Susan is an experienced leader in Merger & Acquisition transactions focused on delivering winning strategies for post-merger integration. She has led global integration teams and programs across various technology companies including Salesforce, DocuSign, and PayPal. Susan is a proud first-generation, San Franciscan and daughter of immigrants who grew up in the very communities Oasis serves today. She believes that being an ally is a powerful way to show support, inclusion and provide the environment that young women need to continue to grow and learn. Susan obtained her B.S. in History and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Christine has spent the majority of her career in the nonprofit sector with a focus on education and youth development organizations. She is a Consultant at FMA, a national consulting group serving nonprofits and their funders. At FMA, Christine supports organizations throughout the nonprofit lifecycle including fiscal sponsor spinoffs, finance and accounting team restructures and vacancies, and operational infrastructure assessment. Prior to working at FMA, Christine worked as the Director of Finance for New Door Ventures as well as on the national and regional finance teams at Teach For America. Christine has a MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and obtained her B.A. (double major in Mathematics and Japanese Studies) from Wellesley College. A proud mom of two girls, she is honored to serve on the Oasis advisory board and provide a nurturing and empowering environment for BIPOC girls in the San Francisco community.
Cristina is a visionary executive in the Pharma/Biotech sector. She has 30+ years of strategy deployment experience in global Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Climate/Decarbonization, Sustainability, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at Allergan, Thermofisher Scientific, and Genentech. In 1992, Cristina emigrated from Brazil to rural Bakersfield, where she started her journey as a Latina engineer. She experienced the struggles and opportunities minority groups face in advancing their careers and created a path for professional success. She has previously served on the board of the Cleantech Orange County and was the Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the Bio-Process Systems Alliance (BPSA). Cristina holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from FAAP in Brazil, a MS in Environmental Engineering from UC Irvine, and a MBA from UCLA. She is humbled and honored to serve on the Oasis Advisory Board, where she can exercise her commitment to coach and mentor the next generation of women leaders.
Sophia emigrated from Taipei to Los Angeles with her family as a teenage girl and this trans-Pacific experience defined her youth. It is this first-hand experience that drew her to serve Oasis For Girls, and she is elated to be part of the team!
Sophia has been an educator for over two decades. She dedicates her career to educating people of all ages, from preschool to adulthood. Her expertise in speech, language and communication allows her to have taken on many roles including high school Mandarin and Spanish teacher, master teacher, speech language pathologist, as well as college professor in speech language and hearing sciences. Whether creating curriculum, setting up an international education exchange, lecturing in an auditorium, or supervising interns and clinical fellows, it is the gift of human connection that gives meaning to her work.
Stara Nunes Airbnb Stara is a seasoned marketing professional with over a decade of experience in the tech industry. She currently leads app marketing at Airbnb and has dedicated her career to driving innovative growth strategies and fostering inclusive environments. Stara currently lives in Oakland and has deep familial roots throughout all of Northern California. Stara’s journey includes diving into Women and Gender studies while at UC Berkeley which inspired her to co-organize the San Francisco Dyke March, celebrating diversity and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Passionate about giving back to her community, Stara actively mentors young professionals and supports initiatives that create opportunities for underrepresented groups. As a board member of Oasis for Girls, she is excited to empower future leaders and contribute to a more equitable society.
Eleanor Hall One Wealth Advisors
Eleanor is a Client Service Associate at One Wealth Advisors, a financial planning and wealth management firm. In her role, she helps clients with a wide range of services, from opening accounts to facilitating money movements. Eleanor is passionate about empowering financial literacy among her friends, family, and community.
Originally from the East Coast, Eleanor moved to California for college where she studied sociology at Occidental College in Los Angeles. During her time there, she volunteered with the non-profit WYSE (Women and Youth Supporting Each Other), spending time each week mentoring middle school girls. This experience deepened her appreciation for the powerful connections and intimate bonds that form when women and girls come together to support one another.
Six years ago, Eleanor discovered Oasis for Girls and was inspired by its mission to empower young women. Four years ago, she took her commitment a step further by launching the volunteer group ACTIVATE, which has made significant strides in supporting the organization's goals. Eleanor is thrilled to serve on the Advisory Board and contribute to the organization from a new perspective.
Cynthia serves as the Director of Education and Instructional Services at the UCSF, School of Pharmacy. She oversees the delivery of operational components of the PharmD curriculum serving students and faculty. Cynthia has dedicated her career to supporting education and health equity efforts in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. In previous roles, Cynthia served as a grass-root organizer advancing parent engagement in education, developed and implemented health education programs, and advocated for expanded learning quality standards and policies statewide.
