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. The City has more than 40 active Boards and Commissions, and San Diegans are encouraged to get involved. Check out the Boards and Commissions webpage to learn about vacancies and apply for a position.   

Lucas Coleman was reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Coleman is a senior manager on the World Trade Center team at San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, where he oversees the team's three pillars of work: exports, foreign direct investment and global identity. Activities under his purview include executing the MetroConnect export assistance program, stewardship of foreign investment projects, outbound international trade missions, and collaboration with regional stakeholders. Coleman has a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University (SDSU) with an emphasis in Japan/East Asia. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Civic Organization Seat. 

Benjamin Eastman was reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Eastman is the senior director of tourism development of the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), where he oversees the organization's efforts to promote San Diego to tourism partners as a top destination for leisure travelers, with a particular emphasis on international visitors. Prior to joining the SDTA, Eastman was the internet and in-market corporate sales manager at the San Diego Zoological Society, where he drove sales to the two parks via the internet and local corporate sales. Eastman is a graduate of UC San Diego, where he received a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Community Member seat. 

Juan Carlos Rivas Garcia was reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Garcia is the public relations and external affairs director at Cross Border Xpress. He has 18 years of public service experience in foreign affairs, international development cooperation, government relations, community engagement and higher education. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Qualified County Resident Seat. 

Heidi Knuff was reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Knuff is the managing director of the Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business at SDSU's Fowler College of Business. There, she oversees the center's strategy, partnerships and programming. She also leads the SDSU Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs. Prior to joining SDSU, Knuff served as executive director of the San Diego Diplomacy Council, where she led professional international exchange programs and tracked three citizen diplomacy initiatives as well as youth leadership development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies and a Master of Arts in international relations from the University of San Diego (USD). She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Civic Organization Seat. 

Shahrzad Kamyab was reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Kamyab is the president of the San Diego-Tijuana Sister City Society within the San Diego International Sister City Association. For nearly 40 years, she has served as an international educator in higher learning. She published articles and book chapters in the areas of youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa, the Syrian refugees' higher education crisis and the internationalization of higher education. Dr. Kamyab holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from Pahlavi University, Shiraz, Iran, a Master of Arts in teaching from Oklahoma City University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Florida State University. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Community Member seat. 

Luc Lenain was reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Lenain is an associate research scientist and the director of the Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. His research focuses on topics ranging from physics, fluid mechanics, remote sensing, marine robotics and autonomous vehicles, numerical modeling, air-sea interaction, surface wave dynamics, atmospheric and oceanographic research, scientific instrumentation development, coastal geomorphology, climate change impact and adaptation. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Community Member seat. 

Myriam Mendoza was appointed to the International Affairs Board. She serves as the international and policy advisor for the San Diego Regional Chamber, a role where she leads the planning and implementation of the Chamber's quarterly International Business Affairs Forums and the Sustainability and Industry Committee, conducts public and private sector outreach in both the United States and Mexico and supports annual delegation trips to Washington, D.C., Mexico City and Sacramento to advance cross-border business matchmaking and advocacy. Previously, Mendoza served as a district representative for State Senator Steve Padilla, where she acted as the binational affairs lead and cultivated relationships between public and private sector stakeholders throughout the district. She also coordinated immigration-related efforts along the California-Mexico border during the transition following the lift of Title 42 and the return to a pre-pandemic triage model. Mendoza holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Point Loma Nazarene University and an Associate of Arts in political science from San Diego Mesa College. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Civic Organization Seat. 

Matt Stamper was reappointed to the Privacy Advisory Board. Stamper is the CEO and chief information security officer advisor of Executive Advisors Group, LLC. He holds extensive experience in cybersecurity, information security, cloud security, IT audit, risk management, privacy, AI security, and governance. He is a former research director and security analyst at Gartner. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public and International Affairs from UC San Diego and a Master of Science in telecommunications. He is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Computer Hardware/Software/Encryption Security Professional Seat. 

Ted Womack was reappointed to the Privacy Advisory Board. Womack serves as civic engagement manager at Alliance San Diego, where he manages civic and voter engagement programs, supervises canvassers and volunteers, and conducts community outreach on public policy issues. He has developed engagement strategies, led community trainings and represented the organization in coalitions and meetings with community members and elected officials. Previously, he served as a canvassing team leader at Alliance San Diego from 2012 to 2017, leading voter outreach efforts and tracking field data, and as a canvasser with Rising Majority during a San Diego mayoral special election. His coalition work includes participation with the California Black Power Network, the Coalition on Police Accountability and Transparency and the San Diego Vote Center Monitoring Table. His training includes civic engagement programs through the Center on Civic Engagement, California Calls, and the Neighborhood Rising Institute. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 15, 2028, in the Equity-Focused Organization Seat. 

