Leadership

Board of Directors

Marianna Buoni, Clean Harbors, Buttonwillow, LLC
Jess Frederick, WZI, Inc.
Jamie Thornberry, Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas
Jim Varley, Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office

Staff

Michael Turnipseed, Academy Director
Marlene Heise, Communications Director, Founder, Chief Strategic Officer, Heise Media Group

Faculty 2023

Juan Avila, Garden Pathways
Mark Evans, Ph. D., California State University, Bakersfield
Vince Fong, 34th Assembly District
Steve Gamboa, Ph. D., California State University, Bakersfield
Richard Gearhart, Ph. D., California State University, Bakersfield
Lisa Gilbert, Ed. D., Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Jessica Grimes, Ph. D., Kern Community College District
Marlene Heise, Heise Media Group, Communications Director
Barry Hibbard, ASU Associates
Jenny Holtermann, Water Association of Kern County
Scott Hurlbert, City of Wasco
Ariana Joven, The Wonderful Company
Stacy Kuwahara, Kern County Behavioral Health Services
Elsa Martinez, Kern County Administrative Office
Nyakundi Michieka, Ph. D., California State University, Bakersfield
Nate Olson, Ph. D, Kegley Institute of Ethics
Lorelei Oviatt, AICP, Kern County Planning and Natural Resources
Amanda Ruiz, Kern County Administrative Office
Richard Ryan, Ph. D., California State University Bakersfield
Bryon Schaefer, Ed. D., Kern High School District
Lauren Skidmore, CEO of the Open Door Network
Kallee McCullough, Ph. D., California State University, Bakersfield
Michael Turnipseed, Kern County Taxpayers Association, Faculty Director
Keith Wolaridge, Five Pillars and Associates
James L. Zervis, County of Kern