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Chuck Allen (Executive Director)

Chuck Allen has been a Foundation Board member since 1998. He served as Board President from 2003 until 2006. In 1993 the Allen family established the Sandra Baird Allen Memorial Journalism Scholarship in honor of his wife who taught Journalism at Fullerton College and was the City Editor of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune newspaper.

Nicole Bernard - (President of the Board of Directors) - Assistant to the City Manager and Manager of Economic Development, City of Fullerton

Nicole attended Fullerton College before transferring to Cal State Fullerton where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology with a minor in Political Science and later received a Master's Degree in Business Administration.  Nicole is a registered planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and holds a real estate license with the California Department of Real Estate.  In her current role as Economic Development Manager for the City of Fullerton she is responsible for facilitating the growth and success of the business community. She plays an active role in the community development process by leading the City's Economic Development Action Team (EDAT), a group focused on limiting processing delays to enable businesses to open faster and easier. Nicole also provides local leadership for recruiting and retaining businesses by partnering with local universities, chambers of commerce, realtors, brokers, and business advocates to provide a welcoming and easy to access government process. Prior to joining the City of Fullerton, Nicole was a Project Manager with TRG Land, Inc., a land planning firm specializing in master planned project design and entitlement processing.  Nicole and her husband Steve, who also attended Fullerton College, have lived in Tustin since 2003.

Dr. Jo Ann Brannock – Retired Fullerton College Professor

Jo Ann Brannock, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, Cal State Fullerton and Chapman University professor and retired Fullerton College professor (31 years). She attended Fullerton College and received her AA degree, then Cal State Fullerton for her BS, and MS degrees and Claremont College for her Ph.D. in psychology.   For the past twelve years she has awarded  “Cherami Scholarships” to deserving Fullerton high school students.

Irene Shaw Broden – Community Service Advocate

Irene Shaw Broden previously served as a board member, and on the Advisory Board of the Fullerton College Foundation.  Irene’s work with the Foundation’s Advisory Board has been outstanding.  She’s been the number one ticket seller for our Mustang Raffles and she is currently a contributing member of our Fundraising Committee.  She has been a resident of Fullerton since ‘before she was’ as her parents moved to town in 1921 and the city has meant a great deal to her. She attended both Fullerton High School and Fullerton Junior College and was employed by the Fullerton Fire Department. Both her children and grandchildren attended Fullerton College. She now supports the city’s residents as a member of the Board of Directors for Pathways of Hope (formerly Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service), and as an alumna she supported the college as a member of the History and Steering Committees for the Fullerton College Centennial.

Jerry Callaghan (Board Treasurer)

Jerry is a retired Director from the Boeing Airplane Company and development Manager of the Boeing 717 Program, and an executive for the Boeing Commercial Long Beach Division. Jerry received his BS and MS degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California. Jerry is a very active volunteer in his community. He enjoys traveling and practices golf in his leisure time.

Curtis Chan is President and CEO of two Fullerton based high technology marketing and public relations companies, CHAN & ASSOCIATES and COGNITIVE IMPACT, whose clients range from the Global Fortune 500 to venture capital funded startups. Mr. Chan's expansive background spans over three decades in ever increasing executive roles in operations, business development, engineering and sales/marketing in the entertainment, information technology and high technology industries. He has over twenty years of experience in brand development, management consulting, creative advertising and public relations. He is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (SLO), Mr. Chan is an Entrepreneur in Residence and Advisor for the Small Business Institute at California State University Fullerton; Advisor to the College of Engineering, Cal Poly SLO; Board of Director for the Spencer Hospice Foundation. He is a regularly featured speaker at many MBA and Doctorate level lectures around the country. He has presented and published over 30 papers worldwide along with co-authoring several books and a Contributing Editor for many US and international trade publications.

Dr. Mareike Claassen - Fullerton College Professor

Mareike has been teaching Engineering and Mathematics at Fullerton College since 2001. She received her Undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Mechanics from the Technical University in Darmstadt, Germany, an M.A. in Mathematics from CSU Fullerton, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley. From Fall 2013 to Spring 2015 she served as the STEM coordinator at Fullerton College and she continues to serve as faculty mentor for Engineering and Mathematics majors. She has been a member of the Engineering Liaison Council since 2002, which works to facilitate and improve transfer for California Community College Engineering students. Mareike is joining the Fullerton College Foundation’s Board after chairing the STEM scholarship committee for the past three years.

Mary Dalessi (Immediate Past President)

Mary is current President of Friends of the Arboretum at California State University at Fullerton, and a lecturer at CSUF. She ran the Future Teacher's Program. She is a retired district coordinator and principal at Sycamore Junior High School, former principal at Golden Hill Elementary, Nicolas Jr. High, and at George Key School. Mary holds a BA in History and MS in Special Education.

Melissa Davis  

 A Fullerton College alumni currently attending California State University at Fullerton.

Niko Diehr (A.S. President)

Carol Dodson (Board Vice President)

Carol Dodson has been a member of the Fullerton College Foundation Board since 2004. She is a graduate of Fullerton College and the University of Southern California where she earned a degree in Education and Liberal Arts. Prior to retirement, Dodson taught in several Orange County schools and demonstrated her great interest in education by establishing a scholarship for returning women at Fullerton College. Currently, Dodson is active in business and real estate. As a life long learner, she frequently enrolls in business development courses and has used her knowledge to invest in real estate in California, Colorado, Alabama, and Arizona. Dodson also dedicates much of her time to charity, and serves on multiple Boards in Orange County. She has spent the last 16 years as a docent to the Nixon library.

