Mayor Edwin M. Lee

the San Francisco Board of Supervisors

the Commission on the Status of Women

and the

Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women

present the

Women Making History

Awards Ceremony

“Women Inspiring Innovation Through

Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics”

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Board of Supervisors Legislative Chambers

2nd Floor, City Hall

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, California

Women’s History Month 2013

Honorees

Gael Beresford Honored by Supervisor Eric Mar (D1) Gael Beresford has dedicated her career to growing young minds and expanding the number of

students in high school mathematics. Ms. Beresford has been teaching at the George Washington High

School since 1971, where she started the AP Statistics program and served as the Mathematics

Department Head from 1998-2011. She encourages all of her students to continue taking math classes

after they finish second year Algebra in order to build their confidence in the subject. She also brings

in former students to present to her classes on how math and most college majors are inter-related.

Previous to George Washington High School, Ms. Beresford taught at the Polytechnic High School.

She helped organize the Expanding Your Horizons Conference, an annual event meant to encourage

female middle and high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics. Ms. Beresford earned her master’s degree with a focus on secondary mathematics

education from UCSF. Her thesis involved national trends in the 1970s that pointed to a steady drop

out of female high school students in upper division mathematics courses. Ms. Beresford received a

second teaching credential from Lone Mountain College, and her BA in mathematics from the San

Francisco College for Women. She was born and raised in San Francisco.

Donna M. Cahill Honored by Supervisor Norman Yee (D7) Donna Cahill has focused her career on serving the needy and ending the cycle of poverty for young

San Franciscans. Since 1997, Ms. Cahill has served as Executive Director for the Holy Family Day

Home (HFDH), San Francisco’s oldest early childhood education and family support center. During

Ms. Cahill’s tenure, HFDH has doubled in size, built a $7.8 million state-of-the-art facility, and earned

national accreditation from the National Association for Education to Young Children. In 1995, she

helped HFDH obtain the first-ever federal funding for subsidized childcare for homeless families.

Prior to her work at HFDH, Ms. Cahill served as the Director of Children and Family Services for

Catholic Charities, where she worked for six years. She has also worked on resettling refugee families

following the Vietnam War and expanding the programs serving homeless families and the elderly in

the Tenderloin District. Besides her work at HFDH, Ms. Cahill is active in District 7’s St. Emydius

Parish Community as a Eucharistic Minister and is an active Child Abuse Prevention Trainer. She

formerly served as the Small Faith Communities Coordinator. Ms. Cahill earned her BS in elementary

education from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently working toward her master’s degree in

pastoral care and counseling at Fordham University.

Dr. Sue Carlisle Honored by Supervisor Scott Wiener (D8) Sue Carlisle PhD, MD is the Associate Dean at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), a position

that she assumed on an interim basis in January 2003 while also serving as Chief of Anesthesia. As

Associate Dean, Dr. Carlisle’s accomplishments include tireless advocacy on behalf of the faculty at

SFGH and the hospital, steering the faculty through unprecedented changes in departmental and

School of Medicine leadership, establishing collegial working relationships with SFGH and

Department of Health administration, and leading the UCSF participation in the rebuild of San

Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Carlisle is also currently Professor of Clinical Anesthesia and

Medicine. Throughout her career Dr. Carlisle received several awards including the Chancellor’s

Faculty Award for Advancement of Women, the Stuart C. Cullen MD Award for Clinical Excellence,

Faculty Clinical Excellence Award, and the Elliot Rapaport Award for Commitment to San Francisco

General Hospital. Dr. Carlisle earned her MS and PhD in parasitology from Tulane University, her

MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her postdoctoral work at the Department of

Biology at Rice University.

