Team

Patrick O’Donnell

Chief Executive Officer

As the Chief Executive Officer of Making Waves Foundation, Patrick is responsible for setting the strategic vision and direction of the foundation, building and cultivating a high-performing team, and leading the team to advance its vision of college access and success. Patrick started his career as a Teach For America teacher in Los Angeles, teaching 7th and 8th grade Language Arts and English a Second Language. He went on to hold a variety of leadership roles at Teach For America, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Teach For America – Indianapolis and as the Vice President of National Development. Before joining Making Waves Foundation, Patrick and his husband spent two years teaching at the American School Foundation of Guadalajara, where he also led strategic and cultural change management processes and spearheaded a redesign of recruitment and hiring strategies. Patrick graduated with a BA from Boston College, an MA in Education from Loyola Marymount University, and an MBA & MA in Public Policy from Georgetown University. 

Elaine Clark

Chief Financial Officer

As the Chief Financial Officer, Elaine is responsible for the design and implementation of comprehensive financial and IT strategies, policies and procedures, technology and systems for the organization. Elaine brings more than 25 years of financial and administrative management experience. Most recently she was in charge of finance and accounting operations for Mills College and prior to that, she served as CFO for non-profit and for-profit companies. She has held leadership positions in public and private companies, including for global Fortune 200 firms in the tech, biotech, pharmaceutical, and transportation sectors. Elaine holds an MBA in Finance and Information Technology from University of California, Irvine, as well as a master’s degree in International Finance and Accounting and a bachelor’s degree in International Business Management from University of International Business and Economics, China.

Darcy Heppenstall Deming

Chief Advancement Officer

As the Chief Advancement Officer, Darcy is responsible for the design and implementation of a comprehensive development and communications strategy for the organization. She brings more than 25 years of professional experience. Most recently, Darcy completed nearly a decade of development work at Stanford University serving as Associate Dean for External Relations at the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Science and Director of Corporate, Foundation, and International Relations for the Graduate School of Business. She has also worked for UC Berkeley and London Business School. Prior to higher education, Darcy worked in business development, public relations and advertising. Darcy holds a BS from Jefferson University and an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School and a certificate in strategic marketing management from Stanford University.

Melissa Fries

Executive Director

Melissa Fries is a leading expert in college access, preparation, and success for low-income and historically-underrepresented students. As the Executive Director of CAP—a program of Making Waves Foundation—Ms. Fries empowers more than 650 students to complete their college degrees in a timely manner with minimal debt. Ms. Fries has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and program development, including leadership roles at Stanford University, Menlo College, and San Francisco State University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Black Studies from UCSB and a Master’s Degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.

Shannon Bowen

Vice President, Development

As the vice president of development, Shannon is responsible for fundraising strategy and implementation. She brings more than 13 years of development experience, with an emphasis on education equity in the East Bay. Most recently, Shannon served as the director of development & communications at Civicorps. She has also operated her own fund development consulting business, managed institutional fundraising for Planned Parenthood Northern California, and was the director of development for KIDS for the BAY. Shannon holds a BA in psychology from Trinity University.

Jerold Ligons

Vice President of Property Management and Facilities

Understanding that in order to achieve success in life includes making a plan for what you want to accomplish, make sure you find and utilize the resources that are presented and be determined and diligent on the execution of the plan.

Frank Lucido

Vice President of Information Technology

As the VP of information technology for Making Waves Foundation, Frank is responsible for both the strategic and tactical planning, design, and implementation of all internal and externally-facing technologies at Making Waves Foundation. He brings over 20 years of professional experience. Most recently, Frank was the director of IT at Room to Read. His leadership drove the digital transformation that currently allows Room to Read to scale operations in 19 countries with over 1,700 staff. Before working in the not-for-profit sector, Frank spent 15 years in the private sector in various roles ranging from software developer to CIO. Frank brings a broad but intimate understanding of and passion for Making Waves Foundation's mission, vision, and goals. Frank holds a BA in English literature from Dominican University.

Amanda Medress

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

From baroque flute to political activism to mushroom foraging, people at Oberlin unabashedly follow their unique passions. During college, I learned the power of pursuing what inspires you, and that when you put yourself out there the community will follow.  

John Scheidt

Vice President of Human Resources

It’s easy to regress into the person you were and what people want you to be- but don’t. Believe in always moving forward, always changing, and not changing back into who you used to be. Learn from your accomplishments and mistakes and become more than what people and yourself thought you would be.

Angela Bereola

Events Manager

In her role as event manager at Making Waves Foundation, Angela produces a wide range of events for Making Waves Foundation, the College and Alumni Program (CAP), as well as Making Waves Academy. These events include the CAP Graduation Gala, the CAP College Sucess Institue, and board and donor events. Prior to Making Waves, Angela produced and supported events for a San Francisco-based software company throughout several US cities, Canada, and Europe. In addition, Angela has more than 10 years of property management experience. She attended San Francisco State University.   

Anthony Clayton

Help Desk Technician

Consuelo Dela Rosa

Controller

In March 2018, Consuelo joined the Foundation's real estate department as the controller, where she supports property acquisitions, documents archiving, and payments of real estate- and construction-related expenses. Consuelo first joined Making Waves in 2008, serving as the chief accountant for both the Foundation and the Making Waves Education Program. Other roles Consuelo has held at Making Waves include finance manager and controller of treasury, audit, and operations. Prior to Making Waves, Consuelo worked in accounting for Levi Strauss & Co. for 12 years and worked at a private CPA firm in San Francisco for 7 years. That CPA firm was the first independent auditor of both the Making Waves Education Program and the Foundation. Consuelo's volunteer experience includes Project Open Hand, the annual AIDS Walk, the AIDS Dance-A-Thon, and the AIDS Emergency Fund. Consuelo graduated from Western Washington University, where she earned her BA in accounting. She also has an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Corina Garcia

Real Estate Property Manager 

Getting involved in activities and organizations on or off campus is an excellent way to make friends, network and develop valuable skills.

