Members

Jorge Cham

Term Expires: June 2020

Jorge Cham is the creator and artist of Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD) Comics, a comic strip that has appeared in the Stanford Daily along with numerous other university publications and journals. In addition, Jorge has published five compilations of his work, given more than three hundred guest lectures at universities worldwide, and receives over seven million unique visitors to his website each year. Prior to committing full-time to PhD Comics, Jorge was a full-time instructor and researcher at the California Institute of Technology. Jorge earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his Masters and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Michelle Cheang, Board Secretary

Term Expires: July 2021

Dr. Michelle Cheang is passionate about transforming student learning by supporting a positive school climate, increasing familial and community support, and providing high quality wraparound services. As the Dean of Pathway Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC), Michelle currently oversees K-12 partnerships, adult education, noncredit programs, academic support services, and “College to Career” grants. During her tenure at LATTC, she has led a team of over 100 faculty, staff, and directors and a budget of over $22 million. She has experience in developing, securing, and managing multiple federal, state, city, and private grants. Prior to LATTC, Michelle launched a new department focused on developing positive alternative pathways into education and careers for in and out-of-school youth for a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles. She launched three youth centers that provided comprehensive wraparound services to the community including individualized service and academic plans, case management, academic support, enrichment, supportive services, financial literacy, workforce development, soft skill development, and college readiness. Michelle obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego in Biological Anthropology and Critical Gender Studies. She then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from California State University, Northridge.

Emilio Gonzalez, Board Chair

Term Expires: July 2019

Emilio Gonzalez is a Partner at the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, specializing in employment litigation and intellectual property litigation. In 2014, Mr. Gonzalez was named one of the top employment lawyers in California by The Daily Journal, a leading statewide legal newspaper. Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Gonzalez was part of the founding corps of Teach For America in 1990 and spent five years teaching bilingual elementary and middle-school children in South-Central Los Angeles. Mr. Gonzalez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Columbia University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

Lida Jennings

Term Expires: June 2021

Prior to joining Teach For America Los Angeles in 2010, Lida Jennings spent ten years as a senior leader in higher education. Most recently, Lida served as Assistant Dean for the Pardee RAND Graduate School and the Director of the Marshall MBA Program at the University of Southern California. Before relocating to Los Angeles for graduate school in 1998, she spent eight years in corporate retail management in San Francisco, in both store and buy-side leadership roles at Macy’s and The Gap. Since joining Teach For America Los Angeles, Lida has held multiple roles on the leadership team, including Managing Director of Strategy, Talent, and Operations, and Managing Director of District and School Partnerships. She has extensive experience volunteering for non-profit organizations throughout California. In addition to her work on the board of Endeavor College Prep, she is a member of the Loyola Marymount Graduate School of Education Board of Visitors. Lida earned a B.A. in psychology from Smith College, an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business, and a Doctorate in Education from the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.

James Lee

Term Expires: August 2021

James Lee is the Finance & Accounting Manager for the Crescenta Valley Water District, a public water and wastewater utility that serves the communities of La Crescenta, Montrose, and portions of Glendale and La Cañada Flintridge. Prior to public service, James spent his career financing water districts and cities as an underwriter and advisor through revenue bonds, certificates of participation, redevelopment bonds, and private placements. James continues to advise public agencies with respect to their Securities and Exchange Commission and Internal Revenue Service bond compliance needs. James holds a B.A. in Economics-Accounting from Claremont McKenna College and a Master of Public Policy from USC’s Price School of Public Policy.

Leticia Ochoa

Term Expires: June 2020

Leticia Ochoa is a Senior Associate with NAC Architecture which recently merged with Osborn Architects, where she had been Associate Project Manager for 16 years. Leticia’s emphasis has always been educational and public facilities. Among her many clients, she has worked with school districts, private schools, and charter schools in the funding, planning, design, and construction of facilities throughout Southern California. Leticia has earned a California Charter School Association & Los Angeles Department of Building Safety certificate for completion of classes with an emphasis on charter schools. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she participates regularly in Career Day events and mentors high school seniors preparing for the transition to college. Leticia earned a Bachelor of Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Manuel Romero, Board Treasurer

Term Expires: June 2019

Manuel Romero is the Founder and President of SimpleSend, a software company dedicated to making communication via e-mail newsletters simple and cost effective. SimpleSend’s clients include the City of Los Angeles, First 5 California, UCLA, USC, and many others. Prior to founding SimpleSend, Manuel created Comová, a Los Angeles based creative services firm focused on the Hispanic Market. While at Comová, Manuel supervised over 100 projects for clients that include Infinity Insurance, Padres Contra El Cáncer, La Curacao, La Opinión, LATV, Ritmo Latino Music Awards, and Univision Music Group. Manuel is also a member of the UCLA Alumni Association, the Latin Business Association, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the American Marketing Association. Manuel holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from UCLA.

Todd Sugimoto, Board Vice Chair

Term Expires: June 2021

Todd Sugimoto is a Managing Director in the Los Angeles office of HFF with over 19 years of experience in commercial real estate finance. He is primarily responsible for the origination and placement of both debt and equity transactions for all property types throughout the western United States. During the course of his career with HFF, Mr. Sugimoto has completed in excess of $4 billion in commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Sugimoto joined the firm in August 1995. Prior to HFF, he was an Associate in a Houston-based appraisal and consulting firm, where he was responsible for valuation and advisory services for all property types throughout the country.