El Camino College Honors Distinguished Women of 2025

El Camino College ended its celebration of Women’s History Month by honoring seven phenomenal women during the College’s annual Distinguished Women Award ceremony and reception held on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at the East Dining Room on campus. Nominated by friends, family and colleagues, this year’s winners were selected by El Camino’s Women’s History Month Committee, based on their contributions to women’s and girls’ causes or community service that aligns with this year’s National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, bias and discrimination must be eliminated entirely from our lives and institutions. The accomplishments of these award winners will be featured on the El Camino College Women’s Wall of Fame (in the Schauerman Library) throughout the year, and their names will be engraved on a plaque that is a permanent part of the display. 

The El Camino College Distinguished Women of 2025 are:

MS. MILDRED E. BLACK
As an El Camino College alumna, and first‐generation college student, Ms. Mildred Black has educated and inspired multiple generations of women and girls. She served as the Education Center Director at Biola University’s former regional campus, located in Inglewood, California, and was introduced to mentoring as a Board Member with Much More Bounce, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded to help women and youth improve their education, livelihood and wealth through services and programs. Ms. Black’s commitment to learning programs and enriching a student’s life compelled her work with Ruby Women at BIOLA University, Life Beyond Youth Conferences, and Christian Youth Workshops. She quickly learned the importance of confidentiality and creating a safe place, paramount in the mentor‐mentee process. With expertise in client advocacy, Ms. Black leads girls’ and women to formulate and achieve their goals by skillfully providing feedback, identifying processes for improvement, and serving as an accountability partner. Her mentees have gone on to establish themselves in the fields of education, entertainment, modeling, writing, cinema & media arts and law. Ms. Black has received Certificates of Recognition from the State Assembly, Inglewood Mayor, the County of Los Angeles and a Senate member in respect to her contributions and services to the youth of our communities, and in honor of her dedication to empowering and educating young girls and women.

DR. AUTUMN BLAKELY
Dr. Autumn Blakely is an educator, mentor, advocate, and Full Time Tenure Track Counselor for Student Equity & Achievement. She has dedicated her career to the advancement of women and girls, ensuring they have the tools, resources, and encouragement to succeed in education, leadership, and personal growth. As a mentor to girls in various community outreach programs, she fosters relationships that extend beyond the college environment and into the larger community. Dr. Blakely received her Master of Arts in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Long Beach. Her research is centered on the sense of belonging of Black female undergraduates attending Hispanic‐serving institutions as well as the visibility of Black women in academic and professional spaces. Throughout her career, she has developed culturally responsive curricula, led women‐focused workshops, and facilitated leadership programs aimed at strengthening the voices of women in higher education and beyond. Her workshops on racial equity, implicit bias, and student success include critical discussions on gender dynamics, intersectionality, and the unique barriers women face in education and leadership roles. Dr. Blakely’s dedication to mentoring girls and supporting women educators is evident in her leadership in various professional and academic committees, where she actively works to create inclusive spaces for female faculty, staff, and students. Her efforts ensure that women in academia are not only seen and heard but also given opportunities to lead and excel.

MS. PATRICIA FAIRCHILD
Patricia "Patti" Fairchild is an Associate Professor in the Automotive Collision Repair/Painting program at El Camino College, having joined the faculty in 2009. Her nominator wrote, Patti’s “commitment to empowering women and paving the way for their success in the automotive collision industry is nothing short of transformative. In a field that has long been dominated by men, Patti stands as a beacon of strength, guidance, and inspiration for her female students. She goes beyond teaching technical skills; she instills confidence, fosters resilience, and helps her students believe in their potential.” Ms. Fairchild's passion for automobiles began in her youth, preferring toy cars over dolls. At 17, she embarked on restoring a 1979 Chevrolet Blazer, which led her to enroll in automotive classes at Cerritos College. This passion prompted a career shift from graphic design to the automotive industry, where she gained experience working at auto dealerships. Beyond teaching, Ms. Fairchild is dedicated to empowering women in automotive fields. She co‐organized the "Girls in the Garage" car show, showcasing classic vehicles owned by women, and hosted workshops aimed at encouraging female participation in automotive careers. Before her tenure at El Camino College, Fairchild taught at Rio Hondo and Cerritos Colleges. She also established her own shop specializing in auto body customization and full paint services, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach.

