Board of Directors

The Umoja Community Education Foundation is led by a board of directors. These directors represent a variety of stakeholders and skill sets. Each director is uniquely passionate about the success of African American students.

The Board of Directors meets four times a year (in-person) and on an as-needed basis throughout the year. Agendas and meeting minutes can be found here.

    Dr. Darla Cooper
    President
    Dr. Darla M. Cooper is an educational leader and expert in research and evaluation dedicated to using inquiry, data, and evidence to improve the lives of all community college students. After serving for the past several years as the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Research and Planning Group for the California Community Colleges (RP Group), Dr.... READ MORE
    Jeri Marshall
    Vice President
    Jeri Marshall is an Outreach Specialist and Adjunct Faculty member at American River College. As an adjunct faculty member he teaches college success with an African American emphasis for the Umoja-Sakhu Learning Community.  Jeri has served as a youth minister with Faith Fellowship Community Church, South Sacramento Christian Center and has been instrumental in the church educational programs and... READ MORE
    Laurin Williams
    Student Board Member
    Laurin Williams was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in the Bay Area. She is currently pursuing a business degree at American River College and plans to graduate with a 3.4 grade point average. In the summer of 2022, she received a Business Administration Certificate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. While she has endured many hardships, she is determined to not allow those... READ MORE
    Kenyon Callahan
    He serves as an adjunct faculty member at Cerritos College, Chaffey College, Chafton Hills College, and Ventura County Community College District. Kenyon earned a bachelor's degree in political science and government and a master's in public administration from California Baptist University.
    Dr. Ernie Bridges
    Umoja Elders Council
    Ernest L Bridges is a long-time educator of African-American Studies at Fullerton College and California State University Fullerton. He also functions as Faculty Advisor, and Mentor to students belonging to several campus organizations such as The Black Student Union (BSU), and the Fullerton College Umoja Community. Additionally, his background includes working a number of years as a human... READ MORE
    Crystal Gitonga
    Student Board Member
    Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins
    Dr. Cooper Wilkins was appointed the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at City College of San Francisco in 2020 with administrative oversight for Enrollment Services, Outreach and Community Partnerships (Admissions and Records, Assessment, Outreach, Community Partnerships, and the Bridget to Success Program); Student Success (Counseling Services, Retention, and the Completion Center; Financial... READ MORE
    Ray Green
    Ray Green serves as the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Sacramento Community Coordinator for The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, a nonprofit in Sacramento, California, that believes every person in California should have the opportunity to live a healthy life and strives to eradicate health inequities across the state.  In his role, Ray focuses on addressing violence prevention and intervention, as... READ MORE
    Dr. Brenda Thames
    Brenda Thames has over 24 years of experience in instruction, student services, and administration in the California community college system. She has served in a broad range of roles, including adjunct faculty, tenured faculty, faculty coordinator, department chair, program director, dean, vice president of student services, and vice president of instruction. Thames presently serves as the... READ MORE
    Marcus Dawson
    Treasurer