Meet Our Team

For more than 135 years, the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland has elevated the voices and concerns of women and girls, BIPOC and LBGTQ+ communities and fought for social justice.

Executive Staff

  • Monique LeSarre, PsyD

    Executive Director

  • Layla Dargahi

    Deputy Director

  • Fernanda Olivares

    Operations Director

  • Juliet Galvez

    Senior Manager of Finances and Development


  • Victoria Mendoza

    Director of Programs

Our Staff

  • Itzel Salinas Hernandez
    Advocacy Program Manager

    Karma Smart
    Art, Culture, and Wellness Curator

    Karen Lei
    Workforce Development Coordinator

    H. Ameeta Singh, LMFT #50409
    Mental Health Director

    Claire Marchiano
    Career Coach

  • Jackie Kleeberg
    Communications and Marketing Manager

    Chris Carlisle
    Facilities Manager

    Cristina Estrada
    Rentals Manager and Front Desk

    Maria Galvez
    Housekeeping and Hospitality Assistant

    Mattheu Jimenez
    Lead Data Contractor

  • Diana Maravillo
    Senior Administrative Assistant

    Samantha Velez
    Senior Administrative Assistant

    Erika Galvez
    Arts, Culture & Wellness Assistant

    Nolla Moskvych
    Advocacy Assistant

    Arasani Valdez Lechuga
    Administrative Assistant

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of women leaders using their passion, insights, and connections in the community, to create real impact for YWCA Berkeley/Oakland.

Officers 2025 – 2026

  • Marcus Hill

    Chair

  • Paige Wheeler Fleury

    Vice-Chair

  • Trina Ostrander

    Treasurer

  • Francesca Gibson

    Secretary

Directors

  • Dom DeGuzman

    Kate Earle Funk

    Reverend Yi Gaylord

    Francesca Gibson

  • Marcus Hill 

    Trina Ostrander

    Mary Remy  

    Paige Wheeler Fleury 

  • Adrienne Williams

    Dohee Kim

    Victoria Hughes

    Erica Jiang

Our Interns

  • Sarah Ismail
    YouthWorks Intern/Front Desk

    Dunia Ghafori
    YouthWorks Intern/Front Desk

    Delayja Morrow
    YouthWorks Intern/Front Desk

  • Jasmine Mongue
    Art, Culture and Wellness

    Aklesya Dechasa
    Advocacy

    Zaara Dhaddey
    Advocacy

    Sophia Garduno
    Advocacy/Banyan Tree 


  • Krishna Veni
    Advocacy

    Mei Assalian
    Advocacy

    Bhoomika Pullela
    Advocacy/Admin

    Maria Vanessa Hernandez
    Admin/Deep Canvasing