As a Latina and first-generation graduate, Cynthia understands the importance of mentorship and trailblazing paths for young women of color. Cynthia strongly believes in the Oasis for Girls mission and is committed to supporting the next generation of woman leaders.
Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Columbia University and Masters of Science in Healthcare Administration and Leadership from the University of California, San Francisco.
Georgina Blackett South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD), Chief of Strategy and Communications
Georgina Blackett is the Chief of Strategy and Communications at South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD). Prior to joining SSFUSD, Georgina worked as a consultant in EY-Parthenon's Education Practice, providing strategic guidance to ed tech companies, higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, state education agencies, and K-12 school districts. Georgina started her career as a teacher in San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), where she helped launch the Spanish Immersion program at Daniel Webster Elementary School. The daughter of immigrants, product of an all girls' education, alumna of Teach For America (TFA), and former TFA and Teach for the Philippines program manager, Georgina has dedicated her career to expanding access to opportunity through education. She is honored to join Oasis and support SF's girls and young women of color to discover their passions and build sisterhood. Georgina holds a BA in History from Stanford University and an MBA / Masters in Education from Wharton / the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
Maria Latushkin
Maria is a technology and product executive who has spent over 20 years leading Product, Engineering, and Operations teams transforming technology for global brands including Walmart, Peet’s Coffee, and most recently Albertsons. Prior to her current position, Maria held Chief Technology Officer roles at various consumer technology companies including Omada Health and One Kings Lane. Maria came to the US as a teenager and has first-hand appreciation of the impact advice, support and guidance has on young women in helping them forge their path. As a mother of a teenage girl herself, Maria is passionate about helping young women build strong futures and is honored to be able to support Oasis mission. Maria holds a BS in Computer Science from SFSU.
Emily is the Director of Donor Relations and Annual Giving at the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University. Emily is responsible for fundraising for the Center's programs, internships, and fellowships with the mission to embed principled public service into a Stanford education. Prior to Stanford, Emily spent 14 years working as a sales director and manager in the art world at leading commercial galleries including Pace Gallery (New York) and Fraenkel Gallery (San Francisco). Emily earned a BA in History from Providence College and a Master’s in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London, in addition to a graduate certificate in Student Affairs and Higher Education Administration from UC Berkeley.
Emily is passionate about inclusive and equitable access to education as well as gender equity and work life justice. She credits her all-girls high school for strengthening her voice and directing her attention to women's leadership and opportunity. She strongly believes in the mission of Oasis for Girls and commitment to supporting young female leaders.
Belinda Patel
Belinda spent 15 years in Property Management as a Portfolio Manager leading and building teams in the housing industry. She worked for major companies in the Bay Area, including Promethues, AvalonBay, and Braddock and Logan. Belinda left the Corporate world to spend time raising her children in 2016. During this time, she became a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children, and supported many local non profits in the Bay Area. Belinda was born and raised in the Bay Area by a single immigrant mother. She understands first hand the positive impact programs like Oasis creates in the life of young girls. She is committed and passionate in advancing equitable opportunities and outcomes for lower income communities. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the advisory board and advocate for young women in her community.
Annie Nguyen, Emeritus Board Chair Cristo Rey De La Salle High School
Annie is a founding team member of Cristo Rey De La Salle High School in Oakland whose mission is to provide a high-quality college preparatory education to underserved youth. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Corporate Work Study Program, a workforce development non-profit housed within the school. Prior to Cristo Rey, Annie was part of the founding team at Quizlet, a popular free online learning tool, where she ran People Operations. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands the importance of Oasis’ mission and is grateful for the opportunity to support a high-impact women-centered organization. Annie obtained her BA in Business and International Studies at the University of Oregon and her MA in Educational Leadership at USF.
Alaina is the Director of the Catalyst Fund at American Forests, leading the $50M grantmaking program that supports municipalities, frontline organizations and civic and faith partners to act on Tree Equity nationwide. Alaina has extensive experience in managing complex operations and initiatives, grantmaking, and a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice. Previously, she served as the first Chief Operating Officer at The Oakland Fund for Public Innovation (OFPI), whose mission is to foster innovative and equitable solutions through public-private partnerships in Oakland's highest-need zip codes. Prior to joining OFPI, Alaina worked for several city government agencies in New York City including the Mayor's Office of M/WBEs, Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, and the Department of Education. As a Black woman, she understands the critical needs that Oasis addresses and is honored to support an organization that centers young women of color to help them reach their dreams and build strong futures