Category: News

Through the Higher Endeavor initiative, Growing Inland Achievement continues to support postsecondary institutions in the Inland Empire as they take concrete steps toward transformational change.

Since late 2024, GIA has entered into agreements with 20 Inland Southern California institutions to implement the initiative. With the foundational planning phase complete, the past several months have marked a notable shift into deeper implementation, characterized by campus visits, collaborative planning, regional learning sessions, and tailored technical assistance.

Campus Visits and Institutional Engagement

Recent in-person visits to Copper Mountain College, Victor Valley College, Palo Verde College, California State University, Fullerton, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona provided GIA staff and partners the opportunity to meet directly with campus teams, identify early priorities, and support strategy development.

GIA’s team continues to provide targeted assistance to each institution as they move toward implementation. This includes one-on-one strategy sessions, Institutional Transformation Assessment (ITA) sensemaking meetings, and access to curated resources and tools developed through the national Higher Endeavor network.

Focus Areas Guiding Regional Transformation

Two themes are consistently shaping transformation across the region: the role of leadership and culture in driving student success, and the power of pathways to support students through each stage of their journey. By strengthening leadership alignment and building seamless pathways from high school through college completion and beyond, institutions are working toward greater student success and economic mobility.

Regional Learning Through Insights for Impact Webinar Series

As part of its support model, GIA has continued to host Insights for Impact webinars, bringing together practitioners from across the region to explore pressing topics related to transformation. Recent sessions have included:

• AI in Higher Education: The Student Experience in collaboration with Every Learner Everywhere
• What’s Working (and Not) with Student Success Technology with the ADA Center

These learning opportunities help institutions stay informed, reflect on emerging practices, and connect with national experts.

Connecting Inland Work to National Strategy

Beyond regional engagement, GIA continues to represent the Inland Empire in national forums focused on student success and systems transformation. In August, Frances Tapper, Director of Postsecondary Strategy, joined a Gates Foundation convening to discuss the evolving role of Guided Pathways. She shared insights from the Inland Empire’s implementation efforts and emphasized the importance of pathways as a lever for transformation and institutional redesign.

More recently, the GIA team participated in a national Higher Endeavor retreat in Washington, D.C., joining peer intermediaries from Complete College America, AASCU, AIHEC, UNCF, Excelencia, and the Gates Foundation. The retreat provided an opportunity to reflect on shared learning, strengthen collaboration, and reaffirm the collective commitment to student-centered transformation.

Higher Endeavor now spans more than 270 institutions across the country, including 20 in the Inland Empire. GIA is proud to represent the region in this national effort and remains committed to expanding opportunities and improving outcomes for Inland students.

Looking Ahead

The momentum across participating campuses reflects a growing commitment to long-term transformation. As institutions continue to engage in planning, implementation, and capacity-building, GIA will provide sustained support through its CAIR strategy: Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research.

This work contributes directly to the region’s broader goal of reaching 70 percent postsecondary attainment among working-age adults. Higher Endeavor is one of several strategies helping to build a more equitable and prosperous future for students and communities across the Inland Empire.

To learn more about the Higher Endeavor initiative, visit https://gia.echofactory.dev/higher-endeavor

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Sorrel Stielstra, Director of Research at Growing Inland Achievement; Randall Lewis, Owner, Lewis Group of Companies & Regional Philanthropist; Juna Park-Rogers, 2024–25 Randall Lewis Policy Fellow; and Dr. Paula Di Dio, Senior Research and Policy Strategist at Growing Inland Achievement.

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) welcomes Juna Park-Rogers as its 2025-26 Randall Lewis Policy Fellow.

Park-Rogers joins GIA through the Randall Lewis Policy Fellowship Program, coordinated by UC Riverside’s Center for Community Solutions and School of Public Policy. The program places graduate students in applied public service roles across the Inland Empire to support research, policy, and community engagement.

As a fellow, Park-Rogers will work with GIA’s research team to advance projects aligned with the organization’s 2030 Strategic Plan. Her efforts will focus on equity-centered research that informs cradle-to-career strategies aimed at improving postsecondary access, completion, and workforce outcomes.

“Juna brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to this work, and we’re excited to support her development as a policy researcher,” said Dr. Sorrel Stielstra, Director of Research at GIA. “The fellowship strengthens our capacity to produce research that not only informs systems change but reflects the lived experiences of students and communities in our region.”

Park-Rogers’ work will contribute to GIA’s CAIR strategy —Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research —by supporting data-informed decision-making across the region.

