Adriana Galván, Ph.D.

Adriana Galván is a Professor of Psychology and the Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is also the Co-Executive Director of the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent committed to improving the scientific understanding of the period of adolescence. As a neuroscientist her career has been focused on adolescent brain development and how it supports developmental milestones during this significant developmental window. Her research expertise focuses on characterizing the neural mechanisms underlying adolescent behavior to inform policies that impact young people. Dr. Galván has published over 130 scientific articles on the topic and is the author of The Neuroscience of Adolescence (Cambridge University Press). Her research, generously funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and numerous private foundations, has been featured in several media outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, PBSNewsHour, and NPR. She received her B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior from Barnard College, Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Cornell. She has received multiple recognitions for her work, including from the National Academy of Sciences, American Psychological Association, Cognitive Neuroscience Society and William T. Grant Foundation. She is also the recipient of the UCLA Gold Shield Faculty Prize. In 2018 she was a Fulbright Scholar in Barcelona and in 2019 she received the White House Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineers (PECASE) award.

Brian Kite is the Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Education at UCLA , where he leads the Division of Graduate Education in advancing graduate student success, expanding access to opportunities, and strengthening UCLA’s global reputation as a hub for groundbreaking research and professional excellence. A dedicated advocate for graduate students, Brian is committed to ensuring they have the resources, mentorship, and support needed to thrive. Prior to his current role, he served as the Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, where he championed interdisciplinary collaboration and student-centered initiatives. A recognized leader in higher education, Brian’s work focuses on building supportive academic communities that students at UCLA and beyond.

Brian Kite

Angelica Vialpando

Angelica Vialpando serves as the Senior Vice President of Program and Professional Development at the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), where she leads the organization’s largest division. She oversees COE’s national professional development strategy, guiding the development and delivery of high-quality training, technical assistance, and learning opportunities that strengthen the capacity of TRIO and other college access and student success professionals across the country. For nearly 25 years, Ms. Vialpando has worked alongside colleges, universities, and community-based organizations to help practitioners navigate the federal regulations, policies, and practices that govern educational opportunity programs. Under her leadership, COE delivers more than 60 conferences, institutes, webinars, seminars, and technical assistance initiatives each year, providing practical, evidence-informed professional learning to thousands of practitioners. Ms. Vialpando regularly speaks on legislation, regulations and fiscal accountability, leadership development, advocacy, data-informed decision making, TRIO alumni engagement, and organizational effectiveness. She is known for translating complex federal requirements into practical strategies that help programs strengthen operations, improve student outcomes, and advance educational opportunity for low-income students, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and other historically underserved populations. Ms. Vialpando earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Wyoming and resides in College Park, Maryland, with her daughters, Vivien and Elise.