Board of Directors

The Umoja Community Education Foundation is led by a board of directors. These directors represent a variety of stakeholders and skill sets. Each director is uniquely passionate about the success of African American students.

The Board of Directors meets four times a year (in-person) and on an as-needed basis throughout the year. Agendas and meeting minutes can be found here.

    Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins
    President
    Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins has deliberately cultivated a career of service with an emphasis on access, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and success. She takes pride in being a culturally responsive leader who is deeply committed to the transformational power of the education and the multiple pathways to success it affordably creates for students. Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins was appointed the Vice... READ MORE
    Maurice Goodman
    Vice President-President Elect
    Maurice Goodman comes to the Umoja Community Education Foundation with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Most recently, serving as Vice Mayor of the city of Millbrae and Acting President of the San Mateo NAACP. As a member of the A.S.T.E.P. (African American Success Through Excellence and Persistence) college learning community, Maurice brings a unique and valuable skillset and lived... READ MORE
    Marilyn Woods
    Treasurer
    As the CFO of the Neighborhood Wellness Foundation in Sacramento, California, Marilyn manages corporate development, assists with strategic development and executive management, and serves on the board.  Previously, Marilyn served as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, andCo-Owner of The Institute for Fiduciary Education.
    Crystal Gitonga
    Secretary
    Crystal Gitonga is an Umoja Student Board Member, proudly representing Southern California. Hailing from Kenya, she spent her first 15 years immersed in the vibrant culture of her home country. Upon relocating to the United States, Crystal commenced her college journey at Norco Community College, where her passion for Psychology began to blossom. During her time at Norco College, Crystal... READ MORE
    Rahma Mahamoud
    Student Board Member
    Rahma Mahamoud is a nontraditional college student majoring in Political Science at Ohlone College and an engaged member of the Umoja Community. Raised between cultures and shaped by early schooling in the Middle East, Rahma brings a global perspective to her academic and leadership work. As a multilingual communicator who speaks three languages, she uses language as a tool for connection,... READ MORE
    Khalfani H. Mackey
    Student Board Member
    Khalfani H. Mackey is a student leader, advocate, and community college scholar whose approach to service is rooted in a simple philosophy: place yourself where decisions are made so that the voices of those too often left out of those spaces are represented. Mackey currently serves as the Student Trustee for the Kern Community College District and is serving his second term as President of the... READ MORE
    Kenyon Callahan
    Kenyon Callahan is an Adjunct Professor who teaches Political Science at Chaffey College, Crafton Hills College, Ventura College, and,  Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA. Professor Callahan uses the Umoja Community's 18 practices as the foundation for his courses. He was awarded the Marquis Who's Who for 2021-2022. He is a mentor to multiple community college students. Besides working... READ MORE
    Ray Green
    Ray Green serves as the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Sacramento Community Coordinator for The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, a nonprofit in Sacramento, California, that believes every person in California should have the opportunity to live a healthy life and strives to eradicate health inequities across the state.  In his role, Ray focuses on addressing violence prevention and intervention, as... READ MORE
    Eric Ivory
    Umoja Elders Council
    Eric Anthony Ivory began working in education more than 35 years ago beginning with coaching soccer at a private high school in Alameda California and eventually the College of Alameda of which he is also an alum.  He began his career as an adjunct counselor at Ohlone College in Fremont California, moved onto counseling for California State University East Bay (Hayward) for the EOP program. There... READ MORE
    Dr. John Parker
    As a collaborative, solutions-focused leader, Dr. Parker has 18 years of higher education experience. John joined San Diego City College in August of 2020 as the Vice President of Administrative Services. Before joining City College, he served as CFO at Rivier University, President of Brown Mackie College, and has worked in Managerial Finance for Warner Bros. and the Hertz Corporation. As a first... READ MORE
    Jetaun S. Stevens, Esq.
    Jetaun is the Deputy Director of Higher Education and a Senior Staff Attorney at Public Advocates where she advocates for equity in the Higher Education system. She leads the team's advocacy and enforcement work on developmental education reform policy in the community college system. She also leads the team's work on affordable student housing including leading the California Affordable Student... READ MORE
    Dr. William E. L. Syms
    Dr. William E. L. Syms is a collaborative community educator, equity advocate, and transformational leader with more than two decades of experience advancing educational access, student success, and social justice. He currently serves as Vice President of Student Services, Equity Initiatives, and Enrollment Management at West Los Angeles College, where he leads college-wide strategies to close... READ MORE
    Dr. Damon L. Tull
    Dr. Damon Tull is the director for industry alliances at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management and the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Special Advisor on Equity and Inclusion Accountability at the University of California Office of the President. His research focuses on U.S. global competitiveness and capital flows of our national innovation ecosystems... READ MORE
    Laurin Williams
    Laurin Williams was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in the Bay Area. She is currently pursuing a business degree at American River College and plans to graduate with a 3.4 grade point average. In the summer of 2022, she received a Business Administration Certificate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. While she has endured many hardships, she is determined to not allow those... READ MORE