Meet the Keynote Speakers
Dr. Keith Curry
President, Compton College
CEO, Compton Community College District
Dr. Keith Curry is the President of the Compton College and CEO of the Compton Community College District. Dr. Curry is responsible for overseeing all departments and functions of Compton College and the District and serves as secretary for the CCCD Board of Trustees. He brings an abundance of energy and innovative ideas to Compton College, along with a wealth of experience as a postsecondary education administrator.
Dr. Curry is an active member of the Foundation for Compton Community College District, the Statewide Association of Community Colleges (SWACC), and the President’s Roundtable. He has participated in the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Visiting Teams, serving as Accreditation Team Chair four times since the fall of 2017.
Dr. Curry co-founded and chaired Black Student Success Week. He currently serves as chair of both the National Panel on Black Student Enrollment and the Black Student Enrollment Expert Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the California Alliance for Open Education Steering Committee and the University of Southern California Racial Equity in Guided Pathways Commission Taskforce.
Dr. Curry's recent achievements are a testament to his dedication and impact. He has been honored with the Diverse: Issues in Higher Education 2024 Equity Champion Award, the 2023 California Conference for Equality and Justice Humanitarian Award, the 2022 California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers Equity Champion Award, and the 2022 California Legislative Black Caucus Unsung Hero Recognition (35th California Senate District). His contributions have also been recognized with the 2019 Champions of Equity award from the Campaign for College Opportunity and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, as well as the 2018 Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award from the Association of California Community College Administrators.
Since spring 2021, Dr. Curry has served as a Distinguished Research Fellow/ Adjunct Faculty at the California State University, Los Angeles Charter College of Education.
Dr. Curry earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Irvine, and a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Anna Alvarado
Latinx Artist and Storyteller
Anna Alvarado is a Latinx art creator and storyteller. While Anna studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Seattle, she is a self-taught painter. Since 2007, Anna Alvarado has explored the female spirit in all its intricate facets. Infused with thought provoking, vibrant and emotional rawness, her inspiring paintings and drawings explore being Latinx in the US and a woman. Anna’s art is infused with her Mexican heritage, fearlessly making use of its bold colors, powerful symbols and extraordinary folklore. Through her masterful use of multi-colored illustrations, she has developed her own vocabulary for expressing what it’s like to be a 21st century woman of Latin American descent.
Throughout her career as a corporate director, a volunteer and finally as a full-time artist and business owner, Anna is a proud storyteller that is always looking for opportunities to celebrate and honor strong and proud Latinas in the United States.
Anna’s empowering artwork has been sought by a multitude of collectors, patrons and has been featured on major television and digital media networks as well as in numerous prominent print and online publications.
In addition to amplifying the voices of her community through her art, Anna has also donated her work to HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality), HOT: Hispanic Outreach Taskforce, Latinas Contra Cancer, Community Lawyers, Inc, Scholarships for Scholars of Montebello, Speech and Language Development Center and CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles), East Los Angeles Women’s Center and Immigration Resource Center.
Her painting, “Te Espero,” graces the cover of the critically acclaimed book, “The New Latina’s Bible,” by Sandra Guzmán (Seal Press, 2011).
Most recently, Anna illustrated and co-created a bilingual children’s book entitled Grandes Dreamers with Author Argelia Atilano wherein they proudly highlight the lives of twelve fierce Latina trailblazers who paved the way in the United States.
Born on the eastside of Los Angeles, Anna was raised by her grandparents who instilled a love of art and encouraged her creative spirit.
The artist resides with her family in West Covina, California.
