The State of Pregnant and Parenting Students in California: Student Parents on the Impacts of AB 2881

Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. PST
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Join us for an empowering roundtable discussion, which will uplift the unique experiences and challenges of AB 2881 faced by student parents. These students are often overlooked, yet their success is integral to racial, ethnic, and economic equity in higher education. In fact, among students of color, one in three Black students, one in three Native American students, and one in five Latinx students are parents. 

With the passing of AB 2881 in 2022, colleges throughout the state are offering support for this diverse student population. From implementing priority registration policies and improving data collection to offering family-friendly spaces on campus, these initiatives are making a real difference in the parenting student experience.

On July 11, 2024, learn directly from student parents as they share their unique experiences and challenges following AB 2881.

Panelists

Andii Barnett (she/her)
Student Parent Panelist, Fresno State

Andrea (Andii) Barnett graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in liberal studies and is attending Fresno State as a student in the Rural Teacher Residency Program. She plans to teach middle school math in a rural community upon completion of the program next Spring. Barnett has two amazing kiddos, a three-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son, who are her “why” for everything she does in life. Recognizing the challenges she has faced as a parent scholar, Barnett is committed to using my voice and past experiences to support and uplift others who are juggling life as both a college student and a parent.

Arazeli M. Castillo (she/her)
Student Parent Panelist, San Jose City College

Arazeli Castillo is a first generation college student. She received her BA in liberal studies—preparation for teaching and a minor in math from San Jose State University. After eight years of teaching middle school math and science, as well as a year as a new mom, Castillo decided to put her career on pause and focus all her time on her family. Now a mother of two school aged children, she has returned to college to take Early Childhood Education classes in preparation to become a Transitional Kindergarten teacher. Castillo attends San Jose City College, taking both online and night classes with a recent GPA of 4.0 for the Spring semester.    

Marisa Pizano
Student Parent Panelist, California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI)

Marisa Pizano is a full-time student in liberal studies at CSUCI following her transfer from Ventura College, where she graduated with a two-year degree. Her educational journey is driven by her passion for Early Childhood Education and Pizano’s goal to join CSUCI’s ITEP program to earn her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. Outside of academia, she is a proud mom to three wonderful kids: Mason (six) and twins Anika and Gianna (turning three in July). As a dual student parent at both Ventura College and CSUCI, Pizano is a member of Ventura College’s Future Teachers Club and CSUCI’s “Tomorrow’s Teachers” club. In her spare time, Pizano indulges in her love for writing poetry and seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge, particularly in the realms of early childhood and elementary education.

Moderator

Dr. Tina Cheuk
Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 

Tina Cheuk is an assistant professor of Elementary Science Education at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Her research focuses on the development of language and literacies for emergent bilinguals, multilingual learners, and designated English learners in K-12 science settings. Dr. Cheuk is the founder of #StudentParentJoy, a media and policy research program redefining what it means to be a pregnant and/or parenting student within the California State University system. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Chicago and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Education Policy from Stanford University. 

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