Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, President
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Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, co-founder of Synergy Public Affairs, has been a leader in intergovernmental and community relations for more than 25 years. She currently represents the Business Network for Offshore Wind in the West and provides strategic counsel on Federal relations to the organization, which is at the forefront of growing a major renewable energy source in the U.S. Prior to launching her public affairs firm, Nancy successfully transformed the State of California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. |
With stabilized funding and innovative initiatives, like the California Pay Equity Task Force and an expanded STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) portfolio, including Million Women Mentors-CA and Engaging Girls in STEM, Nancy developed strategic partnerships and focused with deliberate purpose to change the lives of California’s women and girls.
During the Clinton Administration, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and before that held a similar position at the US Department of Labor.
Nancy graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She received the Alumnae Medal of Honor for her years of service to the college. She resides in San Rafael, CA with her husband Sam, and daughter Kira, a MarinSEL graduate.
Craig Hodgson, Treasurer
Craig Hodgson is a partner with the San Francisco office of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis where he maintains a national practice specializing in litigation strategy and the defense of product liability and personal injury lawsuits. Craig grew up in West Marin in a family of educators and attended local public schools. He graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara with a degree in Political Science and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco.Cyane Dandridge
Cyane Dandridge is the Founder and Executive Director of Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) and the School of the Environmental Leadership (SEL). Over her 30 plus years of experience, Cyane has seen the big picture of how communities lack access to energy efficiency services, clean technology, and real-world sustainability pathways.
After receiving her M.S. in Building Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cyane utilized her entrepreneurship and knowledge of innovation in the built environment to bring climate solutions to the community level. By connecting students, residents, government officials, and the workforce in the design process of sustainability programs, she believes we can better pinpoint opportunities for communities to reach their goals. With so many groups working toward our climate future, Cyane is excited for the potential our youth and communities have to create an environmentally responsible world.
Ward Bouwman
Ward Bouwman holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication as well as a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology. He brings over 10 years of experience as a Systems and Network Administrator, and is an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator. In addition, he has developed several Custom Filemaker applications and solutions that have been in use for over 10 years. Mr. Bouwman has launched a number of successful companies, one being Mac business consulting by Oakgrounds Inc. and is the lead programmer of Pearl Bids Silent Auction Management software.
Michael McDowell
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Michael McDowell, EdD has been a public school educator for the past eighteen years serving in the roles of classroom teacher, academic and athletic coach, school principal, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, and superintendent. During his tenure as a superintendent, his school district received state and national accolades including the National Blue Ribbon Award which recognized their work for student performance and mental health and well-being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by the U.S. Department of Education.
Dr. McDowell serves on numerous boards, served as a college professor, and worked for non-profit organizations to enhance student learning around the world. Over the course of his career, Dr. McDowell has authored bestselling books, created professional learning programs and workbooks, provided keynotes and workshops, and provided practical tools and resources for thousands of teachers and leaders on almost every continent around the world. A prolific author and consultant, Dr. McDowell is recognized as one of the leading authorities on integrating innovative and impactful practices into schools. Offering keynotes and executive coaching to heads of school around the world, he partners with educational leaders to implement high leverage strategies that will enhance teaching and learning in classrooms, schools, and systems.
He holds a B.S., M.A. and Ed.D. Michael and his wife, Quinn, live in Northern California with their two children, Harper and Asher.
Loren Altura
Loren Altura is a versatile global legal leader and business partner with many years of experience in leading legal teams and providing strategic counsel for start ups and multinational corporations across industries, including, ecommerce, consumer packaged goods, food safety, education, logistics, technology licensing, finance and SaaS. With a proven track record of delivering value and results, Loren helps colleagues, boards, C-suite leaders and business teams solve complex problems, successfully navigate the unknown, and efficiently manage risk to achieve transformational growth. Known for adding value in dynamic international environments, Loren has expertise in corporate and commercial law, data privacy, regulatory compliance and emerging technologies.
Loren earned her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs and her juris doctor from Loyola University School of Law with certifications in intellectual property and international law. She is licensed to practice in California.
Loren and her husband live in the North Bay with one teenager in college and one teenager currently in the MarinSEL program.
In her spare time, Loren leads yoga and meditation classes and serves as guest faculty for Nor Cal institutions such as Ratna Ling as well as participates in community volunteer efforts with the Order of the Eastern Star of Mill Valley, CA.
Cindy Johanson, Advisory Board
Cindy Johanson has more than 25 years experience leading the design and expansion of digital services with a primary focus on education. In her current role with the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Cindy oversees Edutopia, a premier Internet source about what works in K-12 education. Previously, Cindy served as senior vice president of interactive and education for the Public Broadcasting Service. At PBS, she led the launch and growth of the award-winning pbs.org Web site and its suite of Internet sites, including pbskids.org, pbsparents.org, and pbsteacher-source.org. Johanson’s passion for online learning started in 1989 with text-based interfaces and 300 baud modems when she managed teacher support and training for Learning Link, an online service for K-12 classrooms. Cindy has two children who have attended MarinSEL at Terra Linda High School: Emily ’16 and Jack ’19.