Board Member Bios
Dr. James M. Mitchell became the Teacher Education Department Chair on January 1, 2008 of California State University East Bay (CSUEB). Prior to this appointment, he served as Taskstream Coordinator for the department. He teaches courses in the Educational Psychology track of the credential program. Dr. Mitchell also advises students in the Graduate Synthesis course of the Master's Program. His research focuses on cooperation and conflict resolution as they relate to HIV/AIDS education and service learning. A strong advocate for online instruction, Dr. Mitchell teaches in the CSUEB Online Teaching and Learning program, and has co-developed an online course in HIV/AIDS education that is currently being used by over 1000 Teacher Leaders and k-12 administrators worldwide. He is also active with AERA, serving as Chair of two Special Interest Groups: Democratic Citizenship in Education and Service Learning and Experiential Education. He has served as a panel member and site coordinator for the Build a Future without AIDS project, hosted by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education.
Richard Heaps brings over 25 years leadership experience in all facets of high tech including strategy, planning, sales, marketing, finance, operations legal and professional services. Mr. Heaps is currently the CFO and General Counsel of Selectica, Inc. and is the former COO | CFO at Clarent Corporation which became the leader in voice over internet infrastructure technology, building the company from under 50 people and annualized revenue of $12M to a 20+ country multinational approaching 900 people and $250M+ in annualized revenue. Mr. Heaps has devoted much of his time over the past several years supporting organizations and causes that are focused on the development and support of children, having served as a board member of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, and the Alameda Education Foundation. He is also a former President of the Alameda PTA Council and the Franklin School PTA and currently serves on the governing board of the Alameda Community Learning Center. He is also a member of the board of Girls’ Inc. of the Island City in Alameda.
Robert Boyd is a computer technologist and entrepreneur. His career experience includes roles with Swiss Bank Corporation and Booz Allen & Hamilton as well as founding team member for three software and software services companies. Robert contributes to the CLCS board his expertise and experience in service business entrepreneurship, innovative uses of computer technology and a parental perspective.
Robert’s educational background includes a BS in Computer Science and Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Lowry Fenton is the parent of three graduates of Alameda Community Learning Center. He brings extensive financial experience and a long-standing commitment to education to the new school. He co-founded the finance committee of ACLC in 2001, and is currently a governing board member. Lowry is currently a Director of Business Planning and Organizational Development for Oracle Corporation, and began his career with KPMG as a CPA in the audit division. He has co-chaired ‘Startup U’ for the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs, and worked with Alameda youth in Soccer and Scouting.
Hugh Morgan has a wealth of enterprise sales and business development experience in the technology space and is responsible for building out a French business intelligence start up's North American sales effort and retooling its go-to-market strategy. At Corrigo, a mobile software company, Hugh negotiated strategic partnerships to grow the company and extend its technology, then was responsible for building a team to handle enterprise sales and then handled the firm's business development efforts, in particular its relationship with wireless carriers. Prior to working with Corrigo, Hugh Morgan spent 10 years working in the finance and real estate industries and started his business career in investment banking. Hugh is active with non profits and has sat on or led the boards of the Alameda Food Bank, St. Barnabas School and Canterbury Investment Counsel.
Paul Bentz serves as the CEO / Development Director for Community Learning Center Schools, Inc. He brings extensive educational experience (22 years as a science teacher) and a long standing commitment to education. He is a founding facilitator of the Alameda Community Learning Center (1995) and has served as the school’s Lead Facilitator for three years. As the CEO / Development Director for CLCS, he has managed the $1.6 million ACLC budget and has secured and implemented three federal grants from the Public Charter Schools Grant Program totaling $450,000.
Lora Lewis is the past Lead Facilitator for ACLC and served in that capacity for three years. She has been a humanities facilitator at ACLC for seven years. She has a secondary administrative credential and is currently working on her college counseling certification. She chairs the ACLC Personnel Committee. She has served on the ACLC Governing Board.
Maafi Gueye has been an ACLC facilitator for eight years. She has chaired the ACLC Curriculum and Standards Committed for several years. She has served the ACLC as Assistant Lead Facilitator and currently runs the school’s Judicial Committee. She has served on the ACLC Governing Board. She has been a science teacher for 22 years. She is the Lead Petitioner for the Nea Community Learning Center charter petition and will be NCLC’s first Lead Facilitator.
Susanne Gallagher has provided her financial expertise to the ACLC for over ten years, serving on the ACLC Governing Board and Finance Committee. Susanne works as an officer for a commercial properties firm, and has received an MBA from Cal State East Bay, and a Bachelor’s degree from Copenhagen School of Business.
John Gallagher has been involved with ACLC for over ten years, serving on the Governing Board and various committees. He works as a statistician in the securities brokerage industry and has an MBA from Cal State East Bay and a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity University.
Lynn Kameny is the current Lead Facilitator of ACLC and is one of ACLC’s founding facilitators. She has been a facilitator at ACLC for the past 13 years and an educator for 24 years. In her years at ACLC, Lynn has served as the Assistant Lead Facilitator, chaired the ACLC Program Evaluation Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Judicial Committee and has been a member of the ACLC Financial Committee.
Judy Blank is a parent of two students, one, a pioneer graduate of the Alameda Community Learning Center and the other a former student of ACLC. She is an avid supporter of alternative learning environments. For 17 years she has been active in the Alameda Education Foundation, a community based non-profit that supports the Alameda Unified School District and also been involved in supporting public schools for 21 years. Her passion is helping to make available performing arts enrichment opportunities for students. She brings to CLCS board her long involvement in the Alameda community. She graduated with a BS in Dental Hygiene from the University of Michigan and a MPA with a focus in Marketing from Golden Gate University.