Chair

Prunedale, California. Tomi Burgess joined the Monterey Bay Charter School School Board in the fall of 2011. She has been a non-profit volunteer for the past 28 years. Tomi has enjoyed different roles in event planning, park restoration, and child advocacy. Tomi has also served on the Monterey Bay Charter School Foundation Board, played a critical role in establishing and managing the donor database, has chaired multiple fundraisers, community events, and Parent Circle. Tomi currently lives in Prunedale with her husband and two children. Tomi’s oldest son attended Monterey Bay Charter School from kindergarten through eighth grade and is currently attending Monterey High School. Tomi’s second child is currently enrolled at Monterey Bay Charter School. Tomi is also pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education.

Vice Chair

Yhashika Lee is an instructor and a faculty associate in Teaching and Learning Assessment at CSUMB. She has a B.A. from UC Berkeley and J.D. from UCLA Law with a concentration in Critical Race Theory. Yhashika is passionate about helping faculty create culturally inclusive classrooms. She uses her background in Critical Race Theory to re-imagine solutions to the structural inequality that shapes our education system and continues to create barriers for students of color. She is also trainer of trainers in racial justice work and is currently in the process of being a certified diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Treasurer

Rob serves as an Operations Research Analyst for the United States Army and is currently a Data Scientist for NETCOM at the Naval Postgraduate School. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Rob has also held various roles as a Financial Management Officer within the Army.

He holds a Master of Arts in Applied Economics from San Diego State University, an MBA in Finance from American Public University, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from Grantham University.

Rob’s two youngest children are students at Monterey Bay Charter School, while his eldest son is studying at CSU Sacramento.

Director

Dr. Rodrigo Nieto-Gomez is a geostrategist and defense futurist focused on the consequences of the accelerating pace of change in homeland security, defense, and policing environments. He is a research professor at the National Security Affairs Department and at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School and has also worked as a certified facilitator and instructor for the Command College for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and a former instructor at the Executive Academy of the Emergency Management Institute. He is also a faculty member of Singularity University and currently assists the Common Mission Project as an academic advisor, supporting mission-driven entrepreneurship.

Dr. Nieto has a Ph.D. in Geopolitics from the French Institute of Geopolitics of the University of Paris. He holds a J.D. from the State University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. His native language is Spanish, and he has bilingual proficiency in English, full professional proficiency in French and intermediate knowledge of German. As an aviation enthusiast, he holds a private pilot certificate.

Director

Thomas Rogers has been career advising for 20 years and working with college students for 15+ years. He earned a BA in Psychology from Sonoma State University and an MA in Human and Organizational Transformation from California Institute of Integral Studies. Thomas worked for AT&T for 7+ years, volunteered with the Peace Corps in China, and currently advises and teaches at CSU Monterey Bay. He keeps his students focused on professional development, equity and social justice, and self-care. Thomas is a practicing Buddhist, proud husband, and father to two young children.

Director

Chris Capozzi is the father of two MBCS students and his family lives in Monterey. He retired from the Army in 2018, after serving first as an infantry officer and then as a JAG officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Ithaca College, a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University. He currently works as a Legal Assistance Attorney at the Presidio of Monterey.

Board Chair

Shannon Conner, MA is a passionate conservation educator. Currently working for the Bird School Project as an outdoor education instructor in the Salinas Union High School District, teaching students and staff the value of being outdoors. She is the founder of the up-and-coming Dudleya Nature Center in Seaside, California and also worked at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in various capacities over the last decade. When she isn’t hiking around Monterey County with her dog, Shannon can be found working in her garden or crafting various projects around her house.

Director

Shelly has two children at MBCS and has been apart of the school for 5 years. She puts in hundreds of volunteer hours each school year because she loves what MBCS stands for. Shelly is currently a stay at home mom, but has a degree in marketing and product development. She has worked in that field for many years, including owning her own business. Shelly has volunteered in many different youth programs for the past 20 years. Has worn many hats such as director, advisor, councilor, event coordinator, teacher, coach etc.

Shelly’s other passion is traveling. Making multiple trips a year all over the country/world with her husband and children. When she’s not traveling you can find her watching soccer, driving her kids to sports/activities, spending time with friends and family, or just snuggling on the coach with her two dogs.

Director

Bio TBA

Director

Bio TBA