Reyna García Ramos Contributes to Final Installment of UC Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy Book Trilogy

Reyna G. García Ramos, professor of education and chair of the Master of Arts in Teaching programs at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology, contributed to the third and final installment of a book trilogy from UC Berkeley’s Executive Leadership Academy. Offered through the university’s Center for Studies in Higher Education, the academy prepares higher education administrators for executive leadership roles.

Published by Star Scholars Press in May 2026, From Insight to Impact: Stories of Transformational Leadership from 623 Strong explores how ELA alumni have applied insights from the program to navigate challenging times in higher education. García Ramos, a 2022 ELA alumna, wrote the introduction to the volume and reflected on how the academy shaped her leadership as a professor, program director, and department chair at GSEP.

A call for contributions was extended in fall 2025 to the academy’s network of 623 alumni. García Ramos welcomed the opportunity to share how ELA encouraged her to recognize and rely on the internal strengths that have guided her personal and professional journey.

“ELA emphasizes leaning on internal attributes, which we often don’t recognize until someone points them out to us,” García Ramos said. “As the daughter of immigrant Mexicano parents, I was the first to go to college, the first to earn an advanced degree, and the first to hold a leadership position in higher education. As a Latina leader in higher education, I have learned to lean on my familial and educational journey and to draw strength, adaptability, and courage from my community, which has propelled me this far.”

Since completing the academy, García Ramos has continued to contribute feedback and updates to the ELA community, connecting lessons from the program with developments throughout her leadership journey. After recently receiving a copy of the book, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to introduce the concluding volume of the transformational leadership trilogy.

From Insight to Impact: Stories of Transformational Leadership from 623 Strong was written by Karen Biestman, Josefina Castillo Baltodano, Samantha A. Rushing, Shirley Robinson Pippins, Johnnella E. Butler, and Ding-Jo H. Currie.

García Ramos serves as professor of education, director of the Teacher Preparation Program, and chair of Pepperdine GSEP’s on-campus Master of Arts in Teaching and online Master of Arts in Teaching programs.