TRELLIS 360
SESSION 1: STAKEHOLDERS IN VALUE

Trellis 360 is a showcase of thought leaders throughout the postsecondary education sector, sharing their expertise about the value of higher education in today’s world.

Registration is no longer available for this event.

Wil Del Pilar, Ph.D.

Wil Del Pilar serves as the vice president of higher education at the Education Trust where he works to advance Ed Trust’s higher education advocacy agenda by developing and implementing strategies to leverage research, policy, and practice to improve accountability, affordability and student success for low-income students and students of color.

Wil has experience at the federal, state and institutional levels. Prior to joining Ed Trust, he served as deputy secretary of postsecondary and higher education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, where he implemented the strategic vision for higher education in the commonwealth. Additionally, he has worked at the University of Florida and Pennsylvania State University where he led development activities and also served in admissions and financial aid roles at Chapman University, the University of California Santa Cruz and Loyola Marymount University.

Amy K.T. Contreras

Amy K.T. Contreras is the Assistant to the Director of the City of San Antonio’s Workforce Development Office (WDO). Amy manages the WDO’s Director’s Office and helps oversee the City’s “Ready to Work” education and job placement program. Ready to Work offers thousands of unemployed, underemployed, and under-represented San Antonians assistance with: (1) tuition for post-secondary education and training aligned with high-demand, well-paid careers; (2) support services; (3) emergency funding; (4) job-placement services; and (5) job-retention services.

Previously Amy was an Executive Director at Ernst & Young, where she focused on corporate taxation for clients, oversaw the San Antonio EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and completed the EY Harvard Leadership Program. After serving over 20 years in the private sector, she chose to shift her effort to supporting community empowerment.

Amy received a BA from the University of Texas, a JD from St. Mary’s University, and an LLM in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center. Amy was a recipient of the San Antonio Business Journal’s “Forty under 40” award and was a member of Leadership San Antonio’s Class 37. Amy has served on the boards of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, City Year San Antonio, and as a member of the City’s Housing Policy Task Force.

Kay Trent

Kay is a first-generation student who previously attended four-year colleges and an HBCU before coming to Austin Community College, which she loves. She previously taught first and second grade and taught as an ESL Pre-K/Training Facilitator. She is the President of the Student Government Association, Vice-President/Co-founder of the PRIDE Club, an advisory board member of the Amplify Center, and is involved in a host of other clubs and organizations throughout ACC. As a Black, queer, woman Kay feels it is important to be part of Texas PACE and the Council as she is not afraid to speak up and use her voice while being vulnerable enough to share her experiences and help others. She is studying Psychology and Project Management.

The event will be held at:

Highland Campus of Austin Community College District
6101 Highland Campus Dr.
Austin, TX 78752
Presentation Hall, Room 1550 (Building 2000)

If you need help getting to the Austin Community College District Highland Campus, take a look at this map.