2024 Free My Future Guest Speakers

Events:

1. Workshop: Federal Student Loan Updates (4:00 – 5:00pm)
2. Panel 2: Election Recap – What Comes Next for Student Borrowers (11:00 – 12:00pm)
3. Wellness Moment (12:30 – 1:00pm)

Natalia Abrams has been on the front lines of the fight for student loan debt reform for well over a decade. Long before others acknowledged student debt as a genuine American crisis, Natalia was raising awareness of the scale of the problem – and working with both borrowers and legislators on lasting, meaningful solutions. From the New York Times to Wall Street Journal to NPR and countless other outlets, Natalia has been cited as a subject matter expert on the immense injustice of the existing system for funding higher education. As president, Natalia continues to direct the SDCC’s overall strategy and fundraising programs – and represent SDCC in media and communications. A Los Angeles native, Natalia graduated from UCLA.

Events:

1.  Panel 2: Election Recap: What Comes Next for Borrowers (11:00 am – 12:00 pm)
2.  Panel 3: The Growing Shadow Debt – How States Can Act Now to Address Institutional Debt (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm)

Aissa Canchola Bañez is the Policy Director at the Student Borrower Protection Center. She brings a decade of experience in Congress, Executive Agencies, and advocacy working to advance policy solutions to improve the lives of workers and families and create a more just and equitable society. Prior to joining the SBPC, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) where she led the Congresswoman’s policy work, including efforts to protect borrowers and make student loan debt cancellation a reality.  

Previously, Aissa led outreach and engagement efforts for the Office for Students and Young Consumers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Prior to joining the CFPB, Aissa served as a Policy Advisor for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee under the leadership of former Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) where she worked on higher education, college access and affordability issues. Prior to joining the staff of the Senate HELP Committee, she worked for Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Aissa holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and American studies from California State University, Fullerton, where her passion for higher education policy and advocacy began. As a student leader, she helped lead the California State Student Association and helped spearhead campaigns to address the rising costs of college and the need to reinvest in public higher education.

Aissa currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California State University DC Scholars Program which provides professional development opportunities for students to study, live and intern in the nation’s capital.

 

Event: Panel 3: The Growing Shadow Debt – How States Can Act Now to Address Institutional Debt (1:00 – 2:00 pm

Sarah Bouabibsa is the West Advocacy Manager and is based out of Sacramento, where she looks to continue serving the needs of and empowering young adults through substantive policy and advocacy efforts. Having immigrated to San Francisco in the early 2000s, Sarah’s passion for advocacy stemmed from growing up in a severely underserved community in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Additionally, her experience as a visibly Muslim woman has been a catalyst in her journey towards the advocacy world. Sarah graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science where she researched the effects of systemic racism and color blindness on minority youth’s political empowerment. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and everything pasta.

Events:

1. Panel 1: State of Student Debt in America (10:00 – 11:00 am)
2. Wellness Moment (12:30 – 1:00pm)
3. Workshop: Federal Student Loan Updates (4:00 – 5:00 pm)

Sabrina Calazans currently serves as the Managing Director at SDCC where she advocates for student debt cancellation by putting borrowers and their stories front and center. As a student loan borrower and first-generation American, she is passionate about bringing awareness to the disproportionate impact of student loan debt on communities of color, low-income communities, and women. Sabrina became involved in the fight to cancel student debt by filling out a survey and sharing her story. 

Event: Workshop: Federal Student Loan Updates (4:00 – 5:00 pm)

Sabrina Cereceres is the Special Projects and Free the Degree Director at SDCC. From writing for the Nation Magazine to hosting Free the Degree’s first summit, Sabrina is dedicated to making minority and youth voices and perspectives heard. Her work also includes content creation and website management. Sabrina is currently attending the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ and working towards her bachelor’s in Sustainable Built Environments.

