Describe any previous branch positions and years you served.
My branch experience is in San Francisco Branch since July 2018 and in Westchester County NY Branch prior to that:
- WorkSMART Contact, 2018-Present.
- Co-President, 2014-2016.
- Program Vice-President, 2013-2014.
- Funds Chair, 2007-2010.
- Team Lead for Start Smart and Work Smart, 2009-2018.
- Planning Team Member for Explore Your Opportunities STEM Conference, 2007-2016.
Describe any AAUW California positions and years you served.
- Chief Financial Officer, AAUW CA, 2019-Present
- President AAUW New York State, 2016-2018.
- Legal Advocacy Fund Vice-President (NYS), 2011-2013.
Talk about any AAUW California conventions you attended in the last five years.
I attended AAUW California’s virtual Convention 2020, and presented the state’s financial report there. Prior to July 2018, I was in New York and as state president was an active participant in the annual conventions there.
Talk about any pertinent community activities or connections and their corresponding dates.
Serving as the main branch contact for Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women, San Francisco, since Fall 2018 in the context of the three-year city-wide AAUW Work Smart program launched in December 2017.
Talk about any AAUW National conventions you have attended.
I have attended a large percentage of the virtual AAUW Convening 2020 webinars from national. I also attended the last physical convention in 2017 at which Kim Churches was introduced to AAUW, and participated in the inspiring Lobby Day.
Describe any AAUW National positions and years you served.
Currently serving on the National AAUW Finance Committee for the term 2020-2022.
Describe your employment/professional experience, including current employment.
I am a computer science and engineering professional. I have worked for 14 years at Philips Research Labs innovating and developing first-of-a-kind consumer electronics devices such as TV set-top boxes and digital televisions. I also focused on software process improvement, to improve the embedded software in such devices. It was an exciting career that I enjoyed greatly. It also gave me excellent analytical, quantitative reasoning skills which will prove very useful if I have the opportunity to serve as CFO. I have also served as adjunct faculty in the Department of Computer Science at Pace University.
I hold Masters Degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and a Doctorate in Computing.
Are you available to visit branches statewide?
YES
Describe any other special skills or experience.
QuickBooks, accounting experience, strong computer skills, demonstrated leadership skills, communication skills, deep knowledge of AAUW, working in teams.
Give your reasons for running for this office.
Since July 2019, I have been honored to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of AAUW California. In this role, I have provided prudent financial management. I have also learned a great deal about AAUW California’s accounting and the financial needs of our branches and IBCs (inter-branch councils), and provided a variety of opportunities for sharing of best financial practices with branches. However, there is more to be done. We have developed the framework for a new Investment Subcommittee, but it still has to be launched. We have surveyed branches and IBCs and are developing further support systems for them. With your support, I would welcome the opportunity to continue in the role of CFO for another term, to see the activities started in the current term to fruition.