Darlene Jensen – Retired Director of Student Affairs

Darlene Jensen joined the Fullerton College (FC) Administrator Emeritus ranks, upon her retirement from FC/NOCCCD in September 2015.  She began in 1985 as the Student Activities Coordinator where she oversaw all of the activities for Associated Students, Inter-Club Council, and Student Affairs, coordinated the Men & Women of Distinction Awards Banquet, Teacher of the Year Process, and assisted with the annual Commencement activities. From 1992 – 1995, Darlene continued in FC Student Affairs management positions including Supervisor and Interim Director, followed by serving as the Director of Student Activities/Student Affairs and Commencement Coordinator for her final 20 years. During 2012 - 2014, Darlene also planned and directed the FC Student Affairs-related Centennial events and assisted with the College's Centennial Gala Celebration. Prior to her arrival at FC, Darlene served as the Coordinator of Student Activities at Santa Ana College for 6.5 years, where she began her professional career in Student Services.

Darlene holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications – Public Relations, with a minor in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton. She graduated Summa Cum Laud from Cal State Long Beach where she received her Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration and the Dean’s Award for graduating #1 in her class. Prior to that time, Darlene graduated from Santa Ana College with two degrees, and completed her remaining transfer courses at Fullerton College.

Darlene has enjoyed being a Hornet for the past 30 years, volunteering for the FC Foundation (FCF) for the past 5 years, serving as a FCF Advisory Board Member for 2 years, and as a FCF Scholarship Reader for Spring 2016.  She desires to stay "Connected to FC" through serving on the FC Foundation Board of Directors, and in whatever capacity offered.

Sharon Kelly (Classified Senate President)

Leonard Lahtinen (Member North Orange County Community College Board of Trustees)

Leonard Lahtinen is a retired American Government instructor at Kennedy High School in the Anaheim Union High School District. He has served on the North Orange County Community College Board of Trustees, where he has held many positions. He is married to Janet Lahtinen and has two children, Lee and Todd.

Caroline Lee - Director of Sales, Leasing & Marketing

With over a decade of sales & marketing experience, Ms. Lee is a licensed real estate broker, with an emphasis in the Los Angeles, Orange County and local niche Asian markets.  After working for The Ryness Company, Ms. Lee was responsible for the sales, leasing and marketing campaign of $1 billion of assets for clients such as Kennedy Wilson, Le Frak, Starwood and Big Rock Partners -- a spin-off of Apollo Real Estate Advisors.  Ms. Lee attended the University of Southern California, holds a real estate Broker License in the State of California and is a CPM candidate with the Institute of Real Estate Management.  She has also served on the Board of Directors to the Asian-American Real Estate Association of America for the Greater Los Angeles Chapter and one of the founding members, and is also a member of the Korean Real Estate Brokers Association of Southern California. 

“Los Angeles is where I work and play, while the City of Fullerton is where I live.  This is my home.  I’m both an OC and LA girl.  Fullerton is full of potential, mid-point between Los Angeles and Irvine.  Great neighborhoods, great schools, a great place to live.  This is where I chose to raise my daughter.  The reason I want to serve is because I went through the pain of struggling in school because I didn’t listen to my parents and went to a school that was beyond my means financially.  If I could use my resources and give back to the community, I would do so by encouraging and helping other students finish something and help them financially do so.  If I had this opportunity, I would do it with both arms open.”

Robert Miranda (Board Secretary)

Robert Miranda directs the Financial Aid/Veterans Services programs at Fullerton College. Prior service includes: Financial Aid Officer, EOPS Assistant Director for Cerritos College, President to the District Management Group for NOCCCD and to the California Community College Student Financial Aid Administrators Association. He taught courses in Political Science and served as a mentor for the Puente Program at Fullerton College. Miranda has a Master's degree in Public Administration, a BA degree in Sociology, and an AA degree in Sociology. He has served at Fullerton Community College for 25 years and has been a board member to the Fullerton College Foundation since 2004.

Isabel Oropeza - UBS Financial Services, Branch Administrative Manager

Isabel Oropeza graduated from Fullerton College with high honors and went on to study at Pepperdine University.  With a BA in Organizational Communications, she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2013.  She has been working at UBS Financial Services Inc. since 2013.  She started as a Client Services Associate, and in November 2015 was promoted to her current position of Branch Administrative Manager.  She currently holds the following federal finance licenses- Series 7, 66, 9, and 10. While at Fullerton College she was the President of MECHA, part of the Honors Program, Latina Leadership Program, the Student Director for the Mendez vs. Westminster Play, The First Day of Classes and served on the planning committee of KinderCaminata. She was also involved with the Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, Dia de los Muertos Celebration and served as Chair of the first STEM Conference planning Committee. While at Pepperdine University, she participated in several internships such as the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, Chivas USA, Fox Sports West, and the Ronald McDonald House (in Buenos Aires, Argentina). Her senior year, she interned with the Los Angeles Lakers as a Community Relations Seasonal assistant. Since she graduated, she has continued to volunteer with a local nonprofit, Padres Against Cancer, since she is a firm believer that giving back to the community is essential.

Dr. Greg Schultz (President of Fullerton College)

Dr. Schulz has become the ninth president of Fullerton College.

With 16 years of leadership experience in community college and higher education, Schulz began his career with NOCCD in 2000 serving as SCE’s manager of Administrative services, three years as provost of NOCCD’s School of Continuing Education, two years as Dean of Trades, Industrial and Career Technologies at Long Beach City College, as well as four years as the Dean of Instruction and Student Services. He has served as an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton’s College of Education. A certified public accountant, he has worked for the County of Orange and Vincent, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP. Schulz is an alumni of Fullerton College.

Dr. Pete Snyder (Faculty Senate President)

Adrian Tanakeyowma