Dr. Roseanne Rosenthal, a Tewa/Apache by lineage and a CINC alumnus of the class of 2019, is a certified Forensic Nurse and Crime Scene Investigator with a background in nursing and healthcare administration. Currently completing a graduate degree in Cultural Anthropology at the University of California, Riverside, her research focuses on intergenerational trauma and the impact of laws like NAGPRA and ICWA have on Native American communities. She volunteers with organizations such as the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center and Global Medical Brigades in Ghana. She actively participates in various Native American student associations at the University of California, Riverside. Roseanne serves as a mentor and advisor to Native American students, offering academic and personal support.

760-691-1944

Rhonda Valenzuella, is an enrolled tribal member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians (Payómkawichum), a descendant of Cahuilla, Kumeyaay, and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (Muscogee/Mvskoke). She is a 2024 CINC Graduate with dual degrees; AA in Sociology and AA in Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences. Currently enrolled at CSUSB, in their Liberal Studies Bachelor Program.

Rhonda has worked in the Path Breakers Program since its induction. During Spring 2024, she helped implement three various soft introduction language immersion programs in the Cahuilla, Luiseño, and Kumeyaay languages for CINC students. She has successfully organized events/workshops. As a CINC Alumni, she has shared her testimony and is a valuable resource willing to help any and all students with any questions they may have, or direct them to someone who can help.

When not working, she is extremely active within her tribal and local communities, sitting on an array of various committees: $ovóova Po’$wáamay (Daughter of Soboba), Soboba Youth Advisory Council, NIAA (National Indian Athletic Association, Fastpitch; Soboba), and SJUSD Native American Parent Advisory Council (Four Directions Club/IPC/NAPAC). She is the mother of two future leaders, who are as equally involved within their tribal/local communities, programs, and various committees as she is. Rhonda is also a Beader, freelance photographer, a bird dancer, and a baseball/football enthusiast. She loves traveling, learning languages, listening to music, going to ballgames, and anything culturally rich.

760-800-8186

Lios em chaniavu, my name is Nathan Estrada. I am a descendant of the Pascua Yaqui tribe. I am a Teachers Assistant / Tribal Outreach Specialist My focus is on the recruitment and retention of Native men at CINC. I am also the tutor, where I specialize in writing and composition.

Hobbies of mine include longboarding, video games, combat sports, watching movies and fishing (despite never catching anything). I love the games Red Dead Redemption II, Diablo series and Halo. I have recently fallen in love with being outdoors again and remembering that my life does not revolve around a screen. I love going to Lake Perris with the hopes of catching a fish, even though I rarely catch anything.

I love all kinds of music, and I do mean all. Anything ranging from hardcore punk rock to country, my spotify playlists are truly a strange amalgamation of Hank Williams and Black Flag.

760-282-2264

Linda Cotton spent her childhood years in Oklahoma before moving to Redlands, California in her early teens. She has over 20 years of experience in Native Education. She originally worked with Kumeyaay students in the San Diego area before moving back to the San Bernadino/Riverside area where she worked for 19 years as an Instructional Liaison and Alternative Education Manager for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services and a Master of Science degree both from the University of Phoenix. She also holds a Pupil Personnel Services credential from the University of Redlands. Linda has also been involved with the Intertribal Education Collaborative for the past 7 years. Linda brings a wealth of knowledge from every level of education as well as counseling and research skills. She is an advocate for education. Her passion is assisting students to overcome their obstacles in order to reach their goals.

Linda is the mother of 5 children, 3 daughters and 2 sons. She lives in Loma Linda with her husband, 2 sons, 5 cats and 2 dogs. She is an avid reader and loves to read books in her free time. Linda loves to be out in nature. She enjoys hiking and going to the beach. Linda is also a history lover and enjoys learning about the history and culture of different areas. She loves traveling and visiting museums. Linda loves learning and believes that there is always more to learn. One can never have too much knowledge.

