Academics & Student Affairs Staff
Shawn Ragan began working with California Indian Nations College as an academic consultant in July 2019 before taking on his current role. Drawing on over two decades of non-profit and higher education experience, VP Ragan oversees Academics, Accreditation, Admissions, Enrollment Management, Institutional Effectiveness, IT, and Student Affairs. VP Ragan works with faculty, students, and administration to build academic and student programs that address the specific needs of tribal students and ensures successful transfer to four-year institutions. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of the West in Rosemead, CA and the President of the Riverside and Inland Empire local society of the Archaeological Institute of America.
VP Ragan has a B.A. in History from Boise State University, an M.A. in History from the University of California, Riverside, and is currently completing the final chapters of his Ph.D. dissertation, “Inter Divos Referri : Roman Imperial Cult in the Third Century C.E.,” which examines the intersection of politics and religion in periods of crisis.
Outside of the academy, he enjoys spending time with his family and three dogs, enjoys early and mid-century Americana, and is an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers football and Sevens Rugby fan.
Marli Bacca is a local of the Coachella Valley and the Administrative Assistant to Vice President Shawn Ragan. With over 10 years of experience in professional office environments, and a track record of strong performance in high-volume, high-pressure situations, Marli skillfully manages administrative duties and student/staff relations for Vice President Ragan.
As Administrative Assistant to Vice President Ragan, she ensures the smooth operation of the day-to-day schedule and efficient handling of student/staff inquiries, meetings, and timely responses to all inquiries as required.
In her spare time Marli enjoys baking and cooking with her fiancé, and as a true animal lover, spending time with her three dogs and her cat.
Randy (Howling Wolf) Avila is an enrolled member of The Klamath-Modoc Tribe. He is currently a student of California Indian Nations College. He has spent most of his life in the Coachella Valley and is very involved with the local tribes. Randy is an advocate for his community and participates in volunteer work. He believes that finding an outlet in sports can help Native youth become more involved and engaged in their community. He acts as an advocate, coach, and athletic coordinator in youth sports. He encourages Native youth to play sports and become involved in after-school programs because they are an easy way to be a part of the community, learn responsibilities, and learn time management. Randy’s goals are to lead Native youth in bringing out the best that they can be through their heritage, a positive attitude, and an enlightened mind. Randy has passed down his values to his children, the most important of which is: Elders pave the way to cultural awareness.
Erica graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Business Administration Emphasis in Management and Human Resources and a Minor in Native American Studies from Cal Poly Pomona. Earned a Master of Business Administration as well at Cal Poly Pomona. Currently, a doctoral student at University of La Verne Public Administration Program. At Cal Poly Pomona, Erica found her passion for addressing issues facing Native American students and communities. She became involved with Native American student organizations, Student Success Programs revolving summer programs to service underrepresented minorities. With over 5+ years of experience around the Area F requirement (Ethnic Studies) at the CSU level. I was involved in the Ethnic & Women’s Studies department, summer programs such as Bronco Scholars, EOP, Summer Bridge, Early Start and the Cultural Centers at Cal Poly Pomona. Being the Co-Director of the Native Summer Pipeline Program for our native students has brought youth across the nation to participate in the program. For the past 5+ years I have been working with native youth in mentoring, advising, and finding resources for education. Erica has a passion for social justice issues and works with the Prison Education Project at Cal Poly Pomona also helping incarcerated individuals the opportunity to pursue an education as well.
When away from work, I enjoy being with my family and friends. I enjoy a great conversation, trying new foods and spending time with my daughter Kiani who is 11, who has a passion for soccer.
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.
Roger Griffin joins California Indian Nations College from Boise State University, where he was the manager for academic advising, undergraduate programs. Roger has previously worked as the Native American outreach coordinator at CSUSB, and has been in education for more than 12 years. Roger has a B.A. in Liberal Arts, International Relations from Albion College, a M.A. in TESOL from CSUSB, and a M.S. in Global Studies & International Relations from Northeastern University. He is currently working towards his Ph.D. in International Relations at Salve Regina University. When Roger has free time, he enjoys watching baseball, reading books on politics, history, international relations, and experiencing new cultures. He currently lives in Morongo Valley with his wife and chihuahuas. Roger is excited to join CINC because of the institution’s mission and focus on serving Native American communities and students. He would like to express his gratitude to the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, California Indian Nations College, and the local communities for the opportunity to join the institution and help support the goal of developing a tribal college in Southern California.
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.
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
Ronson Souza was born and raised in the small towns of Kailua and Hilo, Hawai’i. He relocated to the Coachella Valley in 2014 in search of adventure and affordable education. As a first-generation college student, he relied heavily on academic advisors to understand graduation requirements. Thanks to the assistance of passionate educators, he graduated from College of the Desert with an Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology. He then transferred to California State University, Los Angeles, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and a certificate from the Honors College. Thanks to his education, Ronson has gained experience working in Tribal government and providing crisis intervention to at-risk populations. Ronson is dedicated to assisting students in navigating the hidden curriculum of higher education.
When he is not at work, Ronson can be found in Irvine eating Korean BBQ, watching movies, scouring public libraries for new books to read, or curled up on the couch with his 13-year-old German Shepherd.