Our Team
KARLA M. PRINCE-CHENG, Ed.D., M.S.Ed.
Co-Executive Director
Dr. Prince-Cheng has 20+ years combined experience in public and private sectors. She has extensive experience in education and government, policy and procedure creation, as well as training and collaborating with C-Level Executives, and over 150 non-profit organizations in capacity building, community outreach, and building collaborative partnerships designed to offer services to under-served communities. Dr. Prince-Cheng taught English to public and private nursery through junior high students in Japan and worked with pre-K to 6th-grade students in a private Montessori school in the U.S. Her passion is pre-K access, pre-K funding, equity through quality early childhood education, and quality teacher education.
Karla earned her Doctorate degree in Education, with an emphasis on Organizational Change and Leadership, from University of Southern California, a Master of Science degree in Education, with an emphasis on Technology Leadership, from California State University, East Bay, a Montessori Teaching Credential in Early Childhood Education from Montessori Teacher Education Center, San Francisco Bay Area, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a minor in Criminal Justice Administration, from San Jose State University.
ILONA MERLI, M.A.Ed., M.A., CTC
Co-Executive Director
Ilona is an educator with over 20 years experience working with families, individuals, and organizations to resolve difficulties relating to comprehension, communication, and reading. She was a classroom teacher for ten years and also worked as a Clinic Director for a private reading company. She has been a child advocate and represents families through the IEP and 504 process. Ilona has been in private practice for 9 years and is currently working with children in East Palo Alto as a Literacy Intervention Specialist. Ilona has studied and researched the brain processes involved in auditory, written, and verbal communication; she has been trained extensively in reading instruction and comprehension strategies that she has implemented in the classroom as well as in private practice.
Ilona earned a Master of Arts degree in Education and a California Teaching Credential in Teaching and Learning in a Global Society from National University, a Master of Arts degree in Literature, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and International Business from California State University, Fullerton.
SURYA PASUPULETI, M.S.Ed.
Research Associate
Surya has many years of experience in the science, technology, and education fields. After he graduated from his undergraduate program, he continued his Technician role under the direction of the Research Lab Manager during the Southern California Twin Project. He then worked in learning companies that introduced Computational Thinking and Creative Coding from elementary school onward. During this time, Surya served in many capacities, with his most recent as Product Manager at the AI-based e-Learning startup of bitWise Academy. He also has coursework and applied experience in prototyping interactive media for K-12 education.
Surya earned his Master of Science degree in Education, with a focus on Technology Leadership from California State University, East Bay, and graduated with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Neuroscience and in Linguistics, with a research interest in Human Learning from University of Southern California.
JING MA, M.S.Ed.
Research Associate
Jing has over 10 years of experience in the Chinese private educational technology industry. Currently, she is interested in exploring how finance and technology can bring disruptive innovation to education. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she worked as a number two employee in a Chinese-American start-up and raised capital from angel investors and venture capitalists. Jing is also an Instructional Designer with KeelWorks Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing as many people as possible together to share in the game of contributing and benefiting. She also spends time as an Education Intern in the Children's Creativity Museum, educating children and their families in a museum environment, in addition to working with artists, educators, and exhibit developers, to offer a warm and collaborative environment in which to develop skills and interests.
Jing earned her Master of Science degree in Education, with a focus on Technology Leadership from California State University, East Bay, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Tianjin Cheng Jian University in China.
FERESHTEH “FEY” HEIDARY, M.A.
Research Associate
Fereshteh has over 15 years of experience teaching English as a second language to healthcare professionals, and over three years of experience teaching English to children, youth, and adults in an education setting. She has training in the areas of theory and practice of teaching and composition, multilingualism and second language acquisition, computer-assisted language, sociolinguistics, and pedagogical grammar composition. Her passion is researching issues and gaps in learning English.
Fereshteh earned her Master of Arts degree in English, with an emphasis on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), from California State University, East Bay, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Azad University in Iran.
ANA M. TORRES-MONDRAGON, B.A.
Human Resources Administration
Ana has over 15 years of experience in government, specifically with Human Resource Management, which includes recruiting, hiring, payroll, benefits, timekeeping, training, coaching, and general administration. She also has experience with HRIS/HRMS roll-out and oversight. Ana’s passion is helping people and automating and streamlining HR processes to ease the workflow. She also has experience with analytics.
Ana earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor and Employee Management from California State University, San Francisco.
MACKENZIE LARA, B.S., CTC
Public School Outreach and Teacher Liaison
Mackenzie has over five years of combined teaching experience in California and in Mexico. She is fluent in English and Spanish and has a passion for working with elementary-aged children. Mackenzie advocates for equality and upward mobility for her students as well as bringing awareness to low success rates and gaps in access to school resources.
Mackenzie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts, with an emphasis on Biological Sciences, with a Minor in Elementary Education and Teaching, and her California Teaching Credential from California State University, San Luis Obispo.
CEDRIC R. GETER, III
Social Media Intern
With two years of graphic design internship experience, Cedric has created multiple graphic design tutorials and successfully manages UEHL’s social media presence. He enjoys drawing, good food, great music, and wrestling. Cedric is a rising High School student, and, after graduation, aspires to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Marketing from UC Berkeley.
