The English Center | Learn More | Board of Directors

		Jo Ann Yoshioka-George, President Board Development Committee Tel: 510.334.2240 Eml: joannm.yoshioka@yahoo.com With a 20+ year career in workforce development, Jo Ann brings an invaluable network and experience to her board leadership position. Her connection with The English Center began when she was the Program Administrator for Community Relations for the Port of Oakland. In this position, she was able to match EC students with a wide variety of internship experiences to enhance their resumes. Jo Ann completed a BS in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University and a Masters in Public Administration at California State University, East Bay. She joined the English Center Board in July, 2009 and was elected President of the Board in July, 2010. A native of Oakland with deep ties to the Japanese-American community, Jo Ann values multi-culturalism and celebrates the cultural differences found in the EC student body. Anna Falvo Castiaux, Secretary Personnel Committee chair Tel: 510.886.6179 Eml: annacastiaux@gmail.com Anna is a native of Pennsylvania and long-term Californian. The perennial student, Anna competed MAs in Renaissance History at Duquesne University, French at the University of Washington, and English at San Francisco State University! She is Director Emerita of the American Language Program at California State University, East Bay having led the ALP for many years after its founding in the 1970s. Anna has travelled extensively throughout her adult life, sharing her love of language and cultural diversity with her family. Her commitment to multiculturalism must have inspired her children’s decisions to become Peace Corps volunteers. Anna Castiaux is the longest serving English Center trustee, having joined the Board 20 years ago. Throughout the transitions of the last two decades, Anna has been a consistent advocate for staff and students, advising on best practices in student advising, programming and personnel. Michaela Brockstedt Marketing Committee Chair Tel: 415.702.0712 Eml: michaelabrockstedt@gmail.com After leading a Taproot marketing project for the English Center in spring 2009, Michaela joined the EC Board of Trustees as President and headed up the new Board Marketing Committee. In that position, she has guided the development of our brand strategy, new logo and marketing collateral, reflecting the new English Center identity. A talented marketing expert who has worked for such well-known companies as Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Target and Scotts, Michaela is also a first-generation American. Her mother, originally from Germany, came to the U.S. to build a new life and raised her daughter to appreciate other cultures and languages. Michaela’s education includes an MBA from Ohio State University and a BFA in Communication Design from Parsons School of Design, NY. Following her passions, she has travelled extensively and continued her college interest in…rowing! Marcy Jackson Ex-Officio member Tel: 510.836-6700 ext 103 Eml: director@englishcenter.edu Marcy was born in Washington D.C. and grew up mainly on the eastern seaboard. She received a BA in Anthropology from George Washington University; MA in Linguistics from the University of California at Berkeley. After teaching at the University of San Francisco, Marcy was one of 5 “founding mothers” of the English Center for International Women (ECIW) at Mills College in 1977. In the early 1980s, Marcy began ECIW’s Immigrant Women’s Program which developed into today’s Career Readiness Program. Since 1988, Marcy has served as the Center’s executive director and has led its expansion in mission, programs and funding base so that the Center can serve an economically as well as culturally and linguistically diverse constituency. The most recent expansion, following relocation to Jack London Square, has enabled the Center to increase its revenue by almost 50% and its partnerships to include among others, the Port of Oakland and the newly formed Diversity in Health Training Institute. According to Marcy, new opportunities such as these make the Center a very dynamic organization and inspire staff, faculty and Board of Trustees. Ann Livingston Fundraising & Development Committee Chair Tel: 510.531.8632 Eml: alliving57@gmail.com Ann Livingston was born and raised in Berkeley, CA. She holds degrees from Mt. Holyoke College and Hasting College of Law. In between college and law school, she worked at Harvard University as Secretary to John Kenneth Galbraith. Since graduating from law school, she has worked at a variety of jobs, most recently in the Docent Center at the Oakland Museum of California. Ann comes from a family with a distinct international flavor. Her husband is from Japan and her extended family includes members from Mexico and Korea. She speaks both German and Japanese. Her passion is fundraising, which she is excited to see taking shape at the English Center. Tony Vigo Board Development Committee Tel: 510.848.6164 Eml: tonyvigo@sbcglobal.net Tony was born and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri except for some years in Puerto Rico and Napa, California. His education includes a BA in English from Stanford, and MA in English followed by PhD studies in linguistics from the University of California at Berkeley. Tony was a founder of the English Language Program at UC Berkeley Extension in 1974, and its director until retirement in 2000. Now, as an English Center Trustee and volunteer, Tony works primarily with our international students. He had early adventures in his life in France and Eritrea and has traveled extensively in Asia and Europe. He has two daughters and three grandchildren, and loves movies, cooking, camping and backpacking. Angela Warren Program Committee Tel: 415.362.2906 Eml: angela@warrenlawfirm.net Angela Warren is an attorney with more than 17 years of legal and business experience, primarily in the area of U.S. immigration and international law. She graduated from Hastings College of the Law, and is licensed to practice in state and federal tribunals such as the San Francisco Immigration Court and the Ninth District Court of Appeals. Her firm is an active volunteer with the Immigrants' Resource Legal Center and a former member of the Alliance Francaise. A weekly radio personality on San Francisco’s local multicultural radio station KIQI RADIO 1010 AM, Angela also finds time for another hobby—marathon running! A new EC trustee, Angela is especially interested in the EC’s immigrant students, but also looking forward to the launch of our J-1 exchange visitor program.