Board Chair

Shamya Ullah

About Shamya Ullah

First Vice President, RBC Capital Markets

Shamya, a Financial Advisor, began her career in financial services in 1997, as an institutional fixed-income analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City. After moving to Los Angeles, Shamya moved into Private Wealth Management at UBS in 2007. She subsequently joined Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 2009, in Beverly Hills. Shamya provides investment services and financial planning for charitable foundations, endowments and high net worth individuals.

Her areas of expertise include philanthropic advising, long term financial planning, wealth accumulation, preservation, and transfer strategies. As a financial advisor, her objective is to add value to each client’s situation, with a focus on tax-advantaged investment solutions.

Shamya holds joint B.A. and B.S. degrees in economics and engineering from Columbia University. Additionally, she holds Series 7 and 66 licenses, as well as life, health, and long-term care insurance licenses.

Born in Manchester, England, and raised in Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and New York, Shamya is truly a global citizen. In addition to her childhood experiences, Shamya has worked in Japan, Hong Kong, and London.

Shamya actively participates in various philanthropic efforts addressing women’s and children’s issues. She also serves on the Special Needs Network. In addition, she is also involved in the Columbia University Southern California Alumni Association and the Ebell Women’s Club.

Shamya currently lives in Venice Beach, CA, and is a proud mother.

Treasurer

Maryann Reyes Jackmon

State Relations External Advocate, California State University, Office of the Chancellor

Maryann Reyes Jackmon is senior director of external relations for the California State University Office of the Chancellor. She is responsible for outreach to all CSU constituent groups and serves as the primary liaison between the Chancellor’s office and underrepresented communities in California. She is responsible to identify and implement strategic opportunities to promote college preparedness and access to the university. Reyes Jackmon oversees initiatives that often collaborate with Academic Affairs while providing engagement opportunities for the Chancellor and 23 campus Presidents in regional, statewide and national organizations focusing on underserved communities. The CSU’s partnerships with African American churches, Latino serving organizations, Asian and Pacific Islander representatives, and Native American communities have created new pathways to underscore the need for academic preparation leading to a university education for traditionally underrepresented communities. Reyes Jackmon will also advise and support the system and campus leadership on related issues.

Reyes Jackmon is a senior manager with leadership experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining the CSU Chancellor’s Office, she dedicated 17 years to Southern California Edison (e.g. director of Local Public Affairs, manager, Economic Development Services, manager, Business Solutions). Previously, Reyes Jackmon served as district director to United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, and as assistant director of Project EXCEL, an education division of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino think tank based in Washington, D.C. She also has a strong record on community service. Reyes Jackmon received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from University of California, Santa Cruz; and studied at the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.

Founding Board Chair

Virgil Roberts

About Virgil Roberts

Founding Board Member
Partner, Bobbit & Roberts Law Firm

Virgil Roberts graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Political Science and spent a year doing graduate studies in International Relations and Constitutional Law. After attending Harvard Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1972, he joined the firm of Pacht, Ross, Warne, Bernhard and Sears.

In 1976, Mr. Roberts formed the law firm of Manning & Roberts, specializing in civil litigation practice and representation of clients primarily from the recording industry. In addition, he represented the NAACP in the Los Angeles school desegregation case, Crawford vs. Board of Education.

Mr. Roberts joined Solar Records as Executive Vice President and General Counsel in 1981. He became President of Dick Griffey Productions in 1982 and President of Solar Records in 1990. In April of 1996, he teamed up with another attorney to form the entertainment law firm of Bobbitt & Roberts of which he is the managing partner. Their practice concentrates on television, film, music, theater licensing, and merchandising.

Numerous community and professional organizations of which he is a current or past board member and/or officer include the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills Barristers Association, the Langston Law Club, Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation, California Teacher Credentialing Commission, and the Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association.

Currently, Mr. Roberts is Chairman of the Board of the California Community Foundation, Chairman of the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project (LAAMP), a Board Member of the Los Angeles Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now (LEARN), and Vice Chairman of the Public Education Fund Network. In 1990 and 1991, he served as Chairman of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership and continues to serve on its Board.

Board Member

Dr. Manny Aceves

Dr. Manny A. Aceves is the Chief Program Officer for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF). As a member of the executive leadership team, Dr. Aceves provides oversight, vision, and strategy in the areas of programs, grantmaking, and strategic initiatives.

Before joining LADF,  Dr. Aceves served as the Associate Dean for Strategic Engagement at the Loyola Marymount University School of Education where he was responsible for leading the School of Education’s external engagement efforts, supporting relationships with existing partners, and cultivating new and mutually beneficial partnerships that support preparation, professional development, outreach, and impact. Prior to his role at LMU, Dr. Aceves was the Chief External Impact Officer at KIPP SoCal Public Schools. Dr. Aceves oversaw government relations, advocacy and community engagement, development and fundraising, and marketing and communication efforts. Dr. Aceves began his career in education as a middle school classroom teacher in Los Angeles.

Dr. Aceves is also an active leader in numerous organizations. He currently serves on the board of directors for Bright Star Schools and is an active member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC). Previously, he served on the board of visitors for the Loyola Marymount University School of Education, board of directors for WISH Charter, advisory board for Playa Vista Elementary School, and on the advisory committee for the California Educator Diversity Research Project at the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. In addition, he served on the Green Dot Public Schools Administrator-in-Residence (AIR) Program Advisory Board and was the treasurer for the Association of Jesuit Schools and Universities (AJCU) Deans of Education Conference. Dr. Aceves was also a founding and former board member for the Teach for America Los Angeles Associates Board.

Dr. Aceves is a proud first-generation college graduate. He is a triple alumnus of LMU, receiving his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership for Social Justice, Master of Arts in School Administration, and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He also holds California credentials in both teaching and administration.

Board Member

Tommy Chang, Ed.D

Educational Consultant, Leading with Equity & Innovation

Dr. Tommy Chang is an education leader who has worked across the country, most recently serving as the Superintendent of Boston Public Schools from 2015-18. During his tenure, graduation rates increased and dropout rates decreased, and the school district had more high-performing schools than ever before. Prior to leading the school system in Boston, Dr. Chang served as the local instructional superintendent of the Intensive Support & Innovation Center at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where he focused on school turnaround efforts and supported innovative school models in the school district.

He is a fearless advocate for educational equity and for fostering safe, welcoming, and sustaining learning environments for all students, including immigrants, LGBTQ youth, court-involved students, and homeless youth. He is former biology teacher at Compton High School and a founding principal of a charter school in Venice, California and also previously served as special assistant to the superintendent of LAUSD.

A native of Taiwan who immigrated with his family to the U.S. at age six, Dr. Chang grew up in Los Angeles and holds an Ed.D. from Loyola Marymount University, M.Ed.’s from the Principals Leadership Institute and the Teachers Education Program at the University of California Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

He is a member of Chiefs for Change, a non-profit organization led by bold and innovative district and state education chiefs, and Education Leaders of Color, an organization dedicated to elevating the leadership, voices and influence of people of color in education and to leading more inclusive efforts to improve education.

Board Member

Jorge Garrido

Managing Director, Actum

Jorge Garrido is Senior Vice President of Mercury in Los Angeles. He has nearly a decade of experience in government relations and public affairs. At Mercury, Jorge develops and implements full-scale public affairs campaigns for major national and international companies, ranging from blue chip corporations, established technology and financial institutions to hedge funds and private investment firms. Prior to joining Mercury, Jorge provided government affairs and strategic counsel to various public agencies throughout Southern California. He earned a degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Board Member

Mike Moultrie

Board Member

Alejandro Romero