Event: 12:00 – 12:30 pm Q&A with the Federal Student Aid Office – Moderator 

 Amy Czulada is the Outreach & Advocacy Manager at the Student Borrower Protection Center. Previously, Amy was a Research Analyst at 32BJ SEIU in New York City. Prior to her work at SEIU, Amy was heavily involved in research and activism around wage theft in the greater Denver area and was also part of the Sanctuary movement in Denver. She graduated with her master’s degree in International Studies from the Josef Korbel School at the University of Denver and has a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from La Salle University, Philadelphia.

Event: Panel 4: California Rights and Resources for Student Borrowers (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm)

Celina Damian is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s first Student Loan Servicing Ombudperson, a position created under AB 376, the Student Borrower Bill of Rights. She began her role with the DFPI in December 2021. As the Ombudsperson, Celina works directly with student loan borrowers to help them access federal programs, understand their options and advocate on their behalf. She conducts education and outreach to Californians to help them understand repayment, forgiveness options, borrower rights and protections. She works with external partners, community-based organizations and other state and federal agencies to better serve Californians.  

Celina has worked for the State of California for over 16 years and has extensive experience in analytical, enforcement, legal and outreach work. She has served different populations including children, families, and low wage workers with a focus on empowering individuals through education and outreach.

Event: Q&A with the Federal Student Aid Office (12:00 – 12:30 pm)

Rachel is a member of the Stakeholder Engagement Group within the Ombudsman’s Office at Federal Student Aid. She leads State engagement with state student loan ombudsman, regulators, and attorneys general. She spearheads efforts to identify third-party debt relief scams, collaborating with state AGs, the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Communications Commission. 

Prior to joining FSA, Rachel led banking and credit advocacy and outreach at Consumer Federation of America. She developed and executed legislative and regulatory campaigns on a host of issues including consumer credit, banking access and affordability, fintech, corporate oversight, and access to civil justice. Rachel has advocated on behalf of consumers and borrowers before Congress, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve, as well as other state financial regulators and state legislatures. Racel holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.  Rachel resides in Seattle, Washington. 

Event: Panel 3: The Growing Shadow Debt – How States Can Act Now to Address Institutional Debt (1:00-2:00 pm)

Jonathan Glater joined the Berkeley Law faculty in 2021. His research has focused on the ways that law promotes and limits access to education, especially higher education, and the impact that education debt has on educational opportunities. Recent publications include Qualified Sovereignty (with Kate Sablosky Elengold) (Wash. L. Rev. 2022); Pandemic Possibilities: Rethinking Measures of Merit (UCLA L. Rev. 2021), and The Civil Rights Case for Student Debt Reform (with Dalié Jiménez) (Harv. Civil Rights-Civil Liberties L. Rev. 2020). He is also coauthor with Amy Gajda on a casebook, The Law and Higher Education: Cases and Materials on Colleges in Court (5th ed.). Courses taught include Education Law & Policy, Criminal Law, and Disability Law.

Glater is a faculty director of the Center on Consumer Law and Economic Justice at Berkeley Law. With Dalié Jiménez, he is also co-founder and co-director of the Student Loan Law Initiative, an interdisciplinary partnership with the Student Borrower Protection Center devoted to the study of the effects of student debt. In 2023 he was named a member of the California Civil Rights Council, a volunteer body tasked with developing regulations that implement California’s civil rights laws. He also serves as co-chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Education and the Law.

Event: Wellness Moment (12:30 – 1:00pm)

Bryan is a licensed psychologist and co-owner of a local Massachusetts psychology practice with his wife. He graduated from William James College with a Doctorate is Psychology, and a mountain of student debt. Much of his clinical interests are helping individuals navigate complex living problems such as the negative effect of student debt on a person’s mental health.

Event: Panel 5: What Students Face When Figuring Out How to Pay for College (3:00 – 4:00 pm)

A proud daughter of the East San Gabriel Valley, Althea Ito is a first-generation, low-income Filipina-American pursuing undergraduate degrees in Comparative Ethnic Studies, Educational Sciences, and Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. Driven by a passion for diasporic storytelling and restorative justice, she seeks to bridge historical silences and amplify voices often lost in the margins through transformative K-12 programs and youth initiatives that foster cultural resilience, critical thinking, and collective empowerment. Grateful for the love and strength of her community, she is committed to shaping her future as an ode to justice undelivered – a tribute to those who came before her and a lighthouse of possibility for those yet to come.