MS. IVORY FREEMAN
Ivory Freeman is the Founder/ CEO of The Bessie Morris Foundation, and has worked over three decades with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. She has seen many women in her caseload, and has reflected upon how their lives may have turned out better had they made different choices and, perhaps, had mentors along the way. This observation has deep roots in Ivory’s own personal experience. Both of her parents suffered from mental illness, in part, because of drug use. Ivory was fortunate that her strong and loving grandmother, Bessie Morris, was there to raise her and her five younger siblings. Growing up in south Los Angeles and experiencing many obstacles, Ivory realized she may have been in a very different place had it not been for her grandmother. As a result of her experiences, Ivory is passionate about educating, empowering, and helping young ladies build their self‐esteem, character, and opportunities. In 2005, Ivory founded and named the 501(C)(3) non‐profit foundation out of respect for her instrumental grandmother. Through the Bessie Morris Foundation programs, underserved Los Angeles young ladies learn leadership skills and find hope for the future. Horizons and aspirations are broadened through exposure to new experiences, community service, and learning life skills needed to persist and succeed. Ms. Freeman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University at Long Beach and a Master of Art degree in Negotiation and Conflict Management from California State University at Dominguez Hills. She has also earned a certificate from the Los Angeles County Second District Capacity Building and Leadership Development program and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Leadership Development program.

MS. ISABEL GONZALEZ
Isabel Gonzalez, affectionately known as "Izzy," serves as the Student Support Specialist for the Formerly Incarcerated Re‐Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program at El Camino College. Gonzalez's commitment to student support is deeply rooted in her personal journey. As a low income single mother who was formerly incarcerated and a survivor of domestic violence, she faced numerous challenges while pursuing her education. Through determination and by leveraging campus resources—such as child‐care services, book grants, and student worker positions—she graduated from El Camino College in 2019 with a degree in Sociology. Her experiences have fueled her passion for paying it forward. Gonzalez previously worked as a Success Coach for El Camino College's CARE program, where she provided support to students navigating personal and academic challenges. Her dedication to empowering others is evident in her efforts to share her story, aiming to inspire and assist students facing similar obstacles. In her current position with the FIRST Program, Gonzalez continues to advocate for students impacted by the criminal justice system, especially women, by ensuring they have access to the necessary resources to thrive in their educational pursuits. She is the co‐founder of the Beauty Hour, and event geared towards formerly incarcerated women that promotes self‐love, community, and empowerment. Outside of her professional endeavors, Gonzalez values quality time with her daughter, exploring new adventures together. She is also committed to her own personal growth, with plans to further her education by obtaining a bachelor's degree in Sociology.

MS. MARIBEL HERNANDEZ
Maribel Hernandez is a dedicated counselor and co‐coordinator of the Puente Program at El Camino College. Ms. Hernandez began her tenure at El Camino College twenty years ago as an adjunct counseling faculty member, gaining experience in various student services, including High School Outreach, EOP&S, Transfer Center, and Matriculation. She was also one of the founders of the New Student Welcome Day event at ECC in 2006. In 2009, she became a part‐time counselor for the Puente Program and was later hired full‐time as the Puente counselor and co‐coordinator in 2015. In this role, Ms. Hernandez has been instrumental in supporting and guiding students, especially first‐generation Latinas. Her nominator highlighted her “ability to transform at‐risk students into transfer‐bound scholars through her teaching and counseling.” As the lead for the Puente/MESA cohort, Ms. Hernandez is fully aware of the fact that women are underrepresented in STEM fields, particularly in engineering and computer science, with men outnumbering women in these areas. She provides the necessary care and support to her students, inspiring and motivating them to continue in their educational journeys and to pursue their dreams amidst the hurdles. She serves as a mentor, maintaining lasting relationships with many of her former students over the last 20 years, who continue to share their joys, such as the birth of a first child, and personal life challenges, with her. Beyond her work with the Puente Program, Hernandez has contributed to the establishment of “MiCasa," El Camino College's first center dedicated to Mexican, Indigenous, Chicano, Caribbean, Central American, and South American and Afro‐Latino students. The center aims to bring together various Latino cultures on campus, fostering a sense of belonging, community and providing resources such as study halls, workshops, and cultural celebrations. She earned her bachelor's degree in Latin American and Latino Studies with a minor in Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later obtained a master's degree in counseling from California State University, Long Beach.

DR. AMINA HUMPHREY
Dr. Amina Humphrey is an esteemed academic and artist, currently serving as a Professor of Ethnic Studies at El Camino College. Through her exceptional teaching of Critical Media Literacy, Social Justice, and Art‐Advocacy, she empowers young scholars to critically analyze media representations and become aware of local and global issues affecting women. Dr. Humphrey's classes are a transformative experience, where she fosters an environment of open dialogue and critical thinking. As a mentor, she leads by example, challenges her students to strive for excellence and motivates them to become informed and engaged citizens. On a global level, Dr. Humphrey has worked in regions in Africa, opening up micro‐libraries to provide culturally empowering books for women and young girls of color. She has invested her own money to buy books and dolls to empower these young women, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to their education and self‐esteem. Through these efforts, Dr. Humphrey has made a profound impact, fostering a love for learning and a sense of empowerment among young women globally. She is also a passionate artist, known professionally as “Amina AmXn.” Her photography was featured in the 2020 African American Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide, presented by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. She also engages in initiatives that amplify Black voices; notably, she contributed to "What's Goin' On?: Voices from the African Diaspora," a project centered on the experiences of people within the African Diaspora. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1997 from Henderson State University, followed by a Master of Arts in 2000, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.