Group Background Information

Aya Tore
Aya Tore is a co-owner of a micro-financing company she
founded in 2007 to help make credit accessible to small
business owners in Mexico. She is passionate about Social
Enterprise and hopes to bring her entrepreneurial
background into the Nonprofit Leadership and Management
program to find innovative ways to advance causes that are
important to her, such as environmental sustainability and
justice, access to capital for under-served entrepreneurs, and
public health. Aya was born in the former Soviet Republic of
Kazakhstan and holds a Bachelors degree in International
Business Administration from Winona State University.

Stephanie Barnes
Stephanie Barnes is an elementary school teacher dedicated to
creating a foundational language of peace for children. She
creates and teaches social-justice centered curriculum.
Stephanie is a Master's student in Leadership at USD.

Jessica Hawkins
BA: University of San Diego
Masters of Education: University of California San Diego
Elementary Teacher for the past 5 years
Why a PhD? To find an answer to all the questions bouncing
around in my head and expand my way of looking at the field
of education.

Amy Vargas Smith

Amy Smith is a second grade Spanish immersion teacher, she
has worked in the Lakeside Union School District for seven
years. She serves on several leadership teams in
collaborations with site administrators, teachers, and parents.
Amy holds a bachelors degree in Liberal Studies from
California State University, San Marcos. She most recently
completed coursework in the Educational Leadership
Development Academy at the University of San Diego and
eagerly awaits her Preliminary Administrative Services
Credential. She is currently pursing her Masters in
Leadership Studies.

Tracy Zetts
Tracy Zetts is a native San Diegan, 2012 USD alumna, and
full-time USD employee as the Marketing Coordinating for
Planned Giving. In her current role, she plans the Bridges
Academy Lecture Series for retired San Diegans to engage in
lifelong learning by offering free lectures presented by USD
professors. She also coordinates the Golden Toreros program,
a newly-formed group that engages alumni who have
surpassed their 50th Reunion. She began pursuing the Master
of Arts in Higher Education Leadership at SOLES in Spring
2014. She currently puts her undergraduate degree in Music
to use directing the teen music group at St. Therese of Carmel
Catholic Church in Del Mar.