Our Board
COLLEEN BUGANSKI-SRINIVASAN, MPA
Board President
Education is the single most important catalyst in Colleen's life, so joining UEHL gives her the opportunity to pay it forward. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she volunteered as the Director of Community Relations for a charitable beer company. When Colleen relocated to San Francisco, she accepted a job with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Later, she worked full time as an administrative professional. As a certified volunteer mediator with Community Boards of San Francisco, Colleen believes effective and honest communication gives advocacy its power. She also believes the mission of UEHL is reasonable, attainable, and imperative to the future of the public educational system.
Colleen obtained her Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Practical Politics from the University of San Francisco, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities.
JERRY CHANG, MS Board Vice President
Jerry Chang partners with communities to design systems of transformation towards inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity. He developed his passion for learning intricate makeup systems and community leadership development whilst at the Panetta Institute for Public Affairs, the Coro Fellowship, and as a FUSE Fellow for the City of East Palo Alto, CA to elevate communities. Jerry founded Startup East Bay at California State University, East Bay, an equity-driven entrepreneurship development program serving the greater Hayward, CA area. In addition, he led the Data, Evaluation, and Alignment team for Hayward Promise Neighborhood, a $30M collective impact grant from the United States Department of Education. Most recently, Jerry served as an Executive Advisor for the City of East Palo Alto on civic inclusion and innovation.
Jerry earned dual Master of Science degrees in Statistics and in Engineering, with a focus on Industrial Management from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Material Science and Engineering from University of California, Berkeley.
ALEX SHEEHAN, MS
Board Secretary
A California transplant to Washington State, Alex has been working in Probation and Parole for roughly a decade and is currently employed by the Washington State Department of Corrections as a Corrections Specialist, where he supervises two Family Reunification programs in King County. Alex currently serves as a Board Member of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Pierce County, Communities in Schools, and Guided Pathways Support for Youth & Families. Much of his work revolves around behavioral health and educational support and programming that provides the best chance of success for youth and their families.
Alex earned his Master of Science degree in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University, and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminal Justice and in Psychology from the University of Washington, Tacoma. Currently, he is completing dual Masters degrees in Public Administration and Public Policy from Liberty University's Helm School of Government, and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
AZALEA RENFIELD, MPP, MPA, MS-HRM
Board Treasurer
Azalea Renfield is the Founder and former Executive Director of United Educators Association for Affordable Housing (UEAAH), and current President of the Board for United Educators for Housing and Literacy (UEHL). Azalea is responsible for the strategic direction of UEHL and oversees all areas of the company including policy, grant development, programs and services, asset management, and partnerships. Azalea had the honor of being selected as a recipient of the University of California, Washington Center (UCDC) Academic Program in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C
Azalea earned her Master of Arts degree in Public Policy from University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from University of San Francisco, a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Politics and Communication from University of California, San Diego.
JENNIFER SALERNO, MA
Board Member
Jennifer Salerno is the director of a workforce development program for at-risk youth at Urban Services, the social services branch of the YMCA. In her role as Director of the Empowerment to Employment program, she provides transitional age youth, ages 18-24, with the tools required to obtain and retain sustainable employment. As a former at-risk youth, Jennifer personally understands the challenges that coincide with finding and maintaining a job that provides a living wage. She is passionately committed to promoting education as a human right and believes strongly in the philosophy that human rights education can be practiced anywhere, whether it be in a traditional classroom setting or in the community.
Jennifer has both a Master of Arts degree in Human Rights Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of San Francisco.
ERIN KELLERHALS, MA
Board Member
Erin is passionate about access to education and has served in various roles in higher education in the Bay Area for more than ten years. She has worked at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley as well as Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Erin served on the Board of Trustees for the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, the Business School Advisory Council for Educational Testing Service, the Haas Alumni Diversity Council, the Equity Advisory Committee for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, the Board of Directors for C.E.O. Women, the Planning Committee for the Northern California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education, the 2014 Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Annual Conference Advisory Group, and the Development Board of Special Olympics Southern California.
Erin earned her Master of Arts degree in German from Stanford University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from Scripps College.
TIAKA GETER-HYATT, BS-HRM
Board Member
Tiaka’s passions include advocacy for equality and upward mobility for people of color, and creating awareness of and solutions to the staggering literacy gap and low success rates that exist among the black male demographic. She is a Human Resources professional with over three years of public service experience, which gives her a keen understanding of public policies and procedures.
Tiaka earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University.
NYALA THOMPSON
Board Member
Nyala has years of experience in social media marketing, brand awareness, ad generation, content strategizing, guideline building and implementation, as well as customer experience. She has also worked for companies such as Greystar and Airbnb. With a genuine passion for helping others and affordable housing, Nyala is committed to ensuring that all K-12 public school teachers are housed. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in property management and is a firm advocate for and believer in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for all K-12 public school teachers. She is also passionate about volunteering at homeless shelters.
Nyala is currently studying Biology at Ohlone College and plans to transfer to UC Irvine to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
KARIMAH ARNOLD, BS
Board Member
FELY RODRIGUEZ, GRI-PMC
Advisory Board Member
With over 35 years of experience in Administration, Property Management, and the Real Estate field, Fely is a dedicated full time Real Estate Consultant and offers a unique level of Real Estate expertise combined with an uncommon level of professionalism. As an owner of residential and investment property, Fely has established relationships and local experience combined with coastal resources providing a unique advantage to her clients. She has participated in a variety of real estate contract transactions, including investment properties.
Fely successfully completed courses to receive a Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation and Property Management Certification (PMC).