Following City Council approval, Mayor Todd Gloria recently announced these new appointments and reappointments to serve in key roles on the City’s Boards and Commissions. Check the Boards and Commissions webpage to learn about vacancies and apply for a position. 

Lima Saft was appointed to the Mobility Board. Saft is a retired innovation manager from Caltrans, a licensed civil engineer and an adjunct professor of transportation engineering at San Diego State University (SDSU). She is the past president of the San Diego Chapter of Women's Transportation Seminar, a professional organization with the mission to attract, sustain, connect and advance women's careers to strengthen the transportation industry. Dr. Lima earned a doctorate in transportation science from University of California (UC) Irvine and a master's degree in transportation engineering from SDSU. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending Feb. 1, 2027, in the District 5 Representative Seat. 

Dr. Steven Gelb was reappointed to the Mobility Board. Dr. Gelb is co-chair of SanDiego350's Transportation Committee and part of the San Diego Transportation Equity Working Group. He served as a faculty member in the School of Leadership and Educational Sciences at the University of San Diego (USD) until he retired in 2015. Dr. Gelb received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin, a Master of Education from the Erikson Institute of Loyola University of Chicago, a doctorate from the University of Washington, and he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois. He is being reappointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat’s current term ending Feb. 1, 2026, in the District 7 Representative Seat. 

Aiden Hughes was appointed to the Youth Commission. Hughes maintains an impressive academic record as a student in both AP classes and extracurricular educational programs, such as the ethnic studies programs offered by the San Diego Unified School District and UC San Diego. He also serves as a member of SDSU’s Police Youth Advisory Committee, where he brings an informed perspective on marginalized communities and youth issues to the School Police in San Diego. Hughes participated in the City of San Diego’s Employ and Empower program as a student intern from June 2024 to August 2024. He also volunteered for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs during the same time. He is being appointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat’s current term ending July 1, 2026, in the District 7 Representative Seat.  

Melanie Yau was appointed to the Youth Commission. Yau is the editor of her school's official student publication and has developed strong leadership skills through guiding and managing a team of student journalists. She also serves as co-president of Hope4Kids, a service club dedicated to empowering underserved youth. Under her leadership, Hope4Kids has organized free college tours, most recently at UC San Diego’s Nanoengineering Department and raised over $10,000 through annual performance fundraisers. Additionally, Yau is an award-winning member of her school's speech and debate team, she helps lead a military families affinity space and has represented her school at conferences such as the Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition in New York City. She is being appointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat’s current term ending July 1, 2026, in the District 5 Representative Seat. 

Brandee Joyner was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women.  Joyner serves as the director of marketing and branding for Cali War Women's Professional Football Organization, where she develops and implements strategies to promote the team's brand and drive revenue. Additionally, she is a media personality with J. Entertainment and Media Group. Joyner holds a Bachelor of Science in business management and a certificate in human resources management from the University of Phoenix. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2027, in the Member Seat.  

Carla Nesbitt-Stokes was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Nesbitt-Stokes serves as an internal education and senior technical software trainer at Correlation, Inc., where she leads training initiatives for over a thousand internal and external staff, developing innovative courses and professional development workshops. Previously, at Bryant & Stratton College, she successfully transformed academic programs, increasing student retention and engagement, while also managing adjunct staff and securing valuable internship opportunities. She holds a Master of Science in human resources management from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bryant & Stratton College. Nesbit-Stokes serves as a court-appointed special advocate for youth in foster care, and she mentors students through the SDSU Aztec Mentor Program. A graduate of Lead San Diego, she also contributes to professional development as an advisory board member for Longwood University's College of Business & Economics. She is being appointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat’s current term ending March 1, 2026, in the Member Seat.  

Dr. Sorayda Santos was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Dr. Santos is vice president and project manager at Banc of California, a premier relationship-focused, full-service business bank. In her role within the Enterprise Project Management Office, she leads the launch of innovative technologies and platforms that enhance operational efficiency and elevate customer satisfaction. Additionally, she is the co-chair of the Hermanitas Program at Mana de San Diego. She holds a doctorate in leadership and management from Drexel University and a master's degree in project management from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2027, in the Member Seat.  

Jeremy Bloom was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board. Bloom manages the implementation of mobility advocacy, project planning and execution, community planning and report dissemination. He also serves as the public face of Circulate San Diego, acting as their primary communications and external relationships manager. Prior to these roles at Circulate, Bloom was the community and resource development manager for the San Diego LGBT Community Center. He also spent several years as a major gifts officer for the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties. He received a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Mary Washington. He then received a Master of Arts in nonprofit leadership and management from USD. He is a Linda Vista resident with a substantial track record of excellence and community service. He is being appointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat’s current term ending March 1, 2026, in the Member Seat. 

Chris Medellin was appointed to the Citizens' Equal Opportunity Commission. Medellin is from the Tule River tribe of Yokuts in Central California and serves as the inaugural director of SDSU’s Resource Center. He is also the president of the American Indian Alumni Chapter of SDSU and a founding member of the Native American and Indigenous Faculty Staff Association and the Men of Color Alliance at SDSU. Medellin holds a bachelor's degree in television, film and new media and American Indian studies and a master's degree in postsecondary educational leadership with a specialization in student affairs from SDSU. He is pursuing a doctorate in education at SDSU and Claremont Graduate University. He is being appointed to a two-year term ending Jan. 1, 2027, in the Native American Seat. 

Marissa Feliciano was reappointed to the Senior Affairs Advisory Board. She serves as the director of marketing and communications for Jamboree Housing Corporation -- a nonprofit housing development company that develops, acquires, renovates and manages permanently affordable rental housing throughout California for working families, seniors and people with special needs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from UC San Diego and is being reappointed to a two-year term ending May 31, 2027, in the Senior Service Delivery Professional/Expert Seat. 

Michelle Matter was reappointed to the Senior Affairs Advisory Board. She is the director of aging at the SDSU Center for Excellence in Aging and Longevity, where she implements and manages the San Diego Caregiver Connections direct workforce training and peer-to­-peer support program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in gerontology from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Master of Business Administration in healthcare. She also holds a specialization from Louisiana State University and a doctorate of education in organizational change and leadership from USC. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending May 31, 2027, in the Senior Service Delivery Professional/Expert Seat. 

Robert Prath was reappointed to the Senior Affairs Advisory Board. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 27 years in the Navy. After teaching briefly in public schools, he managed a Meals-on-Wheels program in the greater San Diego area before starting his own fiduciary practice. Currently, he volunteers as a special advisor for livable communities with AARP. Prath holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in operations analysis from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending May 31, 2027, in an At-Large Senior Seat. 

Mary Scott Knoll was reappointed to the Senior Affairs Advisory Board. She has spent the last 33 years in fair housing agency administration and related housing civil rights, education, advocacy and enforcement. As the executive director of two contiguous Southern California fair housing councils, she has developed her housing civil rights expertise through an ongoing variety of hands-on, fair housing experiences, among which are outreach, education, technical assistance, training programs for industry professionals, housing mobility programs and housing discrimination enforcement through litigation. Knoll holds a master's degree in social science education from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending May 31, 2027, in an At-Large Senior Seat.