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.