Doby Award

Background

A highlight of each year's CAP Forum is the presentation of the Dr. Winston C. Doby Impact Award. The award is given to two exceptional UC professionals chosen by colleagues in recognition of their individual commitment to improving educational opportunities for California students. Like Winston Doby himself, these two people should demonstrate an unwavering dedication to student access, advocacy and social justice, whatever the length of their tenure at UC. Learn more about Dr. Doby.

Recipients

2024

Ashley Cheri, UC Irvine

Ashley Cheri exemplifies unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive educational opportunities. As the manager of the P–20 program in the Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP) at the University of California, Irvine, Ashley leads with visionary dedication. Her oversight includes pivotal programs such as the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), Community College Programs and K–16 Career Pathways. During her six-year tenure as director of EAOP, Ashley spearheaded transformative initiatives that significantly broadened student access and success.

Before her service at UC Irvine’s CFEP, Ashley Cheri dedicated a decade to advancing youth education and health at the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance. Her leadership as program director was marked by innovative strategies that enhanced community well-being.

With academic credentials comprising a B.S. in Health Science, an M.S. in Higher Education and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fullerton, Ashley’s scholarly pursuits are deeply rooted in creating equitable pathways to higher education for marginalized populations. Her interest in service-learning curriculum development further exemplifies her commitment to integrating community engagement within academia — a testament to her alignment with Winston Doby’s legacy of championing diversity and inclusion within university settings.

Claudia Morales, UC Berkeley

Claudia Morales, originally from Watsonville, California, is the proud daughter of immigrants from Jalisco, México and was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. She deeply believes in the power of education, as it has allowed her family to step out of the strawberry fields in one generation. Since her undergraduate days at UC Berkeley, she has been a mentor and adviser for other underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students like herself, nurturing hundreds of students and families to success after high school.

For over 30 years at UC Berkeley’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP), Claudia has held many roles, including being a Program Coordinator for the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), a Partnership Coordinator for School/University Partnerships (SUP), the San José Regional Director for the Destination College Advising Corps (DCAC), the CEP Director of Products and Services and the Director of EAOP and DCAC. Since November of 2020, Claudia has served as the CEP Executive Director, working with the DCAC, EAOP, TRIO programs and the National Academy Foundation at Berkeley. She also serves as co-lead for the statewide UCOP P–20 Council and is a member of the steering committee for the Bay Area K–16 Collaborative.

Although she has worked with schools throughout California, her main focus has been on K–12 schools in the Bay Area, with a specific emphasis in San José working with the East Side Union High and San José Unified school districts. She has been instrumental in organizing and implementing the annual College Day program, a model of engaging an entire county in creating a college-going culture, making an impact on thousands of students and families throughout Santa Clara County. Claudia is committed to educational equity and is passionate about college-access work with students, parents and educators to increase the number of California students who successfully complete a postsecondary degree.

2019

  • Charles Underwood, UC Berkeley
  • Susan Yonezawa, UC San Diego

2018

  • Penny Edgert, Intersegmental Coordinating Committee
  • Maria Rocha-Ruiz, UC Santa Cruz

2017

  • Britt Ortiz, UC Santa Barbara
  • Catherine R. Cooper, UC Santa Cruz

2016

  • Juan Francisco Lara, UC Irvine (awarded posthumously)
  • Michele Dyke, UC Davis (awarded posthumously)

2015

  • Gail Kaufman, UC Berkeley
  • Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio, UC Irvine

2014

  • Ebony Lewis, UC Santa Cruz
  • Jorge Aguilar, UC Merced

2013

  • Alfred Herrera, UCLA
  • Debbe Pounds, UCLA