Advisory Board

Michael is the Director for the Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity department (AAEO) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The department is responsible for investigating discrimination complaints, leading affirmative action planning, and facilitating reasonable accommodation and religious accommodation requests at OHSU. Michael develops and conducts employment law trainings for staff, faculty and management. He also represents OHSU in conducting community outreach with diverse populations and serves on the Community Transitional School Board. He serves as Co-Chair to both the Diversity Advisory Council and Physical Access Committee at OHSU.

Prior to joining OHSU, Michael was a litigation defense attorney, advising employers in all aspects of employment and civil rights litigation. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington and his Juris Doctorate and Dispute Resolution Certificate from Willamette University College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington.

Alma M.O. Trinidad, PhD, MSW is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at Portland State University (PSU). As a first generation college graduate and professional, born and raised on the island of Molokai, Hawai’i with family roots of Filipino immigration through the sugar and pineapple industries, she describes her voyage of serving the people and community as becoming a Pinay (Filipina) scholar warrior and guardian of kapu aloha (sacred love)/mahalaya (love and freedom). She earned her PhD in social welfare from the University of Washington, Seattle, her MSW from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her BSW from the University of Hawai’i, Manoa.

She is a macro social worker and scholar activist. She brings an array of work in community organizing, health promotion, and education among diverse communities that impact children, youth, and families. Her scholarly work focuses on critical Indigenous pedagogy of place, youth empowerment, social determinants of health and education, youth and family participatory action research, social movements, and leadership and mentorship for social change. Her published work can be found in social work professional journals. Other research and teaching interests include critical humanist design thinking, community practice, and culturally responsible research methods. Dr. Alma has passion for the arts, creative work, nature, spirituality, and spending quality time with her family. Raising her kids keeps this work real.

Kayla brings over 25 years of experience to the business of developing, implementing and managing successful projects. Whether working with small, two-person partnerships or Fortune 500 companies, Kayla provides both practical and professional experience to guide her clients through the inherent challenges of project management. Kayla helps companies produce the positive outcomes they seek by identifying opportunities, building and cultivating professional relationships, fostering cooperation and designing programs designed to produce positive outcomes. Industries and areas where Kayla has applied her skills include:
• Health Care
• Government Affairs
• Entertainment
• Food & Hospitality
• Business Development
• Marketing
• Project Management

Kayla uses an integrated, strategic approach to unite people with mutual interests and objectives. Her guidance has helped companies and individuals cultivate and develop relationships into lasting and productive partnerships, which grow more effective, respected and credible over time.Most recently, Kayla was appointed by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee to serve on the Council for Independent Living. In her ongoing effort to facilitate effective, meaningful communication and create avenues for meaningful change, Kayla serves in various capacities on several volunteer and advisory board, which include: president-elect for the Portland Chapter of Elevate Network, the Oregon Bioscience Association Annual Conference committee, the International Prisoner’s Family Conference committee, Breast Friends and Sisters Network‑Portland, the One in Four Chronic Health Board, Ambassador for the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy. Previously, Kayla was a hands on board president who helped restructured a $4.5 million “Camp for Kids with Disabilities” facility – 501(c) (3) non-profit.

Anselmo Villanueva’s father came to this country from the Philippine Islands in the late 1920’s and his mother was of German/English background from Montana. He and his brother grew up in Santa Barbara, CA., did his undergraduate at UCLA in the 1960’s where he met and married Rose Mary. They attended Graduate School in University of Southern California and began to teach at Oxnard, CA, moving to Eugene, OR, in 1979 and working for District 4J. They adopted one son, Martin, in 1988. In 1992 he received his PhD from the University of Oregon.

Dr. Villanueva has been a career educator at all levels from elementary school through higher education both at Lane Community College and the University of Oregon. He has been teacher, administrator, consultant. Anselmo has served on many boards, task forces and initiatives relating to diversity and equity issues, locally, statewide and at the national level. Dr. Villanueva is committed to life-long learning, serving the next generation through recruitment, supporting, and mentoring and administrating the Rites of Passage Program hosted at Lane Community College. Dr. Villanueva is committed to equity, diversity, human dignity and social justice with his actions and his voice. Dr. Villanueva makes time for his family, friends and colleagues and has learned how to balance family, work, professional interest and personal growth. He finds time to have fun, surf, swim in the ocean, collect old cars, sit by campfires and have friends over for a BBQ.

Mari is the executive director of Partners in Diversity and the program director for Leadership Portland. As Executive Director of Partners in Diversity, Mari oversees this non-profit whose mission is to help companies recruit, support, and retain professionals of color in Oregon and SW Washington. As the Program Director of Leadership Portland, Mari manages all aspects of the 10 month leadership program designed to develop community leaders for today and tomorrow.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Mari worked in the corporate arena for 25 years before switching to the nonprofit sector. She was the first executive director of Oregon Nikkei Endowment, a Japanese American history and culture organization. Appointed by Governor John Kitzhaber in May 2011, Mari serves as vice-chair on the Oregon Commission for Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs under the umbrella of the Oregon Advocacy Commission. Mari graduated from Washington State University and studied for one year in Japan as a foreign exchange student at Japan University. Raised in Seattle, Mari moved to Portland in 2000 and enjoys golfing, biking, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

A first generation mainlander, Anita was born and raised in Portland Oregon. She attended Parkrose Elementary and graduated from Reynolds High School. She is a seasoned professional with deep experience in community development, public policy and community engagement. Anita has been a leader in innovation and sustainability, leading communities in alternative systems planning and innovative approaches to community planning. Anita is keenly involved professionally and personally in community service and brings a focus on equity and a culturally competent approach to working with people and communities.

Anita holds a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, Planning Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Oregon State University. She is also a Fellow with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Anita received the Governor’s Livability Award, the Excellence in Downtown Award and the Distinguished Leadership for a Professional Planner from the American Planning Association.

Grant is the chair emeritus and vice president of operations at NW Natural. He is responsible for overall management and coordination of utility operations for NW Natural, a local natural gas distribution company headquartered in Portland, Oregon serving 680,000 customers in the Northwest Oregon, Southwest Washington area.

Grant has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. He spent 12 years in the electric utility and independent power development industry before joining Northwest Natural in 1991. Prior to his current assignment at NW Natural, he has managed gas supply contracts, major accounts, commercial services, marketing, sales and advertising, construction operations, and customer service. He is also involved in supporting several community and charitable organizations and has been or currently is a board member of Volunteers of America Oregon, Japan-America Society of Oregon, the America Leadership Forum, and Community Vision. Grant earned bachelors and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He is a licensed professional mechanical engineer in the State of Oregon.

Jenny Kim currently serves as the National President of the Korean American Coalition (KAC), a non-profit, non-partisan community
advocacy group with nine chapters throughout the United States. Dedicated to the ideals of inclusiveness, Jenny works to represent the interests of immigrants, refugees, women, children, and any marginalized and under-represented community members.

She is also serving as an appointed Commissioner of Home Forward, Housing Authority for Multnomah county. Her previous non-profit
experiences include The Portland Montessori School, Korean Society of Oregon, Divided Families USA, American Cancer Society, and Special Olympics to name a few.