OCTOBER 2026

Celebrating Our Team and Regional Leadership

The San Diego & Imperial Center of Excellence is excited to introduce two longtime collaborators who are now part of the COE team, and celebrate recent honors for our Executive Director, Dr. Tina Ngo Bartel.

Meet Our Growing Team

Annie (Cong) Li

Regional CTE Research Expert

Tell us about your role at the COE.
I first joined the COE in 2024 as the Career Technical Education (CTE) research expert at San Diego Miramar College. In my new role, my work expands from a single campus to our K–12 and Adult Education partners.

As a researcher, I turn data into actionable information that institutions can use to make better decisions. I build interactive dashboards, assist with research reports, summarize findings, and identify trends that can help us better understand the needs of our students and communities. My current work focuses on student outcomes data for the California Adult Education Program (CAEP), Perkins V Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA), labor market research, and other areas where data can help strengthen programs and support student and workforce success.

Tell us a little about you.

I graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in biology, and I earned my M.A. in social sciences from the University of Chicago. My mission is to bring data to more people in a user-friendly and accessible format. I believe that data is essential to making informed decisions. If my work can help San Diego and Imperial Counties identify their strengths, then together we can keep improving.

What do you enjoy about working in the community college system?

Our community colleges put students first and shape the institution around their success. As both a researcher and professor, I appreciate that student needs are always front and center. I also value the diversity of our students — including adult students, ESL learners, first-generation students, students in Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS), and single parents — and the perspectives they bring to my work.

When not at work, what do you like to spend your time on?

I love video games, animals, and nature. I have a dog, a rabbit, an aquarium, and bird feeders — my mom says visiting my house is like going to the zoo! I also enjoy rock climbing and bird watching.

Golnoosh Behrouzian

Research Analyst

Tell us about your role at the COE.

I serve as a research analyst focused on driving regional projects. In this role, I collaborate with stakeholders to design, execute, and evaluate research initiatives that inform workforce development and institutional planning.

Tell us a little about you.

I’m a researcher, data storyteller, thought partner, lifelong learner, and educator who enjoys turning ideas and information into meaningful action. My work spans institutional and regional research, program evaluation, and workforce and career education — all aimed at helping faculty and practitioners translate data into insights they can use to improve programs and student experiences. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies and my PhD in Communication from The Ohio State University.

What do you enjoy about working in the community college system?

I’m drawn to the community college system because it sits at the intersection of education and applied work. It is an accessible space where people at every stage of life can learn, grow, and contribute.

When not at work, what do you like to spend your time on?

Outside of work, I appreciate the simple things: a good meal and conversation, movies and shows, reading (especially with my book club), hiking, gardening, spending time at the beach, and traveling.

COE's Executive Director Named 2026 Ronald Kendrick
Memorial Award Winner

Dr. Ngo Bartel received the prestigious 2026 Ronald Kendrick Memorial Award for Regional Collaboration at LEAD San Diego’s Visionary Awards ceremony on Sept. 17.

The Visionary Awards bring together hundreds of business, civic, nonprofit, and community leaders to celebrate individuals whose leadership and contributions are helping shape the future of San Diego County.

Joined onstage by her daughter to accept the accolade, Dr. Ngo Bartel was recognized with this well-deserved honor as a leader who exemplifies the spirit of regional collaboration, bringing people and organizations together to tackle shared challenges and create meaningful change.

Her work aligns education with workforce demand and has helped organizations secure over $40 million in grants, expanding access to education, training, and career pathways for thousands of residents in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Join us in congratulating Tina!

Appointment to the California Workforce Pell Taskforce

In August, Dr. Ngo Bartel was appointed to the California Workforce Pell Taskforce by the California Student Aid Commission to help guide how the state implements the federal Workforce Pell Grant program.

Workforce Pell covers 8–15 week programs leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that fulfill employer hiring needs and support stackable/portable pathways toward degree programs.

Comprising 24 leaders across workforce development, higher education, labor, and state budgeting, the Taskforce advises on program pathway design, data coordination across agencies, accountability standards, and pilot phases.

We are proud to have Dr. Ngo Bartel represent our region as she works to shape how this new funding reaches adult learners both locally and statewide.