Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #13: Professor Anthony Nguyen

DeAnna Pursai • May 18, 2026

CAA's Director of the School of Communications

For the past nine years, Professor Anthony Nguyen has been a familiar and welcoming face in the CAA community. With his background in journalism and a passion for connecting with people, Professor Anthony has built a classroom environment centered on creativity, confidence, and community.


Professor Anthony graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. After college, Professor Anthony wanted to work in the social media field, and was working at another internship when he met CAA co-founder DeAnna Pursai. Because of his lived experience with cerebral palsy, it was difficult for Anthony to find meaningful, gainful employment opportunities before CAA. He has proven to be one of the wise and investments in human potential that CAA has had the privilege to embrace.


DeAnna Pursai told Professor Anthony to come in for a tour of CAA, and initially hired him to help with CAA’s social media accounts. As his social media work went on, his CAA colleagues encouraged him to get more involved on campus and start teaching a class. he discovered how much he enjoyed working directly with students.


What Professor Anthony loves most about teaching is the people he gets the chance to meet, and how they teach him about different abilities. He appreciates the different students that he has had in all his classes, he loves that he has the opportunity to learn about their lives as he teaches them. Over his years at CAA, the relationships he has built with students and colleagues have become one of the most rewarding parts of his career.


In his communication classes, Professor Anthony encourages students to express themselves, build confidence, and strengthen their voices. Whether the students are practicing presentations, having conversations with each other, or sharing ideas creatively,

Professor Anthony creates an environment where everyone feels supported and included.


After nearly a decade at CAA, Professor Anthony continues to make a lasting impact on students through his encouragement, positivity, and genuine interest in getting to know every person who comes into his classroom.

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Written by Nina Pal

Volunteer

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #12: Student Andre C.

By DeAnna Pursai • May 11, 2026
At only 5 years old, Andre lost his parents and began a long and painful stay in the foster care system, not really having anyone to trust or love him. Eventually he started hanging out with the wrong people and faced his share of troubles. Being developmentally and physically disabled, people often took advantage of him or tried extorting him for money. He met two friends, Nancy and Kristin, through his church and they began helping Andre turn his life around.. Both women began helping Andre at first with essentials, making sure he got meals and into a safe housing situation. Nancy helped Andre get set with a bank account and taught him basic budgeting skills, while Kristin got him involved in stable social environments like College of Adaptive Arts. Now, at age 67, Andre is one of the oldest students currently enrolled in College of Adaptive Arts (CAA), a nonprofit providing higher education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every week, Andre looks forward to attending his Innercise class, which focuses on mindfulness, meditation and introspection. “The class helps me feel good about myself,” said Andre. “It helps me calm my mind.” According to Nicole Kim, Executive Director of College of Adaptive Arts, students like Andre who have been sidelined from traditional education are exactly who they are trying to reach. “Andre is proof that education has no expiration date,” said Nicole Kim, Executive Director of College of Adaptive Arts. “No matter your age or ability level, you are never too old to learn, grow and cultivate meaningful relationships” According to Nancy and Kristin, CAA has helped Andre further his education but also regain the trust to make friends and find a safe community of like-minded friends. “After our church closed, Andre really missed being able to share things with others that were important or special to him, and I think he’s found that at CAA,” said Nancy. Since meeting both women and attending CAA, Andre has said he has made the choice to change his life, and that he chooses “The New Andre” everyday.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn’t Find. CAA Story #11: Mimi Giannini and the Bill and Linda Giannini Family Foundation

By DeAnna Pursai • May 4, 2026

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn’t Find. CAA Story #10: Ann Lunt

By DeAnna Pursai • April 27, 2026
When Ann Lunt was recovering from foot surgery two years ago, she came across a story about CAA on Channel 7’s “Localish” TV show and she immediately knew it was a place where she belonged. “I love CAA,” Ann said. “Everyone is really friendly and the teachers understand us.” Ann has lived on her own for 20 years and navigates to and from campus by herself. In 2002, she went deaf but was able to get a cochlear implant in 2003 which now helps her hear, however the hearing loss still affects her speech. Despite that, or maybe because of it, Ann’s favorite thing is singing and music. Some of the CAA classes which she enjoys are Adaptive Guitar, Choir, and Music Appreciation. One of her goals is to get into the Songwriting class and learn how to write a song. At age 57, Ann is proof that you never stop learning and growing. “In this world, we need to learn as much as we can,” Ann said. Ann is extremely compassionate and had the idea during Compassion Week to make video messages for foster youth. Growing up in group homes for nearly 15 years, Ann could relate to those experiencing the foster care system and wanted to reach out to them. One of the things Ann loves most about CAA is socializing and making friends. “I’m proud that I have friends who I can talk to,” Ann said. “We have each other’s backs and all root for one another.” Ann is excited to continue her learning journey and hopes that one day she might become an Associate Professor at CAA.

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