November 21, 2025
What does the San Diego education landscape look like, and what does it take to prepare the next generation?
Hosted at Grossmont College by Interim President, Dr. Pamela Luster, and Dana Rivers (24) and Sally Cox of the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, the cohort was given the opportunity to hear how San Diego is preparing the next generation for higher education and beyond.
Our day began with a presentation from Dr. Shannon Coulter, the Director of Research and Evaluation for the San Diego County Office of Education. Dr. Coulter showed us the data that fuels our county’s education priorities, and how our region is creating pathways to postsecondary education. Here are the facts:
- Students with a high school diploma will earn about 1/3 of what a student who receives an advanced degree earns over a lifetime.
- Students with a bachelor’s degree earn more than double what a student with a high school diploma earns.
We know that enrolling in college is one of the best ways to improve economic and social mobility. So how do we get our youth passionate about education and their future? Let’s ask a panel of experts.
Moderated by Pana Hap (25), the Vice President of Programs and Policy for Junior Achievement of San Diego County, our first panel discussed workforce development programs and initiatives that are available in the county. Our three esteemed panelists, Dr. Lateefah S. Brown, the Associate Director of STEAM Education and San Diego Learning Lab Head for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Taylor Dunne, the Director of Talent Initiatives for San Diego Regional EDC, and Dr. David Miyashiro, the Superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District, shared the collaborative efforts in place to set-up students for success after they graduate from high school.
“Flaws in the education system will reveal themselves in the economy,” Dr. Miyashiro stated. In a declining workforce, it is imperative that students are exposed to skills that will help them excel in the future. Dr. Brown highlighted the connections her organization is making in schools with lower resources to make STEM and life science programs accessible, and ‘demystifying’ the process of becoming a scientist. Taylor highlighted the research conducted by the EDC, and the goal of doubling the amount of San Diego students with postsecondary education.
After lunch, the cohort had the privilege of hearing from a group of higher education leaders. LEAD Board Chair, Dr. Nancy Rohland-Heinrich (00 &17), moderated the conversation with Adrianne Garay Lee, the Vice President of Student Services for Grossmont College, Dr. Hala Madanat, the Vice President for Research and Innovation at San Diego State University, and Dr. Mark Milliron (23), the President and Chief Executive Officer of National University. Each institution represented brought a different perspective to the table, but one common thread connects them all: education is a powerful tool that is invaluable. Postsecondary education is offered in a multitude of ways, and the panel broke down the different options and highlighted the uniqueness of each of their institutions. Dr. Milliron shared the National University concept of their ‘ANDers™’, Adrianne discussed the power of Fast-Track programs, and Dr. Madanat emphasized the importance of regional investment and collaboration on projects like SDSU Mission Valley.
To see programs in action, the Grossmont College team brought the Impact cohort on a tour of their campus. Impact was able to see The Village, the performing and visual arts center, The Division of Allied Health and Nursing, and the STEM and veterans centers.
The Impact cohort left Grossmont College with a renewed understanding of the critical role each of us plays in championing access, opportunity, and lifelong learning.
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