Board of Directors
Enrique Medina, Ph.D.
Board President
Dr. Enrique Medina has focused on making a difference in the community of the city of Pomona for over 25 years throughout his career at Pomona Unified School District. Dr. Medina became a part of the Pomona Unified School District team in 1990 starting as a High School Science Teacher. Presently, Dr. Medina is the Director of the Career Readiness, Pomona Adult School, and San Antonio Regional Occupational Program. Programs have been growing tremendously due to industry and business partnerships, governmental agencies and successfully being awarded grants resulting in opportunities for students and adult’s lives for the city of Pomona, and Inland Empire.
Dr. Medina’s focus is to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to be career ready & college bound; encourage the development of new 21st Century Career Technical Education (CTE) programs enhancing and maintaining current CTE programs that are in high demand in the labor market. A key component is to provide Career Pathways and employability skills that are necessary to successfully transition to employment and postsecondary education. Dr. Enrique Medina Jr. is completing his 27th year in public school education. He is serving on many local, county and state boards and committees in the areas of career readiness. He is a life-long learner and knows first-hand the pivotal role which education plays in opening gateways to opportunity.
As an immigrant to the US at the young age of 12 from Mexico, he started school in the US in 8th grade. Fast forwarding to his college education, Dr. Medina attended The University of California San Diego and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with the emphasis in Biochemistry and minors in Organic Chemistry and History of Latin America. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Social and Psychological Foundations of Education and his Philosophy Doctorate Degree from Claremont Graduate University.
Dr. Medina has been happily married for over 22 years with his wife Alma and has two children Anthony and Maya.
Enrique Medina, Ph.D.
Board President
Maria A. Burwell
Board Vice President
Toni retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after thirty-two years. She was a Sargent in charge of the Mental Health Evaluation Team (MET). She also served as a hostage negotiator for over twenty years. She worked patrol and was a detective. Toni also worked Internal Affairs before being assigned to the MET Team. She attended Rio Hondo, Cerritos, and East Los Angeles Colleges. She grew up in Santa Fe, Springs California and her family still lives there. She has been married for forty years and together with her husband has two adult sons and one adult daughter. Toni has two nephews and a niece who are adopted and they are wonderful adults.
Carlos E. Ruvalcaba
Board Treasurer
Carlos was born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico. In 1985 he moved to Los Angeles, California. Upon his arrival, he was hired by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services as an Eligibility Worker and served for thirteen years. He then moved on to Community Center Inc. in South Los Angeles where he became a Business Representative under their Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program. He served the community for eight years. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Coalicion De Latinos Americanos (CODELA) Child Development Center and his organization is currently serving over four hundred families and children in Southeast Los Angeles with State Pre-School Services. His professional career outside of CODELA includes serving as the President of Realtor Estate Investment Corporation in Los Angeles. He is active in a variety of civic and cultural organization including citizenship programs and assisting churches to establish sound business policies to be competitive in the business world. Outside of the professional interest he travels, reads, enjoys music, sports, and attending cultural events with his family.
Michael Da Rosa
Member at Large
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Michael is a recently retired educator, having worked in numerous leadership capacities, I am interested in dedicating time in serving in areas that I have personally experienced as valuable and enriching. To contribute in the creative development of vision, through collaboration is energizing. I intend on bringing enthusiasm and compassion in these types of endeavors, while also contributing to problem-solving efforts. Michael's Professional Degrees & Experience are: Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences at California Polytechnic State, University; Master Degree in Educational Administration at California State University, San Bernardino; Studied Education/Urban Leadership at Claremont Graduate University.
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Current events that Michael particularly enjoys American politics and environmental concerns; family life, including: spouse, children, horses, chickens, dogs; socializing with friends; travel; camping; organic gardening; reading.
