Alumni Hall of Fame

Connect with Us • Inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Induction

Save the Date • Please Join Us!

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 • 4–9 p.m. • Dining Hall

Honoring Excellence, Building for Tomorrow

• 4 p.m. Campus mural tours
• 5 p.m. Wine and hors d'oeuvres
• 6 p.m. Seated dinner and program

If you are a Foothill alumnus, whether you took a few classes for personal or professional development or earned a degree or certificate — we would love for you to join us for our Inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Induction.

Calling all Owls

We’re inviting students and alumni to share memories, testimonials, and experiences for our upcoming Hall of Fame celebration.

Submit your story by August 1 for a chance to be featured!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Join us Oct. 4 by purchasing an individual $125 or $250 VIP (preferred seating) ticket or donate at one of our sponsorship levels to secure a table at the event to support our Foothill programs. 

• Select sponsorship level below for more details of each.
• Then, go to Purchase Tickets page to reserve your seat or sponsor a table.

Proceeds from sponsorships and individual ticket sales will benefit Experience Foothill, the college's experiential learning initiative that provides hands-on learning opportunities for Foothill students. 

A few of these programs include:

• Research and Service Learning Symposium
• Foothill Innovation Challenge
• Case Competition
• Global Experiential Learning
• Emerging Technologies Institute
• Science Learning Institute

If you are unable to attend our Alumni Hall of Fame event this year, please consider making a donation to support our students.

Make a Donation

 

In partnership with the Foothill-De Anza Foundation & our Generous Sponsors

$10,000 Alumni Circle

 

 

$2,500 Owl’s Table

 

 

 

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Celebrating our 2025

Hall of Fame Inductees

 

Dr. Wei-ting Chen ​serves as Executive Director of both the Office of Community Engagement and the Food for Health Equity Lab at Stanford Medicine. ​As a sociologist and public health researcher and practitioner, she has dedicated her career to improving the health outcomes for low-income and socially marginalized populations, particularly through high quality public education and access to healthy food.

As a community-engaged researcher, Dr. Chen specializes in building community-academic partnerships to facilitate the development of research programs that reflect community priorities and design rigorous community-based studies that take place in real-world settings. At the Office of Community Engagement, Dr. Chen has delivered training and technical assistance to more than 100 faculties, staff, students, and community members to build their capacity to conduct genuine bidirectional community engaged research. At the Food for Health Equity Lab, her recent work includes integrating food as medicine interventions into healthcare delivery, particularly in federally qualified health centers. 

Outside of work, Dr. Chen is a board member of the Redwood City Education Foundation and The Health Trust. As a first-generation immigrant, English language learner, and college graduate, she strives to be the kind of professional and mentor she leaned on when she needed guidance and support to navigate life in the United States.

Dr. Chen studied at Foothill College before transferring to UC Davis for her BA, and then to Johns Hopkins for Master's and PhD degrees in sociology.

 

 

 

Brad Gilbert

 

Brad Gilbert, born on August 9, 1961, in Oakland, California, is a former professional tennis player, renowned coach, and current ESPN analyst. He began his collegiate tennis career at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills from 1980 to 1982, where he was coached by Tom Chivington. During his time there, Gilbert won the California Junior College Singles Championship and the U.S. Amateur Hardcourt Championship. He also represented the U.S. on the junior Davis Cup team in 1981.   Gilbert transferred to Pepperdine University in 1982, earning All-American honors and reaching the NCAA singles final. Turning professional later that year, he achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 4 in 1990 and secured 20 ATP singles titles. Brad won a bronze medal at the 19888 Olympics. After retiring in 1995, Gilbert transitioned to coaching, guiding players like Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, and Coco Gauff to significant successes. In recognition of his contributions, Foothill College is inducting him into its inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2025.

 

 

Ricky Holder

 

Ricky Holder was born and raised in abject poverty in the city of San Bernardino, California. At age nine, he was placed in the foster care system. He spent ten years in foster care and moved over half a dozen times. Upon emancipating from the system, he enlisted in the United States Navy as an Information Systems Technician. He served in the Navy for six years and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and Yokosuka, Japan, the latter of which was aboard the USS Chancellorsville (now the USS Robert Smalls).

After separating from active duty in 2017, he enrolled at Foothill College, where he studied Economics. While at Foothill, he was involved in a range of activities. He founded the Student Veterans of Foothill College and served as its first president. He served as the school's representative in the Student Senate of California Community Colleges. He helped organize the Summit on Student Homelessness. He worked with various partners on campus to launch a statewide advocacy campaign to expand the California Chafee Grant, a key financial aid tool for current and former foster youth. He earned the Service Leadership Award, the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, and Foothill College Student Veteran of the Year Scholarship.

