiding students to bring digital worlds to life with code, creativity, and courage. She earned a master’s degree from California State University, East Bay and a bachelor's degree from the ArtCenter College of Design.

San Diego Community College District

Primary focus: AI Workforce Development
Regional focus: San Diego and Imperial Regional Consortium, (SDIRC)

Hongling Yang is a research associate with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). She has more than a decade of experience in data analysis and educational research. She develops dashboards for Special Admit and SDCCE/SDCCD CTE Articulation by CBE and applies statistical and machine learning techniques to support program evaluations and evidence-based decisions. Focused on enhancing student outcomes and closing equity gaps, Yang uses her expertise in data-driven insights to drive educational excellence across SDCCD initiatives. She earned a PhD in statistics from Arizona State University and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.