760-636-8253

Faith Morreo is a proud member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tribe of Southern California. Serving her Tribe, non-profit organizations, tribal programs, and private sector in various capacities for the past 25+ years she is honored to serve as the Recruitment and Outreach Specialist. Faith is a graduate of College of the Desert with two Associates of Arts Degree programs in Business Administration and Liberal Arts with emphasis in Arts, Humanities and Communication. She is primarily responsible for recruitment and outreach. This includes creating partnerships to continue the success of CINC in providing unique opportunities in education. Faith is also a cultural preservationist, teaching Desert Cahuilla language within the local tribal communities. Please reach out to her if you have any questions about enrollment and outreach event.

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Johnathan Arroyo was born in Palm Springs, CA and raised in the eastern part of the Coachella Valley. He graduated from College of the Desert with an Associates of Arts; Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Humanities & Communication. He continued his studies at Cal State San Bernardino where he obtained his Bachelors of Arts; Career and Technical Studies. With a background steeped in business and finance, Johnathan brings a wealth of experience to the education sector, currently serving as an academic advisor. His passion lies in guiding students towards their academic and professional aspirations, drawing from his diverse expertise to offer personalized guidance and support. As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Johnathan’s journey has granted him a unique perspective, enabling him to effectively mentor and empower individuals on their educational paths.

Outside of work, Johnathan can often be found at local music venues, indulging his strong appreciation for all genres of music. He believes in the transformative power of music, capable of transporting or altering one’s state of mind to any desired mood. Apart from music, Johnathan enjoys hiking trails, playing tennis, practicing yoga, and cherishing quality moments with friends, family, and his beloved two-year-old golden doodle, Aster.

Johnathan looks forward to meeting and collaborating with the entire California Indian Nations College Community.

Kim Marcus is an enrolled Tribal Elder with the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians and his grandfather was an enrolled member of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. He is married with three children and four grandchildren. He is a retired California Credentialed Native Language Teacher and counselor. Mr. Marcus is a traditional singer/dancer, and culture bearer of the Serrano and Cahuilla rituals, customs, and traditions.

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Ariana Gonzalez is an educator and academic advisor dedicated to empowering students to reach their full potential. Born in Bakersfield, California, she comes from a family of migrant farmworkers who worked alongside Cesar Chavez in the fight for farmworker rights. As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Ariana is deeply committed to expanding access to education and supporting students as they transform their lives through learning.

She earned her associate degree in transfer studies from Southwestern Community College and later completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at San Diego State University.

Outside of her professional work, Ariana enjoys cultivating her own farm and spending time in nature. She also prioritizes spiritual self-care through practices such as breathwork, sound bowls, and Reiki. Ariana lives in Mountain Center with her husband and two daughters.

760-278-8146

Tony Aguilar was born and raised in Thermal, California. He currently serves as an Academic Advisor for California Indian Nations College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Redlands, as well as a master’s degree in education, also from the University of Redlands. Tony is also currently pursuing a doctorate in education, also from the University of Redlands. In his spare time, Tony enjoys binge-watching documentaries on HBO and reading the Chronicle of Higher Education. In addition to serving as an academic advisor at CINC, Tony also serves as an adjunct professor of Political Science.

Alyssa Johnson is a Coachella Valley Native and descendant of the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians; Alyssa holds a profound love for the land and the communities of the valley.

While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles, Alyssa worked with Torres-Martinez Tribal TANF, where she supported urban Native populations throughout the greater Los Angeles area. She also served as a dance educator at Plaza de la Raza Inc., providing underserved students with access to dance education and valuable performance opportunities.
At Friends of the Desert Mountains, Alyssa serves as Indigenous Community Liaison, working to strengthen relationships initiatives dedicated to creating a space for Cahuilla education in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Through this work, Alyssa aims to amplify Native voices, celebrate Indigenous experiences, and deepen community understanding of the original stewards of our beautiful desert valley.

Alyssa now joins CINC as an Academic Advisor, where she is committed to guiding students on their educational journeys and supporting their growth through culturally informed mentorship and advocacy.