Debby Davidson Honored by Supervisor London Breed (D5) Debby Davidson has been working in women’s health for over 30 years. Ms. Davidson is a Family

Nurse Practitioner specializing in family and women’s health. She has worked at the Women’s

Community Clinic in District 5 since 2008 and at the New Generation Health Center in District 9

since 1997. Ms. Davidson has also worked at Laguna Honda Hospital, Castro Mission Health Center,

Planned Parenthood, San Francisco General Hospital, and San Francisco Family Planning Clinic. She

has mentored hundreds of young women with an interest in health. In her time away from work, Ms.

Davidson enjoys working in her backyard vegetable and flower garden, sewing and quilting, hiking on

all the beautiful Bay Area trails, and taking backpacking trips in the Sierras. She has two sons who

were born, raised, and are now living and working in San Francisco. Ms. Davidson holds a bachelor of

nursing, a master of nursing, and a Family Nurse Practitioner certification.

Stephanie Felder Honored by Supervisor John Avalos (D11) Stephanie Felder is the Director of Comprehensive Crisis Services, a section of the Community

Behavioral Health Services within the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She started her

work in the community at the age of 14 by participating in community health fairs, volunteering for

the American Cancer Society, and assisting with coordination of community programs through her

church. Having spent over 18 years providing direct crisis services, Ms. Felder has learned the

importance of providing mental health service in the community, particularly for those families

strongly impacted by crisis incidents. She delights in serving the community and goes the extra mile to

ensure that she and her team provide top-notch services to the San Francisco community – especially

women and children affected by crisis. She received her education from Oakwood College and

California University where she obtained a master’s degree in psychology.

Ebony Frelix Honored by Mayor Edwin M. Lee Ebony Frelix is the Director of IT Business Operations at Salesforce.com, the enterprise cloud

computing company whose social and mobile cloud technologies help businesses connect with

customers, partners, and employees in new ways. Since 2008, Ms. Frelix has also worked closely with

Year Up. Year Up is a training program that provides low-income young adults with a combination of

hands-on skills and development, college credit, and corporate internships to enable them to cross the

opportunity divide. With Ms. Frelix’s help, Saleforce.com has hosted almost 50 Year Up interns, and in assisting in their career development, introduced youth and diversity into the office. The Year Up

program provides a platform and opportunity for young women of all ethnicities to attain success in

the workplace. Ms. Frelix has previously worked for Washington Mutual, Providian, and Pacific Bell.

She graduated from Golden Gate University with a degree in computer information systems.

Tessie Guillermo Honored by District Attorney George Gascón Tessie Guillermo is President and CEO of ZeroDivide. ZeroDivide invests in nonprofit organizations,

and provides consultation and advisory services to foundations, business, and government agencies to

help develop and implement innovative technology programs that support underserved communities.

Prior to ZeroDivide, Ms. Guillermo served as CEO of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health

Forum. In 2000, Ms. Guillermo was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to serve as an

inaugural member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

She currently serves as Board Chair for The California Endowment and Board Secretary for Dignity

Health. She is also a board member of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, the

Nonprofit Finance Fund, and Northern California Grantmakers. Ms. Guillermo is an alumna of the

University of California, Berkeley and California State University, East Bay, with a BA in Economics.

Julia Hartz Honored by Supervisor Mark Farrell (D2) Julia Hartz is the Co-Founder and President of Eventbrite. Her San Francisco based company builds

technology that facilitates gatherings, helps people find and attend events that match their interests,

and connects people with others who share their passions. Eventbrite enables people all over the world

to plan, promote, and sell out any event. As President, Ms. Hartz strives to foster the culture that has

defined Eventbrite, and that has placed the company among the Top 5 Best Places to Work in the Bay

Area for two years in a row. Prior to co-founding Eventbrite with her husband, Kevin Hartz, Ms. Hartz

enjoyed a career in the Television Development at MTV Networks and FX Networks. She has served

on the board of The Village Well, a non-profit organization that supports slow parenting. She has also

been active in The Full Circle Fund. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two daughters.

Ms. Hartz received her BA in telecommunications from Pepperdine University.

