Summit Advisory Members

Adán De La Paz is the Principal Consultant and Founder of De La Paz Education Services. His firm provides customized support to organizations seeking to advance their DEI efforts by building stronger communities of understanding, belonging, and solidarity.

Prior to starting his own company, Adán was the Assistant Director of Inclusion and Intercultural Engagement and oversaw International Education at The College of Idaho. He co-led programming to advance marginalized domestic and international student representation and advocacy, served as a task force member for campus Inclusive Excellence Initiatives, assisted in the restructure of the institution’s Council on Diversity & Inclusion, and was a founding member of the College’s Representation, Inclusion, and Equity Alliance.

Additionally, he was awarded the highly competitive RISE Fellowship in 2020-21. This is the flagship DEI program offered by NAFSA, the largest and most comprehensive association dedicated to international and intercultural education and exchange. From this experience, he designed a unique framework that allows individuals from various identity dimensions, no matter where they are on their personal or professional journey, to learn about interculturality, its importance to DEI, and utilize proven principles and techniques to develop a crucial DEI intercultural toolset.

Adriana Facundo (she/her) is the inaugural Director of the Micron Student Success Center in the College of Engineering at Boise State University and a doctoral student in the Higher Education Leadership program at Colorado State University. She is originally from Michigan and attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI and received a Master of Arts in Higher Education Student Affairs at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She is Mexican-American and was a first-generation college student who grew up in a low-income household; her entire educational experience from kindergarten through her undergraduate career were spent navigating predominantly white spaces and environments. This combination of lived experiences has directly informed Adriana’s commitment to institutionalizing equitable student support structures for BIPOC students at PWIs to foster their sense of belonging and mattering. Additional research interests are around Latinx student identity and voice development, BIPOC staff retention, and coalition building in predominantly white institutions. She has 9 + years of experience in student leadership development, orientation, transition, and retention work.

My name is Barbelyn Leona Tom but most peers know me by Barbe Tom. I am registered in the federally recognized tribe of Te-Moak Western Shoshone of Nevada and am a descendant of the Tom and Gonzales bloodline. My 24 years around the sun has been spent focusing on family, my educational career, and nonprofit work. I was blessed early on in life to be part of American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) nonprofit which allowed me to focus on all three of the previously stated values. The experience has led me to find my passion in assisting other young natives, and individuals of color, to follow their passions in a system not built in our favor. I continued my journey into college where I took on roles, both big and small, that would help the University campus become a more welcoming and inclusive space. I graduated from Boise State University with a bachelor’s in business administration, minor in nonprofit management, and certificate in leadership and human resources. I have now transitioned into my position as a DEI Specialist at Boise Cascade but continue to participate in the Indigenous community and volunteer when possible. My successes and hardships of being a young indigenous female has led my passion to continue DEI work so that others to come will have many more doors opened for them as soon as they enter the workforce. Thank you for your time and many blessings on your journey.

Jacoba Rock (she/they), PhD, LCSW, is a clinical faculty member at the Boise State School of Social Work. As a scholar-practitioner, they have worked with incarcerated young people for the past 15 years, advocating for treatment access and re-entry opportunities, as well as systemic change to the criminal legal system in policing, courts, and corrections. Dr. Rock has also been an advocate for authentic and sustainable reform in higher education, advancing policies and practices which support diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism efforts, such as bias response systems, affinity groups, restorative approaches, and faculty / staff continuing education and development. Additionally, Dr. Rock has lived experiences of systems, as a fost-adopt parent, caregiver, and family member to a life-sentenced inmate. She is looking forward to the 2023 Summit, and happy to serve Boise State and the broader community through participation on the summit advisory board.

Katie Niemann was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She attended Centennial High School, University of Idaho and graduated from Boise State University with a BA in Psychology. She currently lives in Meridian with her family and spends a lot of time driving her daughter Sophia (9) to gymnastics and son Owen (7) to soccer. Katie is currently the President and Education chair for the Boise Valley Japanese Citizens League (JACL). She is a third generation JACL President and granddaughter of a Minidoka incarceree. She often speaks in schools, educating children and young adults about Japanese American Incarceration camps during World War II. In addition to her work with the JACL Katie enjoys being on Boise’s Police Chief Ron Winegar Chiefs Community Advisory Panel as well as a founding member of Idaho AAPI which brings together leaders of Asian American Groups across the valley. Katie works as an educational assistant at Compass Public Charter School, and loves the time she gets to spend helping students succeed and excel.