He transferred to the University of Chicago in 2019 and studied Public Policy, specifically focusing on Inequality. During his four years at UChicago, he was highly involved in the school's Institute of Politics (IOP). His engagement at the IOP was marked by a number of formative experiences, including moderating a conversation with former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, discussing child welfare policy and public service with former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, and serving as Co-Chair of the Institute’s Student Advisory Board. He also organized the IOP’s first-ever panel on the child welfare system, visited the 2020 Iowa Caucuses, interned with the Office of Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, and took part in numerous other initiatives that deepened his commitment to public service and policy.

He graduated from UChicago in 2023 as the inaugural recipient of the Hugo F. Sonnenschein Medal of Excellence, the university’s highest undergraduate honor. As one of the Class Speakers, he addressed his peers and their families during Class Day, where he reflected on the importance of public service and the enduring responsibility of UChicago graduates to serve as engines of human enrichment. Having earned the Marshall Scholarship in 2023, he pursued an MPhil in Comparative Social Policy at the University of Oxford, where he studied how advanced countries prevent families from being dismantled. He intends on dedicating his life to eradicating child poverty, reforming the child welfare system, and strengthening families. His biggest accomplishment is marrying his high school sweetheart, Leslie.

 

 

Andrew Houston

 

Andrew W. Houston, Sr. has built a distinguished legal career rooted in service, advocacy, and a deep commitment to equity. Currently serving as Principal Campus Counsel at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Andrew provides strategic legal guidance to The Regents of the University of California, supporting one of the world’s leading public research institutions.

Andrew’s journey began at Foothill College as a first-generation college student, where he was an active participant in the Pass the Torch program—an initiative designed to support students through peer mentorship and academic collaboration. Under the mentorship of the late Dr. Jean Thomas, the program's founder, Andrew developed a passion for mentorship and educational equity that has guided him throughout his career.

After Foothill, Andrew transferred to UC Berkeley, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. He then obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings)—a milestone that eventually launched his career in public service and higher education law.

Throughout his career, Andrew has been a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field. He served as President of the Charles Houston Bar Association (CHBA), where he helped establish the Arc of Justice Summer Fellowship in collaboration with Public Advocates, supporting law students committed to advancing legal and policy priorities for low-income African American communities in the Bay Area. Additionally, under his leadership, CHBA partnered with California Change Lawyers to provide 3L Diversity Scholarships, offering financial assistance and bar preparation courses to African American law graduates preparing for the California Bar Exam.

Andrew also served as President of the California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), where he worked to strengthen statewide advocacy efforts for Black legal professionals and expand opportunities for law students and young attorneys. His leadership in these organizations has significantly contributed to advancing racial equity and access to justice in California.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the legal profession, Andrew has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Barristers Club Diversity Award from the Bar Association of San Francisco. He continues his advocacy as Co-Chair of the UC Law SF Black Alumni Council, where he played a key role in establishing the Council's endowed scholarship fund, benefiting members of the Black Law Student Association at UC Law SF. Andrew also currently serves on the UC Law SF Board of Directors, helping to shape the future of legal education and support the next generation of legal professionals.

Beyond his professional achievements, Andrew finds his greatest joy in spending time with his wife and their two young children.

 

 

Michelle Romero

 

Michelle Romero is the Founder and CEO of We Create the Future, LLC, a Latina-owned consulting firm that empowers mission-driven leaders and organizations to transform bold ideas into real-world impact. With over 15 years of experience in social impact, she specializes in leadership coaching, strategy development, fundraising, and change management, aiming to help clients "live free, lead free, and free others." In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Romero serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Dream. Org, a national nonprofit dedicated to creating a world beyond poverty, pollution, and prisons. In this role, she designs pathways to scale impact, collaborates with top brands and celebrities, and advocates for inclusive green economies that uplift underserved communities. Romero's career includes leadership positions at Green For All, The Green lining Institute, and the University of California Office of the President. She is a first-generation college graduate, with degrees from Foothill College in 2008 and UC Santa Cruz in 2010. Currently residing in Sacramento with her husband and daughter, Romero continues to champion equity and systemic change through her work.

 

& Community Member Honoree

 

 

Joe Simitian

 

Joe Simitian most recently served as County Supervisor for the Fifth District of Santa Clara County. The district included Palo Alto, Mountain View, Cupertino, Stanford, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Monte Sereno, along with portions of San Jose. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2020. Joe's public service over the years includes stints as a member of the California State Senate, the California State Assembly, Mayor of Palo Alto, President of the Palo Alto School Board, and an earlier term on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with academic honors, from Colorado College. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, a Master of City Planning degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Joe brings to his work a wide-ranging perspective and background -- service at all levels of state and local government, hands-on experience in the private sector, as well as professional education and training particularly applicable to his work in public service.