Jacqueline Hu

Controller

Jacqueline is the controller at Making Waves Foundation. She attended the University of California, San Diego and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics. After graduating, she worked in many aspects of accounting, including at an accounting firm and at a private college. She is excited to bring her experience and knowledge of the mission to Making Waves.

Matthew Kozina

Project Manager

1212“Enjoy the ride. The experience is one that you’ll never have again, learn to enjoy and accept every moment (good and bad). Remind oneself that it is a marathon and not a sprint to the end.”

Krista Martin

Executive Liaison Officer 

College provided myriad academic and social opportunities which allowed me to demonstrate personal independence, accountability, and perseverance, while working toward attaining various goals in preparation for future success, and learning how to stay balanced. Additionally, I learned to trust my intuition and exhibit the courage to make changes when necessary, such as declaring a new major in my second year.

Rob Miller

Sr. Business Systems Analyst

As the senior business systems analyst, Rob is responsible for ensuring the successful completion of IT solutions via requirements gathering, analysis, project management support, quality assurance, deployment, and post-implementation support. He brings 30 years of enterprise IT experience to the organization. Most recently, Rob worked for M Squared Consulting in their utilities practice. He has also worked as a programmer/analyst with Del Monte Foods and Electronic Data Systems, delivering enterprise-level applications and solutions. Rob holds a BBA from Temple University in computer and information sciences.

Reyna Morales

Human Resources Manager

Reyna is a first-generation college student. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley and obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Spanish. While in her last semester at Cal, she obtained a tutoring job at the Making Waves Education Program. Following, Reyna worked at Making Waves as a financial services coordinator and as a bus monitor. In 2008, she began her transition into the HR department of Making Waves. Currently an HR manager, Reyna has appreciated having multiple roles at Making Waves, as they have allowed her to gain a true understanding of the organization as a whole.

Jessica Pan

Jr. Staff Accountant

Jessica is part of the finance team at Making Waves Foundation. In her role as a junior staff accountant, she processes accounts payable and payroll and works closely with the development team to record donations from donors. She graduated with a BA in accounting from UC Riverside.

Lauren Pitcher

Associate Director of Marketing and Communications

In her role as associate director of marketing and communications, Lauren is responsible for media relations and social media for the Foundation. She also supports content development and email marketing. For more than 10 years, Lauren has worked in a variety of communications and public relations roles. Most recently prior to Making Waves, Lauren led communications for the President Obama Promise Neighborhood initiative (Hayward Promise Neighborhood) at California State University, East Bay. Lauren holds a BA in communications studies and minor in theater arts and dance from Sonoma State University.

Ruben Reyna

Accounts Payable Specialist

Alma mater: U.C. Berkeley

As an accounts payable specialist, Ruben is responsible for the administration of Intacct, Concur, accounts payable, and partnering with the CAP financial services team. He is also responsible for controlling expenses by processing, verifying, and reconciling invoices, credit card expenses, and expense reports. He has six years of experience in accounting and business analysis. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from U.C. Berkeley.

Kyle Swarthout

Director of Finance

Heather Thomas

Human Resources Manager

College, like life, is not a race, but a marathon. College, like a marathon, requires preparation and training. In college, like in training, you must listen, learn, replicate, repeat, make mistakes, get back up, try again, and never give up!

Mercedes Thomas

Multimedia Designer

Find a community where you can belong to and be involved on campus with.

Lou Tran

IT Manager

With the independence from being far from home, I learned how to take responsibility and ownership of my actions and life.

Jamil Vallis-Walker

Salesforce Developer

A Bay Area native and San Jose State University alum, Jamil received a BA in psychology and shortly thereafter began working in educational administration. Prior to joining Making Waves, he worked as a school registrar and database administrator, where his interest in technical solutions for business and data needs took off. He joined the CAP team in September of 2017, serving as their program and salesforce administrator. While there, he developed an affinity for the Salesforce system and an increasing desire to learn and create robust, code-based solutions. Through on-the-job learning and self-study, he developed a firm skill set on the platform. In March of 2019, he transferred to the Foundation’s IT office as a salesforce developer.

Monica White

Associate Director of Development

Monica White is the associate director of development at Making Waves Foundation where they manage the development team’s technology assets, oversee operations, conduct prospect research, and participate in strategy. Monica brings more than six years of experience fundraising in the Bay Area, where they have lived since 2009. Monica is an alumna of San Francisco State University where they studied international relations with a specification on international agriculture and food policy.  

Nichelle Winters

Annual Fund Manager

Nichelle is overjoyed to join the Making Waves Foundation team as the annual fund manager. She earned her bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies and her master's degree in social and cultural foundations in education from DePaul University. At DePaul, Nichelle learned to take the lofty ideas of educational philosophy and apply them practically. Working in the corporate and nonprofit sectors also trained her to plan, implement, and execute campaigns and projects as strategically as possible. “It takes all kinds to make a world.” ― Aimé Césaire

Macy Yip

Office Coordinator

The most valuable lesson I took away from college, was with perseverance you can achieve anything!