Event: Panel 5: What Students Face When Figuring Out How to Pay for College (3:00 – 4:00 pm)

Parshan Khosravi is an education advocate, grassroots organizer, and unapologetic voice for equity-driven public policy. As a first-generation Iranian refugee and a former ESL student, Parshan has both seen the power of education as a mechanism of community empowerment, as well as the numerous roadblocks and opportunity gaps that face nontraditional and low-income students pursuing education, especially in BIPOC communities. Parshan is also a devout Zoroastrian and spends most of his spare time organizing with his faith community and representing Zoroastrians at the local, national, and global level.

Prior to joining uAspire’s team, Parshan served as the Government Relations Director for the UC Student Association, where he represented over 285,000 students of the University of California system at the state and national level, fighting for a more accessible and affordable education. Parshan brings with him over 10 years of experience advocating for higher education access and equity, and he continues his path towards that mission as the CA Policy Director for uAspire, leading the organization’s policy portfolio in California. A double alum of the University of California, Parshan received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Education Sciences from UC Irvine and his Master’s Degree in Public Policy from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Event: Panel 1: State of Student Debt in America (10-11 am)

Alex serves as the Federal Workforce Development and Finance Policy Coordinator at Young Invincibles. His previous experience in policy includes working on researching agendas for political campaigns and health policy as a member of the Generation Vaxxed team. Alex studied political science and composition in college and received his MA in policy analysis from Northwestern University. In addition to all the support Alex provides for the policy team at Young Invincibles, Alex is also an in-house Tik Tok star, going viral several times on our Social Media.

Event: Panel 2: Election Recap: What Comes Next for Student Loan Borrowers (11 am to 12 pm)

Kristin McGuire stands at the helm of Young Invincibles as its dedicated Executive Director, passionately amplifying the voices of young adults in the political process and expanding their economic horizons. A first-generation college student, Kristin’s life mission is to ensure that marginalized populations find their rightful place in our democracy.

Drawing inspiration from her upbringing and a deep understanding of the needs of minoritized communities, Kristin has spent the last decade shifting power to young adults. Among her remarkable accomplishments are shaping pivotal policies, including the College Student Hunger Relief Act of 2016, the California Student Borrowers’ Bill of Rights of 2019, and the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act of 2019. Notably, she helped lead a national coalition to cancel student debt, resulting in significant Executive Action from the President.

However, Kristin’s proudest accomplishment is not her own but her mother’s, who bravely integrated into an Alabama school at the age of seven.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for those who blazed the trail before me. Unsung heroes like my mom truly inspire me to continue to work for generations who will come after me.”

Remaining true to her commitment to civic engagement, Kristin made history as the first African-American elected to the Charter Oak Unified Board of Trustees in Covina, CA, where she currently serves as board President. Her upbringing, family values, and dedication to the community drive her fight for educational success for youth from diverse backgrounds at every level.

Kristin is a proud alumna of California State University Dominguez Hills, a wife to a military veteran, a cool mom to Kaitlyn, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her journey serves as a beacon of inspiration for those who aspire to make lasting, positive changes in their communities and beyond.

Event: Panel 2: Election Recap: What Comes Next for Student Loan Borrowers (11 am to 12 pm)

Mike Pierce is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC). SBPC engages in advocacy, policymaking, and litigation strategy to rein in industry abuses, protect borrowers’ rights, and advance racial and economic justice. Mike is also co-founder of the Student Loan Law Initiative at University of California, the nation’s only academic center focused solely on student debt and the law.