Ian Clampett was reappointed to the Resiliency Advisory Board. Clampett is the state and local government relations director for UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He previously served at City Hall under various elected officials, advising on community issues, environment, water, and infrastructure policy, overseeing legislative affairs and leading a team of policy advisors. Clampett holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from UC San Diego. He is being reappointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat's current term ending Aug. 1, 2027, in the General (District 1) Seat. 

Erika Morgan was reappointed to the Resiliency Advisory Board. Morgan is a consultant focused on using advanced technologies and carbon/biodiversity markets to speed and scale the flow of capital into habitat preservation and restoration projects. A specialist in implementation and managing organizational growth, Morgan served as chief operations officer for AerialZeus - a remote sensing analytics consulting firm. In 2000, she founded New England's first retail aggregation for 100% renewable electricity, Maine Interfaith Power and Light (IPL), the first of now more than 40 IPLs nationwide. She holds a master's degree in public and private management from Yale University. She is being reappointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat's current term ending Aug. 1, 2027, in the General (District 3) Seat. 

Jeremy Bloom was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board. Bloom is the CEO and chief development officer at Circulate San Diego. Previously, 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 being reappointed to a two-year term, ending March 1, 2028, in the Member Seat. 

Daniele Laman was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board. Laman is a decades-long volunteer with numerous nonprofits and local planning groups. She has served on the Chollas Lake Little League Board, the Chollas Lake Recreation Council, the Colina del Sol Recreation Council, the Ken-Tal Planning Group, and the Eastern Area Community Planning Group. She has been a member and delegate liaison of House Pacific Relations International Cottages and an active public participant of the Balboa Park Committee and Parks and Recreation Board. Laman has a Bachelor of Arts from SDSU and is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Expert Seat. 

Judith Muñoz was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board. Muñoz is a retired vice president of the Scripps Research Institute. Previously, she was an administrator at UC San Diego and USD. She has served in leadership positions on several professional nonprofit boards, including the Petco Foundation, San Diego Hospice, the Center for Organizational Effectiveness, the San Diego Natural History Museum, the Clairemont Town Council, and the San Diego Humane Society. Dr. Muñoz holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Oregon and a doctorate from USD. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Expert Seat. 

Kristi Byers was reappointed to the Historical Resources Board. Byers has spent her 22-year career in San Diego and has served as project designer, project architect, project manager, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) coordinator on projects in the civic, higher education, K-12, office, mixed-use and residential arenas. She has managed the LEED certification process for several buildings across the U.S. and has lectured on green design to municipalities, colleges, professional organizations, and corporations. An active part of the San Diego design community. Byers is an adjunct professor at Woodbury University and a member of the Urban Land Institute, the United States Green Building Council, the San Diego Architectural Foundation and the American Institute of Architects in San Diego. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Architect Seat. 

Rammy Cortez was reappointed to the Historical Resources Board. Cortez is a small-scale urban infill developer and builder of more than 60,000 square feet of transit-oriented missing middle housing in San Diego. He has served as a Young Leaders Group Board member, former co-chair and current advocacy co-chair of the Small-Scale Infill Development Product Council, a member of Circulate San Diego's Policy Committee, and a member of Lambda Alpha International. He has a master's degree in real estate from USD's Burnham-Moore Center for Real Estate and is a California-licensed general contractor. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028. 

Michael Provence was reappointed to the Historical Resources Board. Provence is a professor in the department of history at UC San Diego. He holds a doctorate in modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Chicago and is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in a General Member Seat. 

Melissa Sofia was reappointed to the Historical Resources Board. Sofia has served as a realtor for over 20 years and is the founder of The Avenue Home Collective. She is the vice president of the Asian Real Estate Association of America and helped create a $10,000 homeowner grant for first-time buying families. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in a General Member Seat. 