Marlena Jackson Honored by Supervisor Malia Cohen (D10) Marlena Jackson is the founder of NexGeneGirls, and a scientist at one of the world’s leading biotech

organizations, Genentech. NexGeneGirls was started in 2011 as a grassroots organization committed

to empowering young women from under-represented communities. The organization provides these

girls with an opportunity to see themselves in science by introducing them to the wonders of many

different science, engineering, technology, and math professions. Born and raised in San Francisco’s

Bayview-Hunter’s Point community, Ms. Jackson understands the challenges and roadblocks faced by

many women of color. She wants to change the invisibility of women in STEM by inspiring young

girls to embrace challenges, and help them to develop self-confidence so that they are able to become

the next generation of leaders. Through science, Ms. Jackson is committed to changing lives in her

community.

Tina Moylan Honored by President David Chiu (D3) Tina Moylan is an influential neighborhood advocate living in District 3. Ms. Moylan has served as

president of the Russian Hill Neighbors since 2009, where she works with a board of over 25

members on preserving the character and integrity of the Russian Hill neighborhood. She has been a

strong vocal supporter for community-based projects including, most recently, the North Beach

Library. Ms. Moylan is also a board member on the San Francisco Police Department Northern

Station Community-Police Advisory Board. In this capacity, she works with the San Francisco Police

Department to increase community involvement in promoting safety and to ensure her neighborhood

stays informed about safety concerns through email alerts. Ms. Moylan also serves on the Department

of Public Health’s Health Matters Board and on the Executive Committee of the North Beach

Community Coalition. Ms. Moylan owns and operates the jewelry design business Palette Originals.

She was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from the University of San Francisco.

Maggie Sullivan Honored by Supervisor David Campos (D9) Maggie Sullivan has been teaching math at Phillip & Sala Burton High School for eight years. Burton

High School was established in 1984 as a result of a Consent Decree between the City of San

Francisco and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Ms. Sullivan teaches

Advanced Algebra Honors, Advanced Algebra, and Geometry. She is also an advocate for at risk

youth, and holds many leadership roles such as Chair of the Math Department and started the Burton

Drama Program with one of her colleagues. In 2008, Ms. Sullivan was nominated in the Examiner as

one of the best teachers in the City. Says her nominator, “[Ms. Sullivan] makes the subject enjoyable

and holds all of her students to the highest standards.” Ms. Sullivan grew up in the East Bay, and

spends her summers traveling to places like South American and Africa to gain fresh perspectives and

challenge her own cultural boundaries.

Laura Tam Honored by Supervisor Katy Tang (D4) Laura Tam is the Sustainable Development Policy Director at the San Francisco Planning and Urban

Research Association (SPUR). She coordinates SPUR’s work in five major policy areas: green

buildings, water supply, wastewater, energy, and climate change. She also serves on the Board of

Directors for the Friends of the Urban Forest. Prior to joining SPUR, Ms. Tam worked for the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General, where she conducted research and

produced recommendations for the EPA to better manage environmental problems. In this position,

she worked on a variety of policy issues, such as enforcing the Clean Water Act and managing

electronic waste. She previously worked for the Northern Forest Center on rural development and

conservation in the Northeast. She is the author of the book At Home in the Northern Forest. Ms. Tam

earned a master’s degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry and

Environmental Studies, and a BA in geography from Dartmouth College.

Mimi Yee Honored by Supervisor Jane Kim (D6) Mimi Yee is the former proprietor of the Manor House Restaurant located on the ground floor of the

Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Antonia Manor. For over 16 years, Ms. Yee

served hundreds of affordable meals to her customers, six days a week. Through her low-cost food

and generosity of spirit, Ms. Yee and her restaurant became a neighborhood institution and a major

source of food security for local residents. The Manor House also served as an important safe-space,

allowing countless low-income residents to gather and socialize. In 2012, the restaurant was

recognized as one of California Senate District 3’s Small Businesses of the Year. Senator Mark Leno

recognized Ms. Yee for her “warmth and generosity…For years she has helped support the Tenderloin’s homeless community, low-income residents, and others in need.” Ms. Yee has also

received the Brother Kelly Cullen Community Service Award from the Tenderloin Neighborhood

Development Corporation. This award is presented to an individual who has shown extraordinary

community spirit and compassion in providing services to San Francisco’s poorest and neediest

residents. Ms. Yee moved to San Francisco from China in 1982.

