Join leading voices in financial education, policy, curriculum, and community partnership for a statewide discussion on the implementation of California’s new personal finance graduation requirement.
Together we can prepare future generations of Californians for financial success.
This program is presented with generous support by Cal Coast Credit Union.
Panelists:
Dr. Radha Bhattacharya, Chair, Department of Economics at California State University at Fullerton
Dr. Radha Bhattacharya is Chair of the Department of Economics at California State University at Fullerton and Director of its Center for Economic Education, which was founded in 1965. A recipient of the Albert Beekhuis Award for Promoting Financial and Economic Literacy, she has published several peer-reviewed studies on financial education for students, low-income families, and IDA participants. She has raised over $1 million to bring financial literacy programs, teacher workshops, and family events to Orange County communities.
Matthew Hayes, History-Social Science Coordinator, San Diego County Office of Education
Matt is currently the History-Social Science Coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education. He recently served as a contributing author for the California Personal Finance Curriculum Guide, which was created to support the implementation of the state’s new personal finance graduation requirement. Locally, he leads a community of practice for school and district leaders to help them collaborate on matters of curriculum and instruction while implementing AB 2927. Matt also served on the Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee which reviewed the original draft of the current California History-Social Science Framework. Once the draft was revised and approved by the state board of education, he served on the workgroup which designed and facilitated the framework rollout conferences. Outside of work, he is a fan of San Diego Wave FC, San Diego FC, and the San Diego Padres.
Stepan Mekhitarian, Chief Partnerships Officer, Next Gen Personal Finance
Stepan Mekhitarian is Chief Partnerships Officer at Next Gen Personal Finance, where he leads NGPF’s work with districts, states, and partner organizations. After starting his career as a tax accountant, Stepan has spent nearly two decades in public education. At Green Dot Public Schools, he started as a high school math teacher and went on to serve as school administrator. He later led secondary mathematics and blended learning for Los Angeles Unified School District and served as Director of Innovation, Instruction, Assessment and Accountability for Glendale Unified School District. He comes to NGPF from Intuit, where he led the national strategy for financial literacy curriculum adoption across the country’s 300 largest school districts. Stepan has authored books on edtech training and formative data for teachers and leaders and holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Loyola Marymount University, Ed.M. degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and UCLA, and a B.A. in Business Economics from UCLA. He currently serves on the CA Jump$tart board.
Kyra Seay, SVP, Community Relations & Business Development, Cal Coast Credit Union
Kyra Seay is Senior Vice President of Community Relations and Business Development at California Coast Credit Union. Her work aligns strategic partnerships and community investment with Cal Coast’s broader growth priorities, strengthening the credit union’s presence and impact across the region. She also plays a key role in Cal Coast’s government relations and broader enterprise strategy.
Additionally, Kyra leads the Cal Coast Cares Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) that expands educational opportunity through scholarships and grants, furthering Cal Coast’s commitment to the communities it serves. Before joining the credit union, Kyra spent more than 13 years in the nonprofit sector developing and leading social enterprises, workforce development programs, and community-based economic mobility initiatives. That experience continues to shape her approach to growth, partnership, and community impact.
Kyra serves on the boards of the Cal Coast Cares Foundation, Neighborhood House Association, the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, and LEAD San Diego, as well as the advisory council of the San Diego Center for Economic Education. She holds a B.S. from Bates College and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
Kyra believes meaningful opportunities for growth emerge when institutions understand their communities well enough to see possibilities others may overlook.
Moderated by David Nungaray, President & CEO, California Council on Economic Education
David Nungaray serves as CEO of the California Council on Economic Education, where he focuses on expanding economic and personal financial literacy across California’s education system. The son of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, David brings both personal experience and professional leadership to the role.
David began his career in education as a founding corps member of Teach For America in San Antonio. He later served as a school principal and educational leader in Texas before working with school districts and education organizations across several states through TNTP (The New Teacher Project), a national nonprofit focused on educational opportunity and student outcomes.
David has taught as an adjunct professor at Trinity University and holds degrees from Trinity University and Chapman University. Outside of work, he enjoys travel, spending time with his husband Jonathan, and serving as a foster parent.