Born in Antigua, Guatemala and growing up during Guatemala’s civil war,Dean Bell immigrated to U.S. in 1978 and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from USF. Dean Bell has dedicated his entire career to education, starting with his twelve years as an academic counselor at CCSF. Among the positions held by Dean Bell are: Dean of Financial Aid, Interim Vice-Chancellor of Campuses and Enrollment Management and, most recently, named Dean of the Mission Campus. Dean Bell was one of the Keepers of the Dream working tirelessly for the establishment of the permanent home for the Mission Campus of CCSF.

Cynthia has lived and worked in Latin America since the early 1980s, spending over 20 years in Mexico. She has served on the Board of Trustees for the American School Foundation in Mexico City, been active on various committees, and advised Entrega, a non-profit offering educational support to low-income children. With a career in finance as a banker and executive, Cynthia brings extensive experience to the Board. She also contributes to the Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center’s fundraising efforts and advises Locaphonic, which supports local musicians and culinary talent.

Dr. Carlota del Portillo, with a doctoral degree from the University of San Francisco, has had a distinguished career as a teacher, counselor, and college dean. She played a pivotal role in securing a permanent home for

City College’s Mission Campus, serving as its Dean for several decades and overseeing its instructional programs. Her contributions extend beyond education; she has served on San Francisco’s Human Rights, Fire, and Library Commissions, and was instrumental in integrating the Fire Department. As the first Latina elected citywide to the San Francisco Unified School Board in 1990, Dr. del Portillo has been recognized with numerous

awards, including the Jesse de la Cruz Community Activist and Service Award. In 2010, she founded the Friends of the Mission Campus to support local youth in accessing higher education.

Mary T. Hernandez is a founding partner of GCR, LLP, where she leads the San Francisco Bay Area offices. She holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School (1988) and a B.A. in economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard University (1985). Hernandez provides legal counsel to school districts, community colleges, nonprofits, and charter schools across California, focusing on governance, ethics, labor, and education policy. She served as President of the Hispanic National Bar Association (1994-1995) and was elected to the San Francisco Board of Education, serving as Vice President in 1999 and President in 2000. Hernandez is currently on the Board of Directors for the Youth Law Center and the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Commission on the Status of Latinas in the Legal Profession.

Brigitte is a passionate advocate for accessible, high-quality public educationat all levels. As a first-generation Latina student, she earned both her B.A. in Rhetoric and J.D. in Law. With over 25 years of teaching U.S. government and policy in San Francisco State University's College of Ethnic Studies, she pioneered a Community Service Learning platform that integrates community work with academic learning. Davila has used her role in the

California Faculty Association to promote faculty diversity and equity.

Her advocacy extends beyond academia; she lobbies in Sacramento and Washington D.C. and holds an elected citywide seat on the San Francisco City College Board. In this role, she develops policies to enhance graduation rates and support for first-generation students, addressing the needs of a diverse student body in community colleges.

Erick Tenorio, currently pursuing a BA, provides financial literacy courses and brings a decade of banking experience. His role emphasizes business development, small business lending, and community advocacy. Passionate about the Mission Community where he was raised, Tenorio actively contributes to youth education programs and volunteers at the Mission Science Workshop. His deep understanding of local schools, community programs, and banking is crucial to the Friends of the Mission Campus Board.​

Elena Asturias has a long history of community engagement. Earning a Master of Law in Business and Taxation from Georgetown Law Center, she served as counsel to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and his successors. Elena now manages family businesses, Paniagua Construction Inc. and Las Maravillas S.A., and provides legal counsel to various private entities and nonprofits.

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Previously, Elena served on the boards of the San Francisco Zoological Society, CARECEN, La Raza Centro Legal, the Hispanic National Bar Association, its Commission on the Status of Latinas in the Legal Profession, the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, and the San Francisco Senators.

Dr. Juanita L. Owens is a distinguished San Francisco educator, public servant, and community leader with more than four decades of service. She served as President of the San Francisco Board of Education, a Commissioner on the San Francisco Police Commission, and Dean at City College of San Francisco. Her civic leadership has included the Commission on the Status of Women, Board of Permit Appeals, and San Francisco LGBT Community Center.

A passionate advocate for education, equity, public safety, and inclusive communities, Dr. Owens has received numerous honors, including the Signum Laudis Award and the San Francisco Cable Car Award. She holds an Ed.D. and Master’s in Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree.