Meet The Staff
Cookie Garrett
Pronouns: She/Her/Queen
Director of the Diversity & Inclusion Student Affinity & Resource Centers
Phone: (510) 885-3853
Email: cookie.garrett@csueastbay.edu
Dr. Cookie Garrett (She|Her|Queen) is the Director of the Diversity and Inclusion Student Affinity and Resource Centers (DISARC) at CSU East Bay. She is a native of Atlanta, GA and resides in Oakland, CA. Dr. Cookie obtained her bachelor’s of psychology and masters of school counseling degrees from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA. She most recently obtained her doctorate of education in educational leadership from San Francisco State University. She has over 13 years of experience in Student Affairs creating community, student engagement, developing inclusive spaces, fostering belonging, and advocating for equity and justice.
Her understanding is that in order to connect with anyone in an authentic way you must first honor their humanity and their experience. This leads to her belief that the best way to support students is to serve with humility, guide with grace, and lead with love. Dr. Cookie Garrett works to incorporate these values and believes in her daily engagement because for her, having left a positive impact in the lives of her students, staff, and peers is time well spent.
Dr. Cookie also believes in giving back to the community in which she resides. She does so by services as a member of the Board of Directors of the Oakland Museum of Children's Art. She is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and a life member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. Dr. Cookie has embraced the motto “If I am to be anything at all, I must render service to all.”
Vanessa Varko-Fontana
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
DISARC Coordinator
Diversity & Inclusion Student Center
Phone: (510) 885-4786
Email: vanessa.varkofontana@csueastbay.edu
Vanessa is originally from Los Angeles County and has been in the Bay Area since 1999. As a first generation college student Vanessa have faced many challenges navigating through undergraduate, career growth, and returning to graduate school. She brings with her vast experience in youth development, community organizing, cultural student affairs, and collaborative leadership. She is excited to support students explore Latinx culture, community, academic support, and campus resources.
Student Staff
Amisha Farhana Shaik
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Class of: 2026
Major: Masters in Business Analytics
Hobbies: Watching, Sharing and Discussing Movies.
Languages: Hindi, Urdu, Telugu and English
What does it mean to be a Pioneer of color?
To me, being a Pioneer of color means stepping into unfamiliar spaces and pushing myself to grow personally, academically, and in any role I take on. It also means being deeply aware of the opportunity I’ve been given and using it to represent my community in a way that helps others feel seen, heard, and empowered.
How does working with the Center connect with your personal and academic goals?
As someone who has often been a minority, whether by race, religion, or gender, I understand how powerful and necessary representation is, especially as an international student. Working at the DISC Center gives me the chance to be part of a space that reflects and uplifts not only my identity, but also the identities of many others. That connection makes my journey here, both academically and personally, feel more meaningful and worthwhile.
Gianna Campos Navarro
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Class: 2029
Hobbies: Volleyball, Reading, Shopping, Writing, Coloring
Languages: English
What does it mean to be a Pioneer of color?
To be a Pioneer of color means representing and honoring my community. I want to be a voice for my community and help those in need. I want to advocate for my community and others through this school and my sports, showing others that people of different backgrounds can achieve anything.
How does working with the Center connect with your personal and academic goals?
Working with the DISARC connects with my personal goals by being able to connect with other people of diverse communities and provide an open environment where people feel accepted and seen for who they are. Growing up as a mixed Latina I’ve always tried to see if I fit in as a Mexican or as a Filipino but now I realize that I can fit in anywhere as both and I want to make others feel the same way as well. It connects with my academic goals because I get to learn about different people and interact with them. Psychology is the study of mind and behavior and I’m not trying to study people but get to know them and understand who they are and where they come from. I believe these types of public interactions are important for me to get used to because as I continue to study psych, I’ll learn more and more things about people and I’m able to apply that, in a respectful way of course, into the real world.
Jason Moseley
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Class: 2026
Hobbies: Cooking, playing the Piano, and writing Poetry
Languages: English & ASL
What does it mean to be a Pioneer of color?
A pioneer of color to me means taking pride in our community. I like to look at pride as a rainbow with many colors. Not for the socially acceptable reason, but as a beauty icon that represents peace, happiness, and unity.
How does working with the Center connect with your personal and academic goals?
Working with DISARC aligns with my personal and academic goals because the centers represent community, diversity, and equity. Three important traits that I like to consider the foundation of my life. It also offers a space where people can feel comfortable; being themselves and in their own skin. I want people despite their background to feel wanted, welcome, and appreciated for who they are without compromise.
Jimmy Joe Young
Major: Anthropology
Hobbies: Playing table top board games; Watching and discussing movies
Languages: English, Intermediate Spanish and a plethora of other phrases (i.e. hello/please/thank you) in several different languages.
What does it mean to be a Pioneer of color?
Being a Pioneer of Color means carrying the strength of my community and making sure every culture has a safe place to be themselves.
How does working with the Center connect with your personal and academic goals?
Working at the Center helps me connect with others and learn from their cultures, which strengthens my journey as an aspiring Anthropologist.
Nadia Paniagua-Flores
Major: Industrial- Organizational Psychology
Hobbies: walking my fur baby, organizing home, mentoring younger siblings and having karaoke concert in my car.
Languages: Spanish and English
What does it mean to be a Pioneer of color?
o me a pioneer of color means to be an educational trouper that is holding the door open for others to succeed in education.
How does working with the Center connect with your personal and academic goals?
Having a safe space away from home, free of judgement and full of diversity is essential to succeeding as a first generational student that is the bridge for inner city community and high education learning.