Attallah College of Educational Studies
» 2021-2023 Advisory Board
Donna Ford Attallah
Educator and Philanthropist
After graduating from Chapman in 1961, Donna taught kindergarten and first grade for more than 40 years. Through Chapman, she has been able to help foster the developed new teachers and hopes to continue influencing education for the future.
Nicole Brisbane, Esq.
Attorney, education equity advocate, and social impact consultant
Beginning her career as a middle school reading teacher, Nicole saw a need for education policy to be informed by those closest to the point of impact. Currently, Nicole works as a Project Director at the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University and runs her own consulting practice, bringing her experience in public education policy, organizational effectiveness, and improvement science to the center’s graduate students and to her clients.
Ryan Chase
Principal, S&A Management; President, Downtown Inc.
Ryan Chase is third-generation Principal at S&A Management, a nationwide real estate company that owns and manages properties throughout the United States. Chase led the transition and repositioning of Fiesta Marketplace to East End and the opening of the 4th Street Market, among many other projects in Downtown Santa Ana. He is also President of Downtown Inc., a business improvement district (BID) that manages the Downtown Santa Ana area.
Honorable Joseph Ciresi
Pennsylvania State Representative
Elected to represent the 146th Legislative District in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in November 2018, Representative Ciresi serves on the Education, Commerce, Gaming Oversight, and Tourism & Recreational Development Committees. Prior to his election, Ciresi was the director of sales and promotions for 16 years at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. He also served 12 years on the Spring-Ford Area School Board, including three years as president and three years as vice president, leading Spring-Ford District’s efforts resulting in state and national recognition for innovation in school building design, career and technical education, and academic excellence.
Peter J. Gorelick, Esq.
Attorney and Philanthropist
Peter J. Gorelick is a Workers Compensation Defense Attorney in Santa Ana. He has 40 years of experience representing employers and insurance companies in courts throughout Southern California and he is an active volunteer in his community.
Meghan Grace, Ed.D.
Researcher, Speaker, and Consultant with Plaid, LLC
Dr. Meghan Grace is a researcher, speaker, and consultant with Plaid, LLC, an organizational management firm, where she specializes in research, assessment, and program design. Dr. Grace has a
background in higher education and student affairs. Her research specialty is in generational studies, with a focus on Generation Z (born 1995-2010). Dr. Grace is a 2012 Chapman alumna and currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Emmett Griffith
Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Emmett Griffith (he/him/his) is a trans educator, mentor, speaker, and advocate. He currently serves as the Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics. Previously, he was the Associate Director of the LGBTQA+ Center at Pace University where he oversaw LGBTQ+ programs, training, and initiatives for the campus community. Emmett has an M.A. in Higher Education & Student Affairs from New York University and is a proud alumnus of Chapman University’s Integrated Educational Studies bachelor’s degree program (2016).
Pamela Lawrence-Horowitz, M.D.
Clinical Professor of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine (ret.); Founding Partner, Innovators OC
Pamela Lawrence-Horowitz is a passionate advocate for improving education outcomes, especially for the underserved student. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a Clinical Professor of Medicine on the UCI faculty at the School of Medicine. As a founding member of LA Social Venture Partners, she became a co-lead partner at an LA charter school. Pamela also helped establish the Health Academy at Santa Ana's Valley High School, and currently her efforts are focused on supporting the development of an apprenticeship program for high school and college students.
Nithin Jilla
Founder and Executive Director, Dreams for Schools; Co-Founder, Excelsior Creative
Nithin is the Founder and Executive Director of Dreams for Schools, an EdTech organization that advances education equity. Dreams for Schools seeks to bridge gaps in STEM education, specifically computer science, in the classroom and afterschool space of K-12 institutions that would not be offered otherwise. He is also the Co-Founder of Excelsior Creative, an Orange County based technology firm. His experiences span across K-12 STEM education, technology, social entrepreneurship, business, and philanthropy.
Marvin Martinez
Chancellor, Rancho Santiago Community College District
Chancellor of one of the largest community college districts in the state of California, Mr. Martinez oversees a district that covers one-quarter of the land area of Orange County, registers an annual enrollment of more than 50,000 students, and is one of the largest employers in the region with more than 2,000 employees. His career spans decades in the California community college system, where he has been dedicated to ensure success for community college students at institutions such as Cerritos College, Santa Monica College, Los Angeles Harbor College, and East Los Angeles College.
Debbie Moysychyn, Ed.D., M.B.A.
Director, Learning and Organizational Development at CHOC
Dr. Debbie Moysychyn (pronounced MOY-session) is the Director of Learning and Organizational Development at CHOC. As a seasoned executive with several decades of experience in helping companies create sustainable, high-performing organizational cultures, Dr. Moysychyn seeks to inspire people to be exceptional. She works at the intersection of operations and organization, fostering a culture of continuous learning where employees are engaged.
Rachel Norman
Adult Program Director, IntegrateNYC
Rachel Norman's role as Adult Program Director at IntegrateNYC lies at the intersection of education, racial justice, and advocacy. Rachel has eight years of experience in youth development and program
design, with a specialized focus on empowering youth of color through grassroots organizing. She received her BA in Integrated Educational Studies from Chapman University (2014) and her MA in Education Policy & Social Analysis from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Colette O’Bannion, Ph.D.
Head of School, Fairmont Private School - Anaheim Hills Campus
Dr. Colette O'Bannion was the first graduate to earn her Ph.D. in Education from Chapman University in 2010. With nearly 20 years in education, including as a classroom teacher, Dean of Academics, Director of Professional Development, assistant principal, and principal, she is committed to mentoring new educators so they can achieve success in their own classrooms.
Anthony Saba
Executive Director, Samueli Academy
Anthony Saba has more than 20 years of experience in education, holding positions as a teacher, assistant dean, dean of students, athletic director, assistant principal, and head of school. He currently serves as executive director of Samueli Academy, a 7th through 12th grade public charter school in Santa Ana, California.
Robert Santana
CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast
Robert Santana is a social entrepreneur, leadership consultant, and keynote speaker, and he serves as CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast. He has transformed the organization into one of the most respected brands in Orange County. Robert is passionate about unlocking the potential of all young people in Orange County and believes it should not matter what zip code you live in or how much money your parents make to determine whether or not they can achieve success.
Joshua Smith
Vice President, School and Community Relations; SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union; President, Education Foundation for California Schools
Josh Smith serves as a key strategic partner for California’s education community on behalf of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, which is the largest credit union in the nation to serve the financial needs of school employees and their families exclusively. Organizational priorities under Josh’s purview include relationship development, philanthropic community support, and the credit union’s financial education efforts.
Tracy Walder
Adjunct Professor, Texas Christian University (TCU); Teacher, Ursuline Academy
Tracy worked as a CIA officer and a Special Agent at the FBI, and then earned both a master's degree and teaching credential from Chapman University (2007). She taught high school history and a selfcreated course on national security and foreign policy for 15 years. Currently, she is adjunct professor of Criminal Justice at Texas Christian University, teaches Modern Middle Eastern History at Ursuline Academy, and sits on the Board of Directors of Girl Security, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization working to increase the representation of women in national security through education.
Jennifer S. Wang
COO, Asian American Senior Citizens Services Center (AASCSC)
Jennifer Wang serves as the Chief Operating Officer of AASCSC Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center, a nonprofit organization founded with the philosophy of “caring for elders as if they were our own.” Jennifer believes in an intergenerational approach to building a stronger and healthier community through direct services, advocacy, and capacity building as elders, youth, and families progress through different stages of life.