Board of Governors

Members of the Board of Governors

Lance T. Izumi
President
Appointment: 2004-2015
Residence: Sacramento

Lance Izumi is senior director of education studies and senior fellow in California studies at the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy. He is the co-author of two critically acclaimed books and the author of several major Pacific Research Institute studies and often speaks on education issues at statewide and national forums. In 2008, he served as an online contributor for the New York Times on the presidential race and education issues. Izumi has also served as a member of the professional development working group of the California Legislature's Joint Committee to develop a master plan for education and as chief speechwriter for Governor George Deukmejian. He is a member of the California Advisory Committee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. He holds a juris doctorate from the University of Southern California School of Law, a Master of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Debbie Malumed
Vice President
Appointment: 2005-2011
Residence: Long Beach

Debbie Malumed has served as a physician in family practice with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and The Permanente Group in Sacramento since 2000. From 1984 to 2000 she practiced medicine with the Harriman Jones Medical Group. Dr. Malumed is a member of many professional organizations including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the California Medical Association and the Los Angeles County Medical Association. She is also active in the community, serving as a volunteer clinical instructor for the Family Medicine Residency at the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

Manuel Baca
Appointment: 2009-2011
Residence: Diamond Bar
Manuel Baca has over 25 years of experience within the state university and community college systems. He is currently Professor of Government at Rio Hondo College where he has served on the Academic Senate Executive Committee. He has held a number of community college administrative positions, including Interim President at Rio Hondo. Baca is a member and past president of the governing board of the Mt. San Antonio Community College District. He has also served on a number of statewide advisory positions withing the community college system. In 2005, Baca served on the California Community Colleges System Strategic Plan Steering Committee. As a member, he worked wth other statewide leaders to develop the Community College System Strategic Plan for California. Manuel Baca earned Bachelor and Master degrees from California State University, Fullerton where he was recently named one of fifty successful ("Querer es Poder") alumni. He holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Southern California. His military service with the United States Marine Corps included a tour of duty in Vietnam. Long active in civic, educational, and business interests and associations within the Greater San Gabriel Valley, Dr. Baca is a past president and current member of the Kiwanis Club of Walnut Valley. He has most recently served as a mentor with the El Monte Union High School District (Graphic Arts & Communications Academy); a member of the 32nd Congressional District's (Solis) U. S. Military Academies Advisory Committee; a Charter Member of the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles; a member of the Rio Hondo Symphony Association, and a member of the Rio Hondo and Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club.

Geoffrey L. Baum
Appointment: 2008-2014
Residence: Pasadena

Geoffrey L. Baum is a member and past president of the governing board of the Pasadena Area Community College District. He has served as assistant dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California since 2001. He worked for C-SPAN as executive producer from 1999 to 2000 and as a senior producer from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to 1999, he served as the assistant vice president for marketing and public relations at Claremont McKenna College. He has been a high school teacher and also worked as a journalist for ABC News, public radio’s Marketplace and Army, Navy and Air Force Times. He serves on the Armory Center for the Arts Board of Directors, Claremont McKenna Alumni Association Board of Directors and on the advisory board of Foothill Family Service. He holds an M.A. in journalism from USC and a B.A. in economics from Claremont McKenna College.

Barbara Davis-Lyman
Appointment: 2005-2010
Residence: Fair Oaks

Barbara Davis-Lyman has been a professor of sociology and psychology at Sacramento City College since 1970 and currently serves as president of the Academic Senate for the Los Rios Community College District. In addition, she has served as project coordinator for Building Bridges, a comprehensive Transfer Model for Community Colleges and the California State University system; director of the Staff Resource Center from 1992 to 1996; faculty facilitator for Program Evaluation from 1990 to 1994; and Gender Equity coordinator from 1989 to 1991. Davis-Lyman also currently serves as a member of the accreditation team for seven California community colleges, she was the last faculty member of the Community College League of California and vice president of the California Association of Community Colleges, college member of the Statewide Academic Senate Research Committee, and as a member of the Faculty Association for California Colleges and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Benita D. Haley
Appointment: 2006-2012
Residence: Manhattan Beach

Benita Haley most recently served as president of Benita Haley Consultants, where she assisted numerous community colleges with special projects and government relations. Prior to that, she served for over 25 years with the Santa Monica Community College District as a teacher, counselor and administrator. She earned a Master of Arts in educational administration from California State University, Los Angeles, and was a doctoral candidate in education at the University of Southern California.

Scott Himelstein
No Photo Available
Appointment: 2008-2013
Residence: San Diego
Scott Himelstein has served as the director of the Center for Education Policy and Law at the University of San Diego since 2007. Himelstein also currently serves as president of the William D. Lynch Foundation for Children and previously held the same position from 1990 to 2005. Himelstein served as the deputy secretary and chief of staff for the Office of the Secretary of Education (OSE) from 2005 to 2007 and was acting secretary from 2006 to 2007. Prior to joining OSE, he served as chair and chief executive officer of the National Even Start Association.