Mike is an attorney, advocate, and former senior regulator who co-founded SBPC after more than a decade fighting for student loan borrowers’ rights on Capitol Hill and at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Before he left government service to start the SBPC, for seven years, Mike was the CFPB’s lead subject-matter expert on higher education and consumer protection. He advised all aspects of the Bureau’s work related to student lending, servicing, debt collection, and oversight of for-profit colleges. From 2015 to 2017, Mike also served as a Deputy Assistant Director of the Bureau, leading the day-to-day operations of the Bureau’s Office for Students and Young Consumers. Prior to joining the staff at CFPB, Mike served as a policy advisor to Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), where he assisted in the passage of legislation creating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and worked on the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. 

Mike’s work on behalf of student loan borrowers has appeared in national print publications and broadcast media, including The New York Times, BBC, National Public Radio, Politico, and The Washington Post. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from George Washington University and a JD from the Marshall-Wythe Law School at the College of William and Mary. As a law student, Mike worked in the Office of Federal Student Aid at the U.S. Department of Education.

Mike is licensed to practice law in Maryland.

Event: Panel 5: What Students Face When Figuring Out How to Pay for College (3:00 – 4:00 pm)

Adrian Sanchez is the California State Student Association Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the ’24-’25 academic year. He was raised in the City of Turlock where he attends CSU Stanislaus. Adrian has graduated from CSU Stan with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology. He studied the pathogenicity of viruses and bacteria along with the anatomy of many different cells and molecules. During his time at Stanislaus, he served as the President of Associated Students Inc. which sparked his passion for policy, advocacy, and educational leadership by allowing him to lobby, collaborate, and enhance student success on campus. Adrian will continue his education at CSU Stanislaus pursuing a Masters in Public Administration. In his future, he hopes to utilize both degrees in hopes of pursuing a career with the Food and Drug Administration

Events:

1. Opening Keynote Speakers (9:30 -10:00 am)
2. Panel 3: The Growing Shadow Debt – How States Can Act Now to Address Institutional Debt (1:00 – 2:00 pm)

 Samantha Seng covers education policy – early childhood, K – 12th grade, and higher education for NextGen Policy. The work includes advocating for policies and programs that promote access, equity, and student success at every stage of their educational career.

Samantha joined NextGen after a stint in the California State Assembly, working on a wide range of issues for several different elected officials. Before moving to Sacramento, Samantha came from the non-profit sector, teaching, mentoring, and tutoring low-income and at-promise youth throughout the Bay Area.

Samantha is a proud daughter of immigrants, a first-generation college graduate, and the first family member to hold a Master’s Degree – in Education from Lesley University. Samantha holds an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley.

Event: Panel 1: State of Student Debt in America (10:00 – 11:00 am)

Abby Shafroth is co-director of advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the director of NCLC’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project. Abby is an expert on the federal student loan program, as well as on the intersection of criminal and consumer law.

She has represented the interests of students and legal aid organizations on federal and state rulemaking and policy committees and is a lead author of NCLC’s Student Loan Law. Abby has written numerous reports, issue briefs, and op-eds on student loans and criminal justice debt, and frequently presents on these topics. She is regularly quoted in national newspapers and radio regarding federal student loans.

Event: Panel 5: What Students Face When Figuring Out How to Pay for College (3:00 – 4:00 pm)

Through research, analysis, policy advocacy, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement, Laura Szabo-Kubitz works to strengthen higher education access, affordability, and success for underserved and underrepresented Californians. Since 2007, and most recently in her role as Senior Policy Advisor, Laura has supported and advanced the California college affordability portfolio at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). Through her role as an independent consultant, Laura is a Senior Policy Fellow for California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy and co-lead of The California Alliance for Student Parent Success.

Event: Panel 1: State of Student Debt in America (10:00 – 11:00 am)

Persis Yu is the SBPC’s deputy executive director and managing counsel. Persis is a nationally recognized expert on consumer protection and student loan issues and has testified before Congress on multiple occasions regarding the impact of student loan debt on borrowers and the need for reform in the student loan system. She has over a decade of hands-on experience representing student loan borrowers. Persis was previously a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and the director of its Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project, where she led a team of attorneys to advocate on behalf of low-income student loan borrowers.