San Francisco Commission and Department on the Status of Women

The mission of the San Francisco Commission and Department on the Status of Women is to

ensure the equal treatment and foster the socioeconomic, political, and educational advancement

of women and girls throughout San Francisco. Since 1998, when San Francisco became the first

city in the world to enact a local ordinance reflecting the principles of the United Nations

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the

Commission and Department have achieved landmark progress in implementing this international

bill of rights for women through innovative approaches to policies and programs to address

women's economic independence and violence against women. For this work, the Department

received the 2010 Gender Equality Award from the United Nations Institute for Training and

Research. For detailed information about the Commission and Department on the Status of

Women, please visit www.sfgov.org/dosw or call 415.252.2570.

Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women

Founded in 1976, the Friends of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women is a non-

profit organization specifically founded and operated to raise awareness of and funding for the

San Francisco Commission and Department on the Status of Women. The organization

welcomes new members. Your active participation will increase your knowledge and

understanding of issues, events, and legislation impacting women. For additional information

about the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women, please visit www.friendscosw.org

or call 415.77.WOMEN.

Women’s History Month Background

March is nationally recognized as Women’s History Month. In 1980, a group of women came

together in Santa Rosa, California to form the National Women’s History Project, a coalition

that successfully lobbied Congress and the White House to designate the week of March 8th

(International Women’s Day) as National Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress

expanded the celebration, resulting in the entire month of March being declared National

Women’s History Month. Since 1996, the San Francisco Commission and Department on the

Status of Women, in partnership with the Mayor and Board of Supervisors, have celebrated

this month with a public ceremony to recognize the contributions of women in the community.

Special Thanks

The reception is made possible by the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women. The

Friends would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support of today’s event:

Gold Sponsors CH2MHILL

Southwest Airlines

Silver Sponsors Lee Hecht Harrison

Patricia Bovan Campbell

in memory of her late husband Scott R. Campbell

Regina Phelps

Stephanie Block

Special thanks to the Public Utilities Commission for their support of this event.

This event would not have been possible without the dedicated staff of the Department on the

Status of Women Aimee Allison, Stacey Hoang, Ann Lehman, Carol Sacco, and Cynthia

Vasquez, as well as our dedicated fellows and volunteers Jane Bernard-Powers, Elizabeth

Laferriere, Lina Malova, Nancy Rock, and Johanna Saenz.

Save the Date

Monday, September 30, 2013

Annual CEDAW Human Rights Awards Luncheon

Julia Morgan Ballroom

Inspiring an Equal Future

Hosted by the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women

Additional Information and Sponsorship Opportunities

available at www.friendscosw.org

Event Partners

MAYOR EDWIN M. LEE

SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Supervisor David Chiu, President

Supervisor John Avalos

Supervisor London Breed

Supervisor David Campos

Supervisor Malia Cohen

Supervisor Mark Farrell

Supervisor Jane Kim

Supervisor Eric Mar

Supervisor Katy Tang

Supervisor Scott Wiener

Supervisor Norman Yee

SAN FRANCISCO COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN President Julie Soo

Vice President Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez

Commissioner Alicia Gamez

Commissioner Kay Gulbengay

Commissioner Becca Prowda

Commissioner Andrea Shorter

Executive Director Emily M. Murase, PhD

FRIENDS OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN President Marily Mondejar

Secretary Patricia M. Bovan-Campbell

Treasurer Esther Colwill

Director Stephanie Block

Director Cathy Campbell

Director Shinta Halim

Director Barbara Mark, PhD

Director Oona Marti

Director Peg McAllister

Director Karen Schwindt