For more information about the Randall Lewis Policy Fellowship Program, visit UCR’s Center for Community Solutions

 

Photo of Dr. Sorrel Stielstra, Director of Research at Growing Inland Achievement

Dr. Sorrel Stielstra, Director of Research at Growing Inland Achievement, has been selected to join the 2025–26 cohort of the California Education Policy Fellowship Program (CA EPFP).

The Fellowship is part of the national Education Policy Fellowship Program, coordinated by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) in Washington, D.C. The California program is administered by the Education Insights Center (EdInsights) at Sacramento State University. Over the course of ten months, CA EPFP fellows explore complex education and workforce policy issues and develop strategies to advance equity in California and beyond.

As part of the 2025–26 cohort, Dr. Stielstra will engage with education leaders from across the state and nation, participate in policy dialogues, and contribute to projects that address systemic barriers to student success. The program offers a platform for interdisciplinary learning and peer collaboration, aiming to enhance policy leadership at the local, regional, and state levels.

Dr. Stielstra’s selection reflects her leadership in advancing equity-centered, data-informed research in the Inland Empire and her contributions to GIA’s CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research. Her work helps shape regional strategies that improve postsecondary access and completion, inform institutional transformation, and support economic mobility for students and families.

GIA congratulates Dr. Stielstra and looks forward to the insights and connections this opportunity will bring to our regional work.

To learn more about the California Education Policy Fellowship Program, visit epfp.edinsightscenter.org

 

With Growing Inland Achievement’s recent acceptance to StriveTogether, all GIA partners in the Inland Empire region are considered members of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network – a national movement of 71+ communities that are focused on improving outcomes for youth & families.

As a Cradle to Career Network Member, you have access to the high-quality, on-demand training and resources available through the Training Hub. The Training Hub offers both on-demand and live, facilitator-led training across six core competency areas:

• Focusing on Systems
• Collaborating
• Championing Equity
• Leading Change
• Using Data
• Building Civic Infrastructure

Ready to leverage the Training Hub in your work?

Setting up your Training Hub account takes less than 3 minutes. Follow the instructions below or watch this short 2-minute video.

Step 1: Go to the registration page: https://thetraininghub.strivetogether.org/learn

When responding to the following two fields within the registration, select these responses:

How are you connected to StriveTogether?

Cradle to Career Network

Organization/Employer
Growing Inland Achievement

Step 2: Start Your Learning

The StriveTogether team has recommended the following courses to kickstart your learning. You can view all the available courses through the course catalog page.

1. Fundamentals of Partnerships
2. Leadership Through Person-Role-System Lens
3. StriveTogether Overview

Questions? Reach out to support@strivetogether.org at any time.

Each year, Toward a Shared Vision brings together educators, policymakers, business leaders, and community organizations from across the Inland Empire to address regional challenges and advance strategies for educational and economic success. As part of the summit, Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) recognizes individuals and organizations making measurable contributions to equity, student success, and systems change. 

The 2025 Toward a Shared Vision Awards celebrate honorees whose work reflects GIA’s core values: Collaboration, Equity, Accountability, Innovation, and Transformation. These values guide GIA’s mission to align systems, close opportunity gaps, and expand access to postsecondary and career success across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. 

“These awards honor leaders and organizations who embody GIA’s core values through their daily work and service,” said Dr. Ashish K. Vaidya, President & CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “Each recipient is contributing to a future where all Inland Empire students have meaningful opportunities to succeed.” 

2025 Toward a Shared Vision Award Honorees

Excellence in Collaboration
Marissa Lazo-Necco, Project Manager, SAP/PBIS & Parent Engagement, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
Honored for her leadership in statewide community engagement, parent empowerment, and systems-level partnership across 42 school districts. 

Excellence in Equity 
Mariana Torres, Director of Equity and Access, Apple Valley Unified School District 
Recognized for advancing targeted, data-informed strategies that close equity gaps and extend opportunity across districts and communities. 

Excellence in Accountability 
Inland Empire Regional K–16 Education Collaborative 
Celebrated for using shared metrics, transparency, and strategic coordination to improve educational and workforce outcomes across the region. 

Excellence in Innovation 
Gateway College and Career Academy 
A public charter high school on the Riverside City College campus that reimagines student-centered learning through dual enrollment, flexible models, and equity-driven design. 

Excellence in Transformation 
Zeb Welborn, President & CEO, Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce 
Honored for his role in bridging education and workforce development, launching impactful programs that expand access to careers and entrepreneurship

Leadership in Collective Impact
Gordon Bourns, Chairman & CEO, Bourns, Inc.
Recognized for his sustained leadership in education, philanthropy, and civic partnerships that expand STEM pathways and regional collaboration. 

The awards will be presented during the 2025 Toward a Shared Vision summit, October 28–29, at the Riverside Convention Center. For more information and to register, visit towardasharedvision.org.