Holmes Scholar Program

Pablo Gutierrez, originally from Mexico City, states that his life revolves around three pillars: God, family, and friends. He is a persistent individual with a strong desire for continuous personal and professional growth. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Actuarial Science from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with dual foci in Cyber Security and Marketing Management from CSUSB.

He is currently employed full-time as an International Admissions Evaluator at CSUSB. Throughout his professional journey, he's gained experience working at Oracle as a Business Development Consultant and as a Sourcing Recruiter.

Some of his hobbies include watching movies and series, playing video games, and hiking. Traveling and exploring the world also holds a special place in his heart, as he's been fortunate to visit many countries, but the most unforgettable experiences occurred during his Study Abroad programs in South Korea, China, and Germany. Building friendships with individuals from various countries and backgrounds was a truly enriching experience for him.

Reyan Warren, who formally taught 11th grade English at Adelanto High School in Adelanto, California, was born in San Bernardino, CA and raised in Victorville, CA. Reyan is a proud product of the Inland Empire and believes in diversifying our most critical positions of power to increase the equity and quality of education for all of our students.

In addition to her educational roots at Cal State San Bernardino, Reyan is a proud Silverado High School alumni and transfer graduate of Victor Valley College, as well as earning a Bachelor's, teaching credential and Master's from CSUSB. Reyan currently holds a Master's in Secondary Education. Her beliefs of being a professional educator means having a mindset that can create actionable strategies to address the gaps in diversity in the education field so that all students have a voice.

She continues to pursue a passion of advocating for underrepresented groups of students and their successes beyond the high school level, and states "As long as you keep your head to the sky; you can win."

Audrey Millan is a first-year doctoral student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program (PreK-12 Track) at California State University, San Bernardino. She has been selected as a Holmes Scholar for the 2022-2023 school year. Audrey's research is focused on creating a holistic educational experience for neurodiverse students of color in grades 6-12.

Audrey has served as a Science Teacher for 8 years in public, alternative, charter, and private secondary schools across Southern California. She returned home to the High Desert and is currently teaching Biology and Geology for Snowline Joint Unified School District. Her recent experience as a Science Teacher at Bridges Academy inspired her to pursue her educational doctorate so she can share research on supporting twice-exceptional students at institutions within the Inland Empire.

After graduating from Silverado High School, Audrey attended Riverside City College and transferred to CSUSB where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Asian Studies. Throughout her educational journey, Audrey managed to earn degrees while working and volunteering full-time. As an undergrad, Audrey worked for PowerSave Campus as a Team Manager, Inland Empire Job Corps as a Recreational Specialist, volunteered as student researcher in Dr.Skillman’s Plant Physiology Lab. She earned her Master’s Degree from Claremont Graduate University in 2017 while working as a full-time intern teacher and local union leader.

“Growing up in the High Desert, I felt like my options post high school were limited. Although I had been in honors classes since middle school, my high school experience was uninspiring with one teacher sharing, ‘Audrey, you’re really smart, but so lazy. You’ll never go to college.’ I allowed these words to affect me for a long time, and it wasn’t until I learned about neurodiverse profiles that I realized I didn’t get the support I needed to be successful in school. My experiences drive me to be the advocate I didn’t have for my students and their families.”

As a first-generation Filipina-Puerto Rican scholar, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice are at the center of her work and research. She has designed and presented professional development on anti-racist pedagogy, DEIJ in STEM, and school-wide initiatives to support diverse student populations. As an educator and scholar, Audrey aspires to transform and elevate the educational experience for youth in the High Desert.

Sailesh Maharjan has been an adjunct professor at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) since 2017. He is experienced in mindfulness meditation and delivers talks on Buddhist Philosophy. Sailesh is a doctoral student at CSUSB focusing on Higher Education Leadership and has been selected as one of two Holmes Scholars from Cohort 16.

Sailesh was a Theravadin Buddhist monk for 16 years. He spent 12 years in Sri Lanka and received two degrees in Buddhism and one in Psychology from the University of Peradeniya. In 2012, he came to the United States as a religious worker to serve the Moreno Valley and San Bernardino communities for several years before pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at CSUSB.

As a professor, he incorporates modern technology and novel evidence-based tools in his classes. He intends to use technology and research findings to address student mental health challenges, equitable assessment tools, student readiness, resource accessibility, and inclusiveness in higher education. He also focuses on incorporating mindfulness in higher education to develop programs to bolster faculty success in delivering quality education. Sailesh plans to use his doctoral training to identify problems and implement solutions within and beyond the college, county, and state education system.

Sailesh Maharjan loves woodwork, painting, cooking, and gardening with his wife and daughter.