COLLEGE COMMUNITY CAREER - Key Persons
Claudia Stubblefield is the Finance Manager of a large 501c (3) in the Houston area. She has over 15 years of experience in non-profit accounting and over 20 years in public accounting. Claudia has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Business Administration. Her husband and she also own a General Construction company where she serves as the Chief Financial Officer. Claudia has served as a mentor to teens and believes that every child who wants the opportunity to exceed should be given a chance. She also serves as Vice President of her son's PTO. Claudia enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Claudia is married, has one son and a Yorkie named Ruckus.
Raymorris Barnes is starting his fifteenth year in education. Currently, Mr. Barnes serves as Principal of Stratford High school. Previously, worked in the Central Administration in Spring Branch ISD as a Coordinator for Administration, Performance, and Support. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Raymorris arrived in Houston in the fall of 2000 on an athletic scholarship to Rice University. He received a bachelor's degree in English and a master's in the Arts of Teaching while becoming a 4-year letterman on the football team. He has taught various grade levels of English, as well as coached varsity football and varsity track while working in Pearland ISD. He arrived in Spring Branch in 2011 as a Grade Level Assistant Principal at Northbrook High School. Raymorris has made a career out of educating students not only about the importance of academics, but also about the importance of being a positive contributor to society. Raymorris and his wife Erica have four children, with two of them attending school in Spring Branch ISD.
Donnie Avery is an entrepreneur and the founder and owner of Avery Custom Homes, a custom home-building company in the Greater Houston area. Donnie grew up locally, attending Alief High School before receiving his B.S. in Sports Administration with a minor in Health from the University of Houston as a student-athlete. After graduation, Donnie was drafted to the St. Louis Rams, where he started Donnie Avery's Catches for Kids, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting low-income, inner-city kids. Donnie had a successful 7-year career before retiring from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015. He currently resides in Sugar Land with his three children and enjoys fishing and being a volunteer Little League football coach. As a first-generation college graduate, Donnie understands the challenges faced by High Schoolers in developing talents and skills to be successful in college and adult life. Donnie has a heart for mentoring students and young adults.
Dr. Jacqueline Hawkins has a Doctorate of Education and has served in various capacities at the University of Houston. She is a tenured Associate Professor in Special Education at the College Of Education and has served as department chair. She has served as Chair of the UH Academic Accommodations Committee (AAEC). She is an Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Outreach and an Associate Dean of Administration and Operations. Dr. Hawkins is co-author of many grants ranging from the US Department of Education to private foundation grants raising over $9 million and counting. Dr. Hawkins has longstanding partnerships with nonprofit organizations including the National College Access Network. Dr. Hawkins joined CCC's board in December 2017.
Jass Esquivel is a dedicated College Access and Success Advisor with extensive experience in secondary and higher education. She specializes in supporting students with post-secondary access and helping them achieve their academic and career goals. Jass holds a degree in English Literature with a minor in Psychology from the University of Houston, where her passion for education and student success began. She has since worked in education for 9 years with an emphasis in College and Career Access for 5 years. She was previously an academic advisor at the University of Houston.
In her free time, Jass enjoys traveling, exploring different museums, spending time at the gym, visiting local coffee shops, and spending time with her fur baby and family.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services at Harris Heath System
Dr. Small is Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services at Harris Heath System. She is a graduate of Willowridge High School and went onto receive her undergraduate and master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Small received her Doctorate degree in Audiology from the University of Florida and her M.B.A. from the University of Houston. As a first-generation college student from a low-income background, Dr. Small can relate well to what the challenges our students are facing. She has served on the medical side of the healthcare field as well as on the business side. She has numerous professional awards and has published articles in professional journals. Dr. Small joined the board in February 2021.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Events
Jennifer Lopez is a native from Chicago, Illinois and was raised in Houston, TX where she is a graduate of the University of Houston- Main Campus with a Bachelor's in Art and a minor in Advertising. While she was attending UH- Main Campus she participated in the American Advertising Federation (AAF) where she excell her knowledge in the advertising world, network with brands, agencies, media companies, and learned the insights of TV advertising media and digital advertising media. Ms. Lopez also competed and was selected for the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Women's, Gender & Sexuality program where only seven artist students were selected to have their art display at the University of Houston- Main Campus. Jennifer was selected four times for her digital art to be displayed at the Bi-annual Show and three times to be displayed at the Blaffer Art Museum- Virtual.