In her spare time Alyssa is a personal chef and chauffeur to her 8-year-old twin daughters.

Josh Lyda (Chickasaw) graduated high school in Spring of 2014 and enrolled in Palomar College for the following Fall. He spent 3 years at Palomar College before transferring in the Fall of 2017 to begin his 8-year sentence at UCLA. Josh attended UCLA in undergrad to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in German in hopes of becoming a translator. During his 2 years of undergrad, he became involved in the American Indian Student Association (AISA) at UCLA. In his first year, he became the Outreach Coordinator for AISA and supported their outreach project, American Indian Recruitment (AIR). In his second year, he continued as Outreach Coordinator while also becoming Co-President and the Coordinator for their annual Youth Conference and Basketball Tournament. After graduating, Josh became the Project Coordinator for Retention of American Indians Now! (RAIN!) at UCLA, which provided academic counseling and events for Native students at UCLA. He continued to support the Native community at UCLA both through his job and in his free time. During his 4 years as Project Coordinator, he eventually became the Co-President for the American Indian Alumni of UCLA and assisted in the creation of the Bruins Rising Initiative at UCLA, which acquired commitment from the university to create more resources for Native and Pacific Islander communities on campus.

Josh ended his time at UCLA spending 2 years in the Master of Public Policy program. While continuing to support the Native community at UCLA, he worked on completing his MPP in hopes of utilizing it to support his tribal government in the future. Now free from UCLA, Josh is excited to bring his knowledge and expertise in academic advising to CINC. He is excited to bring his commitment to this community and support his students in pursuing degrees to support their professional growth.

442-261-8237

Lloyd Molina IV (Pascua Yaqui & Chiricahua Apache) is a Native scholar and academic advisor with CINC. Born in San Jose, CA, he comes from a family who arrived in the Bay Area through the relocation policies of the 1950’s. He is a first-generation college student and has worked with countless Native undergrad and graduate scholars to ensure student success on their academic journeys through higher education.

Lloyd earned his associate’s degree from Cabrillo College, followed by both a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Santa Cruz in Film & Anthropology and a master’s degree from the University of California Los Angeles in American Indian Studies.

Outside of his work in higher education, Lloyd is a freelance photojournalist, independent filmmaker, and enjoys finding new music, food spots, anime, and travel destinations.

Naomi Hollingsworth was born in Riverside, California, but later moved to North Carolina at the age of thirteen. At eighteen, Naomi obtained her high school diploma and Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Science. She now works under Dr. Pesko as the Institutional Effectiveness Associate. She currently is a full-time employee and is a full-time university student at the University of North Carolina, Pembroke, majoring in Sociology and Criminal Justice.

760-834-1040

Courtney Hampton, a Palm Springs native, is California Indian Nations College Director of Adult Education and Communications Specialist. She holds a B.A. degree in Communication Studies and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management. In addition to teaching all Business courses, Courtney comes with over 10 years’ experience in college and university settings. She brings a wide range of knowledge and skill sets both in operational management as well as student support specialist, advisor, coach and mentor in communicating with a diverse population of students. She is dedicated and committed to carrying out the overall college mission and helping each and every student accomplish their educational and career goals.

442-259-0002

Albert A. Martinez is an Admissions Support Associate & Teachers Assistant with California Indian Nations College. Albert was born and raised in the Coachella Valley and proudly represents his Hispanic Community. He graduated from CINC in 2023 with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Business & Technology. As CINC Alumni, he hopes to reach the masses and beyond Southern California spreading the message, programs and support CINC has to offer. He feels this is his way to show gratitude and give back to the college that helped him accomplish his personal goals.

Albert hopes to earn his Bachelor’s degree one day and perhaps even a Master’s in Business or the Liberal Arts so that he can continue to support CINC in advanced positions like teaching, counseling/ advising, or administration.

When Albert is not working, he trains in the martial arts of Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu and loves to be the life of the party, meeting, office, you name it, there is never a dull moment.

“Shoot for the stars, and aim for the moon!”