Meet the Keynote Speakers

Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey has served as the Riverside Community College District as Deputy Chancellor and Provost since 2025. She joined the district after more than 25 years of leadership and service in California’s community college system, most recently as the superintendent/president of Palomar Community College District.

A first-generation college graduate and daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Dr. Rivera-Lacey is deeply committed to expanding educational opportunity for diverse communities. Her work has championed guided pathways, strengthened workforce-aligned programs, and integrated diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into every level of institutional planning and decision-making.

Dr. Rivera-Lacey earned a Doctor of Philosophy in education from Claremont Graduate University and a Master of Arts in Counseling from San Diego State University. She is a UC Davis Wheelhouse Fellow, an Aspen Rising Presidential Fellow and president-elect of the National Community College Hispanic Council.

She was named “Woman of the Year” in 2025 by California State Assembly District 76 for her transformative contributions to education and community advancement.

Nikkolas Smith is an artivist, concept artist and No. 1 New York Times bestselling picture book creator, as well as a film concept artist for movies such as “Sinners”, “Black Panther Wakanda Forever” and “Judas and the Black Messiah.” He has turned his passion for social justice into an inspiring portfolio of art that resonates across generations. Smith’s visual journey explores art as a transformative tool of empathy, empowerment, protest and bold reimagination. As a Black illustrator, Smith focuses on creating captivating art that can spark important conversations in today's world and inspire meaningful change towards social justice and equity, making him one of the most recognized talents of our time.

His creative journey began at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he designed theme park experiences and reimagined iconic superheroes. Today, his artwork spans film, publishing and public art, inspiring audiences of all ages to envision positive change through the transformative power of creativity.

He’s a proud 2016 White House Innovators of Color fellow and the creator of the 2023 and 2024 Marvel Artist Series in collaboration with Target for an apparel line featuring Black superheroes.

Smith has multiple books, including “The History of We” and “The Artivist” featured at the Obama Presidential Center branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Tanya Cusick, MS, BS, CDA, RDA is a professor and program director of Chaffey College's dental assisting program, bringing more than three decades of experience in the dental profession and nearly two decades of experience in education. 

Cusick began her career in dentistry in 1993 after completing her dental assisting education at Cerritos College. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from California State University, Fullerton. She also holds a California Designated Subjects Teaching Credential and maintains professional credentials as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). 

Cusick has taught dental assisting and health science courses at the community college and secondary education levels since 2007. Her experience as both a dental professional and educator has shaped her commitment to providing students with rigorous, relevant and hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom instruction with clinical practice. 

She has served as program director for dental assisting since 2018. Under her leadership, the program continues to provide comprehensive classroom, laboratory, and clinical education that prepares students for professional practice and advancement within the dental field. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and approved by the Dental Board of California. 

Cusick is committed to student success, educational innovation, accessibility and continuous improvement. Her work emphasizes preparing students not only to enter the dental assisting profession, but also to build a foundation for continued education and career advancement, including pathways toward Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF), Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), and Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) careers.