After graduating, she continued her internship with BSM Magazine, Jennifer at BSM to craft ensure their BSM Magazine gain a foothold on social media. With Jennifer's expertise organized the piece that launched the brand with, actor Holly Robison Peete. The Instagram post was reposted 1.2M impressions. , Jennifer work with SheSpace as a brand manager for CEO Alicia's boutique and podcast, "Vibes by Alicia." While working for the podcast , she also partook in one of the episodes, "Bonus Episode- Mix Family and Business? The Right Mix of Chaos and Love." Jennifer with her knowledge in social marketing strategy, identifying, and targeting audiences boosted sales and brand awareness for the company. At the same time she joined Idioma Mujer where she continues her knowledge as their Marketing Director where she has had the opportunity to network with Univision and Children at Risk.
All of the above reinforces Jennifer's ability to craft, plan, strategize, mix creativity and marketing to excel her vision and achieve the company's goals.
Jennifer is one of the first college graduates of the CollegeCommunityCareer program and excite to be back working with the organization.
Karla Martinez Karla is a first-generation graduate from the University of Houston, holding a bachelor's degree in Teaching and Learning with a certification in Mathematics for 4th to 8th grade. Her educational journey has been shaped by her upbringing in a low-income household, attending schools within the Spring Branch ISD. Karla is a Math teacher at Spring Oaks Middle School in Spring Branch ISD., where she is making a positive impact students' lives. While attending Spring Woods High School, Karla joined CCC class in our very first class. Karla states "CCC played an essential role in guiding me through the college process. I credit CCC for providing invaluable support and guidance that helped shape my path to higher education. Without the assistance and mentorship from CCC, I simply would not be where I am today". Karla is an active member of the Houston Leadership Council and during her free time, expresses her creativity through various arts and crafts projects.
Michael Day has a B.S. Mathematics from the University of Maryland and a M.B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He worked twelve years at Ernst & Young (8 in Washington, DC and 4 in London) in Economic and Financial Consulting and six years at Louis Dreyfus Energy Trading and Duke Energy as a Risk Management Executive. Mike transitioned into a business owner in the Energy Industry and currently is a realtor with Sothebys. Mike is married to Linda and they have two sons. Colin is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and serves as a Naval Officer in San Diego and Greg is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University and sells software in Austin.
RaChell Hunt is an Assistant County Attorney at the Harris County Attorney's Office. She is dedicated to trying clean, fair cases ensuring justice for the citizens of Harris County, Texas. RaChell is a member of Crime Stoppers of Houston Young Professionals and the Houston Bar Association. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Xavier University of Louisiana and her Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She has been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since 2007. RaChell attends Fallbrook Church, where she serves in the Usher Ministry. In her leisure time, RaChell enjoys baking, reading mysteries, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Principal of Stratford High
Job Titles:
- Outreach and College Success Manager
Tomas Tobar graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majored in Business and minored in Philosophy, Honor Society in English and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas. He has a diverse professional experience; from working at the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce having had the opportunity to co-lead TEACH fellowship students abroad, to working in the hospitality arena which allowed him to work with many different skillsets and cultures.
I was in the CCC program during 10th grade all the way up to my college graduation. As a first-generation student, I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's of Science in Health and a Spanish Minor. Throughout high school and college, I have also worked with the program helping students who were once in my position get through the college application process. I have a passion for travel, reading, crocheting, and any arts and craft project I can do or learn.