Our Leadership

Our Leadership

The Oakland Promise Board of Directors is a dedicated group of leaders from education, philanthropy, business, government, and the nonprofit sector who bring a wide range of expertise and deep roots in the Oakland community.

Oakland Promise Executive Team

  • Sandra Ernst

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Adam Berke

    Chief Financial and Operations Officer

  • Arbour Decker

    Chief Development Officer

  • Anthony Rodriguez

    Strategic Advisor to CEO

  • Veena Pawloski

    Chief Programs Officer

  • "Oakland Promise continues to prove that when we invest early, support students consistently, and partner across our community, we can change the trajectory of thousands of young lives. As the backbone of Oakland’s cradle-to-career ecosystem, Oakland Promise drives alignment across sectors to ensure every young person has a clear, supported path from early learning through college and career.”

    Dr. Michael McAfee, Board Chair Emeritus & CEO of PolicyLink

Oakland Promise Board of Directors

  • JODI BEASLEY

    Senior Director of Community at B Lab

  • BARB FREMDER

    East Bay College Fund, Founder

  • SETH HAMALIAN

    Board Treasurer | Mission Bay Development Group, Managing Principal

  • JAMES HARRISON

    Board Secretary | Olson Remcho, LLP, Partner

  • STEPHANIE ISAACSON

    Senior Director of Community Relations, PG&E / Executive Director, The PG&E Corporation Foundation

  • COLIN LACON

    Kaiser Permanente East Bay, Director of Public Affairs

  • JOEL MACKEY

    Bay Area Community Resources, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and Attorney at Law in Private Practice

  • DR. MICHAEL MCAFEE

    Board Chair Emeritus | PolicyLink, CEO

  • MARIA PIRNER

    Oakland Unified School District, Classroom Teacher

  • SUSIE PONCELET

    Former East Bay College Fund Board Secretary

  • ROBERT STARK

    SpencerStuart, Partner

  • SUSAN STUTZMAN

    Board Chair | Former EBCF Board President

  • KIM THOMPSON

    Retired PwC Principal

  • DR. KYLA JOHNSON TRAMMELL

    TMI Partners, Executive Advisor

  • ANNE CAMPBELL WASHINGTON

    Senior Assistant Dean at UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy

  • CARL WASHINGTON

    Strategic Partnerships Executive & Business Development Leader

Invest in Oakland's Promise

Invest in Oakland's Promise

Support Oakland Youth on Their Path to College and Career Success

Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders. Your support helps Oakland students pursue their college and career dreams—and turn them into reality.

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