About The Pastor Center

Alberto Olivas, M.Ed.,is the Founding Executive Director of the Congressman Ed Pastor Center for Politics & Public Service at Arizona State University, an initiative to help students learn the skills for effective civic and political engagement. Apart from this role, Alberto provides training and technical assistance on issues related to civic education, public dialogue, and public engagement.

Prior to coming to ASU, Alberto was Executive Director of the Center for Civic Participation serving the ten colleges in the Maricopa Community College District. Previously, Alberto was Vice President of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and has served in appointed leadership positions for Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull, as Director of the Governor’s Office for Equal Opportunity; and as State Voter Outreach Director for Arizona Secretary of State Betsey Bayless. Governor Janet Napolitano appointed Alberto to the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs.

Alberto has served on the boards of several national civic organizations, including the editorial board for the Public Service Review, the National Civic League, Democracy Works, and Public Agenda. Locally, he served on the Court Leadership Institute of Arizona for the Arizona Supreme Court, and as Vice Chair of the Arizona Town Hall board of directors. He previously served as board chair for KidsVoting Arizona, and on the boards of directors for Valley Leadership, the Arizona Human Rights Foundation, the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens, and the Newtown Community Development Corporation.

Alberto has a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from ASU, a Master’s degree in Education from NAU, and graduated from the Civic Seminary at Citizen University. He lives in Tempe, AZ with a Carolina Tarheels fanatic and three entitled rescue dogs.EducationB.A. Anthropology, ASU (1996); M.Ed., NAU (2007); Civic Seminary, Citizen University (2018); Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy Fellowship (2011); Valley Leadership Institute -Class 22 (2000); Mesa Leadership Training & Development (2008); Tempe Leadership Academy(1999).

Tiffany Thornhill was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and moved to Arizona in July 2011. Tiffany spent several years working in administrative roles for government organizations before pursuing degrees in higher education. Tiffany earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Glendale Community College before transferring to ASU. Tiffany is a three-time Sun Devil graduate having earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.As a mother, educator, social worker, and social justice advocate; Tiffany is vehement about being a voice for the underrepresented and dedicated to helping humanity attain liberation from oppression.

As a multicultural Black woman (African, Native, European), Tiffany knows firsthand the experience of navigating society and higher education from a multicultural lens.Tiffany began mentoring students in 2019 while pursuing her MSW/MPA and began teaching in the Fall of 2020. She has since developed an emotionally intelligent and nurturing style that encourages, empowers, and inspires her students to reach their highest potential. Tiffany is passionate about creating a socially just, equitable, and inclusive society. She knows this is done through a culturally inclusive societal framework and by nurturing the next generation of change agents. Tiffany is passionate about creating safe spaces for multicultural people in this world.