Leadership Team
Our leadership team works together to lead our membership group in the direction that is the most effective to help pass student focused policies during and upcoming legislative sessions. Our leadership team is made up of community leaders, along with our OCTPET Staff.
Community Leader Members
Dr. Lisa Hahn, MSW, Ed.D.
Leadership Team Member
Lisa Hahn has a passion and commitment to creating and maintaining student-centric learning environments that holistically advance the civic and economic success for all students. With particular focus on first-year experience, early alert interventions, learning analytics, and inclusive retention through curriculum strategies, her career journey has specialized in resource and pathway development for students seeking postsecondary advancement and economic opportunity that often remain unseen and underserved in higher education. As a first-generation college graduate, she is deeply rooted in understanding how a college education can transform an individual and a family for generations.
Osvaldo F. Avila
Leadership Team Member
Osvaldo F. Avila, a first-generation Mexican American, and first-generation college student. He graduated as a student scholar from Chemeketa, transferred to Portland State University to complete his bachelor’s degree and then a master’s in educational leadership and policy. With over 20 years of experience working in colleges and universities in Oregon and New Mexico, he naturally developed a heart to lead through a servant leadership style to create transformational experiences for students and families. He continues to impact educational policies for all learners in Oregon for postsecondary and career technical educational opportunities through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Osvaldo networks to build and strengthen community relationships while advocating for all students.
Osvaldo was historically elected as the first Latino to serve on the Salem-Keizer School Board. He continues to elevate silenced voices and assuring students have rigorous and rich educational experiences at their institutions where they are valued and feel welcomed to be who they are, and that their cultural experiences are shared and cherished so they may thrive and succeed. throughout their educational journey.
Rudyane Rivera-Lindstrom
Leadership Team Member
Rudyane Rivera-Lindstrom is an Education Leader originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She moved to Oregon from Colorado almost 24 years ago. She is now the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s first permanent Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA). In this new role, Rudyane leads equity and diversity efforts both internally and externally for the agency, supporting the HECC’s goals for equitable outcomes in postsecondary education and training, helping staff uphold our Equity Lens in policymaking, budgeting, and supporting the HECC agency to become more inclusive, diverse, and equitable for all employees and our partners.
A former Migrant Education Specialist, to a high school teacher of Emergent Bilinguals, to an Administrator for Equity, Rudyane brings 30 years of service in education spanning the full PK-20 system and has extensive expertise in the operationalizing of equity work, policy development, advocacy and engagement, and leadership. She completed a bachelor’s in social and behavioral studies, a Master of Education from Portland State University, and an education administrative credential and doctoral coursework at George Fox University.
Matt Bisek
Leadership Team Member
Matt Bisek began working for TRIO programs in the Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search programs at Clatsop Community College in 2015 as an advisor. Matt served as the treasurer of the Oregon TRIO Association (501(c)(3) non-profit) from 2018 to 2021 before taking on the position of Executive Director in September of 2021. Currently, Matt serves on the Northwest Association of Education Opportunity Programs (NAEOP) and Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Boards. Matt also serves on the board of directors for the University of St. Francis Alumni Association (Joliet, IL).
Matt is passionate about creating opportunities and removing barriers for first-generation and low-income students to pursue post-secondary education. He strives to grow the state TRIO association model to be a conduit between the practitioners who work directly with students and those organizations & foundations that have resources and opportunities available to positively impact students’ lives.
Gisela Foster
Leadership Team Member
Since her younger years, Gisela has always been passionate about education. Having earned her teaching certificate after earning a degree in business, she took her path to the education field where she taught classes for many years. In recent years, Gisela has been working for educational institutions developing academic programs and teaching youth and adults. She strongly believes that women are powerful and that children’s education can change the world. She is a proud member of the office of Student Life and Civic Engagement at Mt. Hood Community College.
Gisela is currently developing a leadership program that provides student leadership and mentorship between college and high school students. Also, she promotes student initiatives that support the retention and success of students from historically underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds. In addition, she develops current systems that foster retention creating a safe space for students from multiple social and cultural identities, and cultivates a deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging among the community.
Joshua Eastin
Leadership Team Member
Joshua Eastin has worked in higher education for nearly 20 years, most recently as a faculty member and department chair in the Department of Politics and Global Affairs at Portland State University. A strong advocate for widening access to higher education across Oregon, Josh is particularly committed to supporting students from marginalized and under-represented communities. He takes pride in being part of Oregon’s most diverse public university (Go Vikings!) and wholeheartedly believes in Portland State’s mission to “Let knowledge serve the city.”
Judith Quintana
Leadership Team Member
Judith Quintana is a first generation Latina college graduate from Oregon State University. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. During her time at Oregon State, Judith was involved in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program, OSU STEM Leaders program, and the OSU Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) chapter. Judith states that she has joined OCTPET because she is passionate about the recruitment, retention, and success of diverse populations in higher education.
OCTPET Staff Leadership Members
Teresa Alonso Leon
OCTPET Program Lead
Jaime Rodriguez
OCTPET Program Coordinator
Jaidah Garcia
OCTPET Program Intern
Angeles Reyes Mondragón
OCTPET Program Intern