Kristin Jackson Franklin
Appointment: 2003-2004
Residence: Long Beach

Ms Franklin attends Cypress College where she is earning an associate of arts degree. She services as a student advisor for Cypress College's Extended Opportunity Program and Services office. Ms. Franklin previously held sales associate positions with AT&T Wireless and Lane Bryant and has worked as a receptionist and medical biller. Ms. Franklin plans to continue her college education by earning a bachelors of arts degree and a juris doctorate degree.

Pauline Larwood
Appointment: 2004-2010
Residence: Bakersfield

Pauline Larwood serves on the Kern Community College Board of Trustees and is the owner of Larwood Associates Consulting. She served as a member of the Kern County Board of Supervisors for twelve years and was an adjunct professor at Bakersfield College for five years. In 2007 Ms. Larwood was elected President of the Valley Fever Vaccine Project Policy Advisory Committee. She holds a Life Elementary Teaching Credential, Secondary Teaching Credential, earned a Master of Arts degree from California State University, Bakersfield and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fresno.

Robert V. "Bobby" McDonald
Appointment: 2007-2011
Residence: Anaheim Hills

Bobby McDonald is president and executive director of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County, a founder of the Orange County President's Council and a founding member of the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame. Under his leadership, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County has partnered consistently with minority business associations, local chambers, and legislators to provide support for the county's many small-business owners. McDonald developed the chamber's educational outreach program, including the Bricks and Bridges program and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Program with Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine. McDonald also chairs Anaheim's Housing and Community Development Commission and the OC Sheriff's Community Coalition. HIs many honors include the Human Relations Leadership Award from Orange County Human Relations Commission, being named the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Millennial Man of the Year and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Cal State Fullerton, where he has been president of the CSUF Alumni Association. He later served as president of the CSU Statewide Alumni Council. McDonald is also a U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran, a former Student Body President at Los Angeles Harbor College and is a member of the California Cultural Historical Endowment Board.

Alice Perez
Appointment: 2007-2012
Residence: Roseville

Alice Perez works for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District , where she currently serves as manager of customer strategy. Perez previously worked for U. S. Bank from 1995 to 2006, where she held the positions of director of multicultural market, retail market manager and branch manager. From 1993 to 1995, Perez served as branch manager and business development officer for Wells Fargo Bank. She has also served on the boards of numerous professional and community service organizations, including the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the California Student Aid Commission, the Center for Fathers and Families, the National Low Income Energy Consortium, Mercy Health Foundation and the California Museum for History, Women and Arts. Recently, Perez received Sacramento State's Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes alumni who've made notable contributions to the campus and community. Perez earned a bachelor's degree in finance and insurance from the university in 1999.

Gary Reed
Appointment: 2005-2015
Residence: Porterville

Gary Reed has been a partner in the investment management firm of Reed, Shoemaker & Brookshire since 1993. Reed previously served as chief of staff to Assemblyman Bill Jones from 1991 to 1992 and as a Tulare County Supervisor from 1988 to 1990. He is a member of the Porterville Chamber of Commerce and member of the Tulare County Retirement Board.

Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr.
Appointment: 2007-2013
Residence: Oakland

Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. is the senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church of Oakland and a Professor of Preaching and Christian ministry at the American Baptist Seminary of the West and the Graduate Theological Union of Berkeley. Dr. Smith is a visiting professor at the Fuller Theological Seminary and past-president of the American Baptist Churches of the West and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Dr. Smith has been a member of many professional groups including the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers, Morehouse College, California State Legislator’s Commission on the African American Male and the University of California, Berkeley Community Advisory Board. Dr. Smith is also the author of sixteen books and several publications. In August of 2004, Dr. Smith presented a paper at the Oxford University Round Table, Oxford, England. In April of 2007, Dr. Smith preached at St. Andrews Baptist Church, Cambridge, England.

Tanna Thomas
Appointment: 2006-2010
Residence: Yuba City

Ms. Thomas has worked in the California Community College system for over 30 years and is currently an Instructional Support Analyst for the Yuba Community College District. She served for more than five years as the only classified professional on the California Community Colleges System Chancellor’s Consultation Council and has been recognized by her peers for her work and outstanding leadership. Ms. Thomas has served on various system task forces and work groups including the Task Force for the Review of Faculty, Staff and Student Participation in Colleges and District Governance, the Task Force on Community College Leadership, The Community College Chancellor’s Real Cost Project, and the Steering Committees for the Development and Oversight of the California Community Colleges System Strategic Plan. Ms. Thomas served as an Area representative for ten years on the statewide Community College Committee of the California School Employees Association, and has served as Committee Chairperson for an additional five years.