MEET THE
EQUITY AVENGERS

OUR STORY

At a California Community College CEO Conference over 10 years ago, Dr. Pamela Luster facilitated an accreditation panel, during which Dr. Keith Curry made an impassioned statement requesting support for Compton College. Unfortunately, due to time limitations, he wasn’t able to finish his statement, and the session ended. Dr. Luster apologized personally for not being able to provide that platform, and the discussion began. Both discovered that they started their official CEO positions at the same time, just that year. The two had the opportunity to discuss common ground and the work central to their careers, equitable outcomes for all students, and in particular, racial equity.

Over the next several years, Drs. Curry and Luster served together on various higher education equity boards and initiatives. They found that while their early life backgrounds were dissimilar, their future vision looked very similar. These common leadership issues regarding student-athletes, racial equity, basic needs, and more have been a hallmark of their shared work. In Spring 2020, the Equity Avengers created #EquityChat, sponsored by the College Futures Foundation, a weekly conversation held on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) discussion for higher education leaders and the online community.

Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson has also been a  leader in several statewide efforts to find solutions that address students’ basic needs, support undocumented and mixed-status students, and achieve social justice through focused racial equity efforts. In addition, she spent years working alongside Drs. Curry and Luster as president of Laney College and Evergreen Valley College and now Chancellor at Peralta Community Colleges, and she was inspired to accept the invitation to join the Equity Avengers as its third member in May 2022.

Dr. Curry and Dr. Luster established the Equity Avengers to recognize their united work – addressing community college students’ needs. Over the years, they have presented at national and state conferences on the following topics: community college athletics, basic needs of college students, dual enrollment, diversity, equity, and inclusion, community college CEO leadership, student completion, and guided pathways.

Meet The #EquityAvengers

EQUITY AVENGERS

Dr. Pamela Luster

Dr. Pam Luster is President Emerita of San Diego Mesa College where she served for 11 years until her retirement in 2022. Previously, Dr. Luster held administrative and faculty roles in instruction, workforce development, and student services at Las Positas College and West Valley College.

Dr. Luster received her BA and MA in Speech Pathology & Audiology from San Jose State University, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara.

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Equity Statement

As we come to this work of equity, we come as learners, scholars and disruptors. In this way we commit to always asking questions, seeking justice and situating outcomes in the way our students need us. We are radically inclusive, not just in meeting rooms, but in every action we plan and implement. We seek diverse voices and center the needs of the most disproportionately impacted people we serve. I am committed to using my privilege and power to deconstruct systems of oppression, focused on those that impact racial equity, lgtbq+ individuals and remove barriers for the differently abled. I believe that we can create systems of access and success through our commitment to focused and intentional professional learning, personal and professional accountability and courageous action.

Full Bio

Dr. Pam Luster is President Emerita of San Diego Mesa College where she served for 11 years until her retirement in 2022. Previously, Dr. Luster held administrative and faculty roles in instruction, workforce development, and student services at Las Positas College and West Valley College.

Dr. Luster received her BA and MA in Speech Pathology & Audiology from San Jose State University, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara.

Dr. Luster serves on the Board of Governors for San Diego Foundation and is Vice Chair of the California Community College (CCC) Baccalaureate Association. She served as the President of the CCC Chief Executive Officers Board and CCC Athletic Association, and on the Boards of San Diego Youth Services and Bayside Community Center.

Dr. Luster is the President/CEO of Luster Higher Ed Group, working to bring equitable, just and inclusive practices to higher education leaders and institutions. She is an adjunct in the San Diego State University doctoral program in Community College Leadership. Along with her CCC Colleagues, Dr. Keith Curry and Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Dr. Luster is a co-founder of the Equity Avengers, hosting a weekly program called #EquityChat on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) and working with leaders to embed racial equity and critical humility and learning across our systems.

MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

WHAT MAKES US EQUITY AVENGERS

Mission

Our mission is to engage, educate, and empower higher education organizations and individuals to eliminate student opportunity and outcome gaps by cultivating partnerships and resources necessary to embed racial equity, critical humility, and learning across our systems.

Vision

Our vision is to build a higher education community focused on eliminating racial equity gaps by developing and supporting leaders who act and drive large-scale change, resulting in equitable student outcomes.

Values

Disrupt
Engage Educate Empower