Craven Taskforce

Taskforce Membership

• Patricia Prado-Olmos, Co-Chair
   

  Dr. Patricia L. Prado-Olmos is Chief Community Engagement Officer at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and oversees the University’s efforts to forge meaningful connections and productive partnerships with its communities. In this role, she leads the University’s activities related to: a guaranteed admission program with partner school districts, tribal initiatives, community-engaged scholarship, community outreach, and economic development as well as special initiatives.

   

  Dr. Prado-Olmos began her career at CSUSM in 1997 as faculty in the College of Education. She attained the rank of Professor before moving into administrative leadership as Associate Dean and Interim Dean in the College of Education as well as Associate Dean in the College of Education, Health and Human Services at CSUSM.

   

  As an administrator-scholar, Dr. Prado-Olmos’ leadership is informed by her research and teaching experience grounded in the theme of social justice and equity for the express purpose of educational success and attainment for Latino populations. Her research interests range from the study of literacy acquisition in bilingual public-school classrooms to ways in which higher education faculty, in-service and pre-service teachers come to understand diversity, equity and social justice and how these issues impact public school classrooms and students. Aligned with this equity and social justice focus, Dr. Prado-Olmos’ current research agenda includes: ways to assess and evaluate impact of engagement activities within various communities; and connections between community engagement and diversity and inclusion.

   

  Dr. Prado-Olmos earned a B.A. in Psychology from Pomona College, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In addition to CSUSM, she has held faculty positions at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Pomona College.

   
• Elizabeth Matthews, Co-Chair
  Dr. Elizabeth Matthews is currently serving as the interim dean for the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences.  She joined CSUSM as an assistant professor in the Political Science Department in 2007, and later accepted a joint appointment with the Department of Global Studies. She was promoted to the rank of professor in 2016.

   

  Dr. Matthews’ teaching and research interests include international relations theory, genocide and crimes against humanity, Russian foreign policy, and the Middle East peace process.  Her latest book is International Relations Theory: A Primer, published by Oxford University Press (2019).  She is also the co-author of multiple editions of World Politics in a New Era (Oxford University Press) and the editor of The Israel-Palestine Conflict (Routledge Press). She is the series editor of the UCLA Center for Middle East Development/Routledge book series on Middle East peace and security.   

   

  Dr. Matthews is also the 2013-2014 recipient of the Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award and the 2009-2010 recipient of the President’s Award for Teaching Innovation and Excellence . 

   
• Aswad Allen, Chief Diversity Officer

  Dr. Aswad Allen, CSUSM’s recently selected Chief Diversity Officer, acquired a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and an M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. He has served several universities along his professional journey and has allowed these experiences to inform his ideas around fairness, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

   

• Raye Clendening, University Council representative, Founding Member NCAAWA
  I have lived and worked in San Diego North County for more than 45 years. I am an educator by profession. I retired as Director of Student Services/Special Education from the Oceanside Unified School District in 2007. I was the founding Principal of Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School,  in Oceanside in 1994. I was selected as the California Middle Grades Administrator of the Year in 2003.

  
  I am a founding member of the North County African American Women's Association. I serve on the Foundation Board of MiraCosta College and the Board of Directors at Vista Community Clinic. I asked to be a member of the African American Advisory Board at CSUSM when it opened on its current site. I also served as an administrator in the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. I am married and have one son.
  
  
• Chris Devers, Tribal Member representative
   Bio pending 

   

   

   

   

   

   
• Frank Foster, Community representative
   Frank Foster, Retired CEO, Fieldstone Homes

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   
• Mike Geck, Work & Asset Management Specialist, FDM Administration; Staff representative
   A 4th generation San Diegian employed at CSUSM for 16 years in FDM, representing CSUEU employees for 14 years as Chapter President, Statewide VP for Organizing, and currently as Chapter VP and Chief Steward who enjoys gardening, ocean sports, hiking, camping, and community activism with his wife and four children.

   

   

   
• Anthony L. Jackson, Major General, USMC (RET); Foundation Board representative
  MajGen Jackson served in the United State Marine Corps for over 36 years. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from San Jose' State University, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Trustees of California State Universities and San Jose' State University.  He resides in Fallbrook, CA.

   

   

   
• Richard Jaenisch (MPH), Director of Education and Outreach, Open Biopharma Research and Training Institute; Alumni representative
  Hepatitis C Survivor/Advocate, twice Alumnus '08 and '21, MPH, grew up in North County San Diego. Active local volunteer with LifeSharing SD, San Diego Liver Coalition, International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers SD, and Parenteral Drug Association SoCal. Former local small business owner and Eagle Scout. Founder of HCVME.com. 

   

   

   
• Carleen Kreider, Executive in Residence, CoBA, CSUSM; Foundation Board representative
  Retired from Aptar Beauty + Home. President Global Market Development, developing global and local strategies for profitable growth of $600 mm business, leading teams in Asia, LATAM, Europe and North America. Executive VP and GM of US operations and sales.

  
  Passionate innovator and servant leader.
  Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Wake Forest University and a Masters of Management- focus in Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

   
• Renzo Lara, Director of Latin@/x Center; Student Affairs representative
   Dr. Renzo Lara was born in San Diego, California and raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. At the age of 10, he moved with his mother to the United States and has called Chula Vista, California his home. Dr. Lara’s upbringing between the international border of Mexico and United States provided life experiences related to transborder identities. Additionally, Dr. Lara is a first generation college student and has overcome societal as well collegial barriers. Dr. Lara’s cultural upbringing and life experiences has led to his passion which lies in assisting Latin@/x students and family members achieve holistic success.