Melanie Woods was reappointed to the Historical Resources Board. Woods is vice president of Local Public Affairs for the California Apartment Association, with extensive experience in land use and urban planning. She has worked at the intersection of government, business and community interests to advance thoughtful development and economic growth. Previously, Woods served as director of workforce programs at the San Diego Workforce Partnership, where she managed a $4 million budget, launched innovative workforce initiatives, and secured over $1 million in funding to support job training programs. She serves as chair of the Scripps Ranch Civic Association and is involved with the Downtown San Diego Partnership, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and Asian Business Association. Woods holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor's in economics and political science from SDSU. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in a General Member Seat. 

Sarah Moga-Alemany was reappointed to the Board of Library Commissioners. Moga-Alemany previously served as binational affairs manager in Mayor Todd Gloria's administration, focusing on ports of entry and the Tijuana River Valley. Prior to public service, she was an Emmy-nominated television producer, booker and writer for outlets including CBS News, Fox, Newsweek, and The Daily Beast. Moga-Alemany holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from USD and a Master of Arts in Latin American studies from the University of Chicago. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the District 2 Representative Seat. 

Patricia Williams Bevelyn was reappointed to the Board of Library Commissioners. Bevelyn was employed as a vocational counselor with the Chicano Federation and later served as assistant director at Action Enterprises. She spent 23 years with the County of San Diego, advancing from social worker to child welfare services manager before retiring in 2011. A founding member of Project Save Our Children, she helped establish this community-based program to address the disproportionate number of African American children in child welfare services. Bevelyn earned a degree in psychology from Southern University and A&M College and a master's in social work from SDSU. She is reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the District 4 Representative Seat. 

Phyllis Pfeiffer was reappointed to the Board of Library Commissioners. Pfeiffer is a retired journalist who previously served as publisher of the San Diego Union-Tribune Community Press. She also held the roles of senior vice president with the San Francisco Chronicle, vice president of the Contra Costa Times, president and publisher of the Marin Independent Journal and general manager at the Los Angeles Times, San Diego County Edition. She serves on the board of La Jolla Community Foundation, of which she is the founding chair, and on the executive committee of Enhance La Jolla. Pfeiffer holds bachelor's degrees from Cornell University and USD. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the District 1 Representative Seat. 

Mark Tran was reappointed to the Board of Library Commissioners. Tran works for The California Endowment, a private health foundation dedicated to expanding access to affordable, quality health care for underserved communities and improving health outcomes statewide. He previously served with Mid-City Community Advocacy Network, East Biloxi Hope CDA, and East Biloxi Coordination Relief and Redevelopment Agency. A child of refugee immigrants from Vietnam, Tran grew up in City Heights and credits the local public library as a vital resource during his youth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and Asian American studies from UC Santa Barbara. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the District 9 Representative Seat. 

Scott Walter was reappointed to the Board of Library Commissioners. Walter serves as dean of the SDSU Library and is the immediate past chair of the California State University Council of Library Deans. He serves on the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Library Publishing Special Interest Group and the Center for Research Libraries Collections and Services Policy Committee. Walter holds bachelor's degrees in Russian and linguistics and a master's degree in Russian area studies from Georgetown University and a master's degree in education from American University. He also has a Master of Library Science and a Master of Science in history and philosophy of education from Indiana University Bloomington and a doctorate in educational leadership from Washington State University. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the At-Large Seat. 

Marlyn Carrillo was reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. She currently serves in the Public Affairs Department at the San Diego County Water Authority, working on initiatives to strengthen public trust and promote water reliability. A digital marketing expert and lifelong public servant, she has built a career at the intersection of government, community engagement, and storytelling. Her experience includes serving as marketing director at Athenian Group, communications director at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and press secretary for the U.S. House of Representatives, where she led bilingual communications and digital strategies to connect diverse communities with public policy. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Member Seat. 

Wendy Urushima-Conn was reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Urushima-Coon is president and CEO of the Union of Pan Asian Communities. She has more than 25 years of experience in community outreach, fundraising and marketing, and previously served as president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation and the Asian Business Association. She serves as chair of the Southern California Diversity Council and chair of the Board of Library Commissioners. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Member Seat. 

Gail Friedt was reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Friedt has over 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare and pharmaceutical drug development, spanning early-stage research through commercialization. She has held roles in commercial operations, clinical operations and medical affairs in multiple companies, including Abbott, Genzyme, Sanofi, Raptor, and La Jolla Pharmaceutical. Her expertise includes nephrology, critical care, solid organ transplant, hepatology and rare diseases. A retired U.S. Navy Reserve Captain, Friedt is a former critical care registered nurse and certified research associate. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of North Dakota and a master’s degree from UC Dominguez Hills. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Member Seat. 

