Presenter Bio - Lilly Pinedo Gangai

Lilly Pinedo Gangai currently serves as the Inaugural Senior Director of the Identity-Based Retention Centers at San José State University (SJSU) in California.

One of Lilly’s signature accomplishments at SJSU has been enhancing and developing peer mentorship programs to support student success. She piloted the first peer mentoring program, Adelante, at the Chicanx Latinx Student Success Center in 2020, which became a model for mentoring efforts across the campus. Today, four cultural centers at SJSU host their own peer mentoring program—an initiative that Lilly helped shape and expand. Her vision for mentoring reflects her belief that peer-to-peer connections are a powerful tool for fostering belonging, leadership development, and persistence through graduation.

Across her career, Lilly has championed educational and economic equity by building
holistic support systems that help students thrive both in college and beyond. She is
passionate about empowering staff and faculty to recognize their vital role in student
success and frequent partners with community organizations to advance shared goals
that uplift historically marginalized populations.

She is an educator and transformative leader in higher education, dedicated to guiding students on their path to academic success and personal growth. With nearly two decades of experience, she is deeply committed to fostering environments where all students, and particularly those from historically marginalized communities, experience a strong sense of belonging and support throughout their university journey.

As the Inaugural Senior Director of the Identity-Based Retention Centers she provides strategic leadership to advance student success through culturally affirming programs and services. Her previous roles at SJSU include Inaugural Director of the Chicanx Latinx Student Success Center and Academic Advisor. Before joining SJSU, she served as an EOP Academic Counselor and Program Coordinator for El Centro at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Beyond her professional work, Lilly enjoys exploring nature, traveling, and spending
quality time with her family—including her two beloved fur babies. She also dedicates
time to her photography business, where she blends her creative passions with storytelling to capture meaningful moments for others.