   
• Scotty Lombardi, University Council Representative
  Scotty is a Human Resources business leader with 20 years of broad experience across the retail, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. As the Senior Manager of Global Talent Management at Hunter Industries, he leads the dynamic teams who
  provide service in Talent Acquisition, Organizational Development and Engagement, Employee Relations, and International Human Resources Operations, while also representing the company’s external efforts in Government Affairs and Community Engagement.

   

  His commitment to making a difference in the community motivates his efforts with volunteerism, philanthropy, and engagement in supporting organizations whose missions address economic and workforce development, food and housing insecurity, access to education, and environmental sustainability. Scotty is civically
  engaged with the City of Escondido's Economic Development & Agriculture Advisory Group, and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation’s Innovate78 initiative. He also serves as University Council Member and Chair for California State University San Marcos, Board Member and Vice Chair for the Palomar College Foundation, Board Member and Vice Chair for the San Diego North Economic Development Council, and as Board Member and Secretary for The San Marcos Promise.

   

  Scotty holds a degree in Multicultural & Gender Studies from California State University Chico and is a graduate of LEAD San Diego's Impact program.

   
• Brenda Miller, PhD, RN, Course Coordinator for NURS 450/451; Faculty representative
   Dr. Miller is a life long learner. She started her career in nursing obtaining her Associate Degree from the local Junior College and years later completed her PhD in nursing. Her research emphasis is on “Patients and Caregivers Implementation of the Discharge Instructions. She is currently the Course Coordinator in the School of Nursing teaching Leadership and Management.

   

   
• Joely Proudfit, Director, California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center and Professor/Chair of AIS; Faculty representative
  Joely Proudfit, Ph.D.  (Luiseño/Payómkawichum) Ph.D. in political science with emphasis in public policy and American Indian studies. Tenured three times in the CSU system. In 2016 she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education.  In 2021 Gavin Newsom appointed her to the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Founding Department Chair of the AIS and Founding Director of the CICSC.
• Kim Quinney, Assistant Professor of History; Faculty representative
  An historian of American foreign relations, Kim’s scholarship explores the convergence of ideology, ethnicity, and domestic politics on the making of U.S. foreign policy toward Italy, focusing on the role of Italian Americans to inform anti-fascist and anti-communist policies during and after the Second World War.

   

   

   
• Ruby Reyes, Student representative
   Bio pending 

   

   

   

   

   

   
• Xuan Santos, Faculty representative
   Bio pending 

   

   

   

   

   

   
• Ricardo Scheller, Graduate Student, CSUSM; Student representative
   I am currently a graduate student in the second year of graduate studies in history.  
• Wendy Schlater, Tribal Member representative
   Wendy Schlater is a dual citizen of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians and the U.S. In March 2019, Wendy was elected Vice Chairwoman for her Tribe, her third term as an elected tribal leader. Wendy also serves as Program Director of La Jolla’s Avellaka Program addressing safety for Native women on her Reservation. In this capacity, she organized the La Jolla Native Women’s Advisory Committee to host the first annual Inter-Tribal Sexual Assault Awareness Walk in 2010, which continues today traveling from reservation to reservation. One of Wendy’s passions is to assert and utilize tribal sovereignty to bring much needed services to her people.  Wendy is also a member of the San Diego County Sexual Assault Response Team Committee and a Tribal Subcommittee member of the Violence Against Women Act Committee. Wendy is a founding Board member of a non-profit tribal coalition, the Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition and the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, for which she currently serves as NIWRC’s Board of Directors’ Treasurer. NIWRC is a national tribal nonprofit dedicated to restoring tribal sovereignty to increase Native women’s safety. Throughout her career, she has advocated for Native LGBTQ/2Spirit youth and adults, tribal youth, health, education, land, environmental issues and safety for Native women, developing innovative ways to create Tribal responses and programs respective of her people’s customs and traditions.

   
• Lourdes Shahamiri, Community representative
  Lourdes Shahamiri has a distinguished record of service at CSUSM. Lourdes has shown leadership and dedication in serving the campus community, particularly in strengthening diversity efforts.

   

  She holds a B.A. in Human Development and an M.A. in Sociological Practice. 

    

   

   
• Mandie Thompson, Administrative Support Assistant, College of Business Administration; Staff representative

  Mandie Thompson is the first woman in her family to earn a college degree.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from CSUSM magna cum laude and has a passion for equality and justice.  She enjoys singing, acting, reading, making creative things, and spending time with her two young sons.

    

• Sean Visintainer (he/him/his), Head of Special Collections; University Library representative
  Sean Visintainer is the Head of Special Collections at CSUSM's University Library. He has worked in special collections librarianship for 12 years, previously as Head of Special Collections at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and as a curator at the St. Louis Mercantile Library.

   

   

   

   
• Martha Garcia, Graduate Student Assistant
  Martha is a graduate student in the Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) at CSUSM/UCSD. She has over a decade of experience in higher education. She previously worked as an administrator in the California Community College system. As well as a program officer at the University of San Diego’s TransBorder Institute.

   

  Martha is providing support to the Craven Taskforce.