Carla Nesbitt-Stokes was reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Nesbitt-Stokes serves as an internal education and senior technical software trainer at Corelation, Inc., where she leads training initiatives while developing innovative courses and professional development workshops. Previously at Bryant and Stratton College, she successfully transformed academic programs, increasing student retention and engagement, while also managing adjunct staff. She holds a Master of Science in human resources management from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bryant and Stratton College. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2028, in the Member Seat. 

John Embree was appointed to the Airports Advisory Committee. Embree earned a Bachelor of Science in information and computer science from the University of Hawaiʻi and brings professional experience as a naval officer and as a vice president at LPL Financial, where he managed complex operational environments and developed expertise in risk management, regulatory oversight and organizational transparency. A Serra Mesa resident for 23 years, Embree has demonstrated ongoing community engagement through volunteer service and regular communication with local groups, including the Serra Mesa Planning Group. He is being appointed to a four-year term, and completing the seat's current term ending Feb. 28, 2029, in the Serra Mesa Representative Seat. 

Merle Richman was appointed to the Airports Advisory Committee. He has over 25 years of experience in intellectual property law. He also has direct aviation experience, holding a private pilot license since 2024 and actively flying out of Brown Field. He is currently pursuing an instrument rating with the goal of becoming a certified flight instructor. He holds a Juris Doctor from Temple University, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering from Drexel University. He is being appointed to a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2030, in the Brown Field Municipal Airport Aviation User Group Seat. 

Michael Frazen was reappointed to the Airports Advisory Committee. Frazen is the vice president of IT Risk Management and CEO at Sharp HealthCare. He oversees IT security architecture, engineering, operations, security training, and identity and access management. He previously held technology leadership roles in banking and finance, including vice president of investment banking and 

capital markets technology and vice president of enterprise information security at Wells Fargo. A certified pilot and flight instructor at Montgomery Field, Franzen earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He is being appointed to a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2030, in the Kearny Mesa Representative seat. 

Ron Lee was reappointed to the Airports Advisory Committee. Lee is a professional skydiver and CEO of Skydiving Innovations, a skydiving entertainment company. He is an FAA Part 107-certified commercial drone pilot with multiple authorizations for operations in controlled airspace. Additionally, he holds the U.S. Parachute Association PRO rating as a professional demonstration skydiver and has completed over 7,000 jumps. Lee is reappointed to a four-year term ending Feb.  28, 2030, in the Member with Special Expertise Seat. 

Peter Doft was reappointed to the Airports Advisory Committee. Doft is an attorney and retired Superior Court commissioner. He has served as a San Diego public defender, a partner at Shaffman Iler, Palkowitz and Doft, and he ran a solo law practice focused on real estate, corporate and estate planning matters. He has been a licensed pilot for over 40 years, averaging more than 100 hours of flight time for the last seven years. He is an airplane owner and holds an instrument rating. He is being reappointed to a four-year term ending Feb. 28, 2030, in the Member with Special Expertise Representative Seat. 

Parsa Arya Avaz-Barandish was appointed to the San Diego Youth Commission. Avaz-Barandish is a sophomore at The Bishop's School with a strong interest in politics, global affairs, society, culture and philosophy. He is the founder and director of the American Student Political Society, a platform dedicated to promoting civic understanding and critical political engagement among youth. He previously served as a Democracy Summer fellow for U.S. Representative Scott Peters. His academic and extracurricular interests include debate, Model United Nations and history, reflecting his commitment to deepening his understanding of the world and contributing thoughtfully to society. He is being appointed to a two-year term, and completing the seat's current term ending July 1, 2026, in the Mayor Representative Seat. 

Jackson Turner was appointed to the San Diego Youth Commission. Turner is a student at Steele Canyon High School, where he maintains a 4.5 GPA and holds several leadership roles, including president and founder of the Youth Sports for All Club. He is also a student-athlete who serves as a team captain and drill leader and was recognized as a football scholar captain in the Grossmont Conference for his academic performance. Turner has expressed interest in pursuing a career in public service and seeks to gain experience addressing issues affecting youth in San Diego. His academic record, leadership experience and community involvement support his service on the Youth Commission. 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.