Tanisha Townsend is a Senior Program Manager of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion for Micron Technology. Tanisha is a certified diversity and inclusion leader who partners with Micron’s executive leaders to ensure the successful execution of the corporate DEI commitments within Micron. She also is responsible for the execution of Micron’s DEI survey and awards strategies. She is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment and partnering with leaders to ensure effective action and accountability of DE&I goals. Tanisha is a United States Air Force Veteran. She has in-depth experience working in both the public and private sectors. She is currently a doctoral candidate pursuing a doctorate focused on organizational development and organizational leadership and she is expected to complete her degree in 2024; she has a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus in project management and accounting; and she has two bachelors’ degrees: in Management and Business Information Systems. Tanisha enjoys volunteering and she has served on the Idaho Black History Museum Board, the SERVE Idaho governor’s commission on national and community service, and she currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce; she serves as an Advisory Member for the 9th annual DEI Blue Sky Summit; she serves as the President of the Western Idaho Chapter of the Project Management Institute; she also serves as a Core Team member of the Blue Sky Community of Practice for DEI. Tanisha was recognized by the National Diversity and Leadership Council as a 2023 DEI Champion and as one of the Top 100 HR professionals for 2023. Tanisha has more than 15 years of experience in project management, program management, and change management and has managed teams in the successful execution of many medium and large-scale departmental, human resource, and technological projects as well as transformational projects. She holds certifications in both project management, agile methodologies, and change management.

Cameela Cruz is a Sales Compensation and Finance Manager at HP, leveraging her expertise in driving inclusive practices and financial acumen. As a first-generation college student, Cameela’s journey is defined by her determination to overcome barriers. With a BA in Psychology, she fosters an inclusive workplace culture.

Cameela’s intersectional identity as a Mexican American and Black woman fuels her passion for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Her upbringing in a lower socioeconomic status, raised by a single teenage mom of 3, instills empathy for underrepresented communities.

With experience in higher education and business sectors, she spearheads strategic initiatives that drive positive change and yield measurable results.

Cameela is recognized as a thought leader and influencer in advancing DEI initiatives within large organizations, known for her ability to build strong relationships and mobilize diverse teams.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Cameela actively volunteers in the Treasure Valley, dedicating her time to organizations like Neighbor Idaho, making a meaningful impact in the community. Cameela also serves on the planning committee for Boise Juneteenth, a significant event celebrating African American culture and history, showcasing her commitment to preserving heritage and promoting unity within the Treasure Valley.

Beyond her professional accomplishments and volunteer work, Cameela is devoted to community development programs and mentoring aspiring professionals. She is a catalyst for breaking down barriers and creating an equitable society.

When she’s not driving DEI initiatives and working professionally, Cameela enjoys spending quality time with her partner Kevin and their beloved dog, Whiskey. They cherish moments together, whether it’s cooking together or simply relaxing at home. Additionally, she often lends a hand at her mother’s vegan family-owned restaurant, Vegan Soul. She takes pride in supporting her family’s business and promoting healthy, plant-based cuisine to the community.

Sierra currently works as the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships where she is in charge of executing strategic initiatives around future connectivity that will help explore, shape and define economic growth and development of the region and promote the Greater Boise Area. In this role she is also responsible for building and developing strong relationships with business leaders, education leaders, HR professionals and other key workforce, non-profit partners across the region, state and country to strengthen the talent pipeline and help ensure curriculum and upskilling strategies are in line with the future workforce needs.

Sierra is dedicated and passionate about growing and actively representing as a young, Latina female in the Boise Community. She currently serves as the 2023 Vice-Chair for the Treasure Valley Girls on the Run Board of Directors & is an active member of the Make-a-Wish Idaho Young Leader Board. Sierra previously served as the Marketing Chair for Boise Young Professionals in 2022 and has been involved with various other organizations including The Alzheimer’s Association, Downtown Boise Association, The Boise Farmer’s Market & Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Sierra was named Boise Young Professional of the Year in 2021 and honored as one of Idaho Business Review’s Accomplished Under 40 in 2023.