Our Board of Directors
Community Directors
Rosanne Foust – Chair
President & CEO, San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA)
Rosanne leads SAMCEDA, driving regional economic growth and advocating for major infrastructure and transit initiatives. A former Redwood City Mayor, she brings decades of public and private sector experience. She serves on multiple boards and has been honored for her leadership, including induction into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame.
Dr. Michal F. Settles – Vice Chair
Retired HR Executive & Business Professor
Michal retired from BART and a distinguished teaching career across Bay Area colleges. She now leads and supports nonprofits focused on education, equity, and financial literacy. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and multiple certifications in retirement investment. Her philanthropic work includes founding scholarships for underserved communities nationwide.
Dr. Patricia L. Griffin – Secretary
Retired VP of Student Services, College of San Mateo
Patricia served 16 years as VP at CSM, overseeing nearly two dozen student programs and leading major service consolidations. With advanced degrees from Michigan and Syracuse, she’s held leadership roles in statewide education associations and continues to serve her community through oversight and mental health advocacy boards.
Dr. Lisa Petrides – Trustee
Founder & CEO, ISKME
Lisa is an education innovator and nonprofit leader focused on expanding access to learning. A former Columbia University faculty member, she advises global institutions on data use and inclusive education. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford and an MBA from Sonoma State.
John Pimentel – Trustee
Environmental Entrepreneur & Former State Official
John has built over $1.5B in renewable energy infrastructure and served as California’s Deputy Secretary for Transportation. A former Higher Ed Advisor and student leader, he now represents Area 5 on the SMCCCD Board and serves on multiple local boards. He’s a Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Delta College alum.
James Clark
Technology Executive
Jim is a longtime San Mateo resident and UC Berkeley grad who began his academic journey at College of San Mateo. He’s active in the nonprofit sector and joined the Foundation board to support community college pathways. Outside work, he enjoys coastal runs with his dog, Berkeley.
Dr. Ali Umut Irturk
CTO, Rithum
Ali is a tech leader with deep startup and enterprise experience, including roles at WorkBoard, ALICE Technologies, and Cognex. He’s also taught at UC San Diego and holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. in Computer Science and an MBA from UC Berkeley. Originally from Istanbul, he began his career as a naval officer.
Scott Lohmann
Development Director, NCEFT
Scott Lohmann is a veteran sales and development leader with a track record of driving revenue and expanding impact across start-ups and nonprofits. He has held leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Entertainment Publications, SchoolPop, ActivityHero, Groupon, and GetSetUp, and has served in key nonprofit roles with the Menlo Park–Atherton Education Foundation and the Peninsula College Fund. Scott is currently Development Director at NCEFT and brings strong community roots and cross-sector experience to the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation.
Ex-Officio
Melissa Moreno, J.D.
Chancellor, SMCCCD
Melissa joined the California Community College system in 2008 after 23 years as a small business owner. She served 13 years at Santa Barbara City College before becoming President of Skyline College in 2020 and Interim Chancellor of SMCCCD in 2023. Melissa champions equity, civic engagement, and student-centered leadership. She holds a BA from UC Santa Barbara and a JD from Santa Barbara College of Law.
Dr. Richard Storti
Vice Chancellor, SMCCCD
Richard is a passionate advocate for student success, equity, and inclusive learning environments. He holds a doctorate in education from USC, an MS in accountancy from CSU Fullerton, and a BS from CSU Long Beach. A licensed CPA, he brings innovation and strategic leadership to the District.
Kim Lopez
President, Cañada College
Kim has held leadership roles across SMCCCD, including VP of Student Services and Interim President at CSM. She previously served as Dean and VP at Cañada College and began her career as a counselor and director at College of the Siskiyous. She holds a BA in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and an MA in Counseling Education from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez
President, College of San Mateo
Manuel is a first-generation college graduate with nearly 20 years of experience in higher education across CSU, UC, and community colleges. He led equity and student success initiatives at Cañada College and SF State, and taught at USF. He holds degrees from Santa Clara University, SDSU, and a doctorate in education from USF.
Dr. Nathan Carter
President, Skyline College
Nathan began at Sacramento City College and earned degrees from the University of the Pacific, CSU Northridge, and Howard University. With 20 years in higher ed, he’s held faculty and leadership roles at CSU San Bernardino and NOVA, where he served as Chief Institutional Effectiveness and Inclusion Officer.
Peter Fitzsimmons - Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer, SMCCCD
Peter brings 30+ years of financial leadership in education and government. He previously served as District Budget Officer and Executive Director of Fiscal Services at San Jose Evergreen CCD. He holds an MBA from Golden Gate University and enjoys travel, pets, and time with loved ones in Antioch.
Emeritus
John Hamilton
Principal, Embarcadero Capital Partners, LLC
Coming soon.
Patricia Siguenza
Retired VP of BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech
Patricia retired as VP at Genentech, where she led the BioAnalytical Sciences department supporting global drug development. A College of San Mateo alum, she rose through the ranks after joining Genentech in 1987, contributing to key clinical projects and mentoring future scientists. She actively supports education through scholarships, alumni engagement, and advisory roles at SMCCCF and Cañada College.