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Chris Silverstein

Position
Membership Liaison
2023-24
Biography

Chris first came to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB. After graduating, she spent the next 20 years living and working in many beautiful cities around the world (Boston, Kyoto, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Seville, Spain). Chris returned to Santa Barbara - the most beautiful city of all! - in 1998 with her husband Mark and their three children. She returned to UCSB as well, to work in the education abroad office on campus for 15 years as an academic specialist. While there, Chris fostered her interest in digital media by assisting with their website development, graphic design, electronic newsletters, and educational videos. Recently retired, she is co-captain of her Women’s Fund group 4 Empowerment and is working with them on increasing the diversity of their group membership. Although happily settled in Santa Barbara, Chris and Mark continue to explore the world as avid travelers.

Claudia Thorsen

Position
Group Captain Liaison Team Lead
2022-23
Year Joined
2021
Biography

Claudia joined the Women’s fund in 2021. She has a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Engineering Management from California State University, Northridge. Claudia’s career in software management in the pharmaceutical industry has exposed her to many companies and cities in the US and the world. A native of Mexico, Claudia is fluent in Spanish and is delighted to become an active part of Santa Barbara, where she now lives with her husband, Henning, their three school-age children and their medium-sized dog.

Cristina Castelo Rodriguez

Position
Online Contributions Manager
2023-24
Year Joined
2021
Biography

Cristina Castelo Rodriguez has been a member of the Women’s Fund since 2021. She received her BA from UCLA with a double major in Psychology and Sociology, Masters in Counseling from LMU and Doctorate in Education from USC. She worked as a High School Counselor and College Office Director for four years. She transitioned to higher education in the Community College sector working at various colleges before obtaining a tenure Counseling position at Los Angeles Pierce College. She currently works as the Articulation Officer focusing on transfer curriculum development. Cristina has volunteered in various capacities at her children’s schools as well as the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation. Currently, Cristina is on the Women’s Funds Membership Committee assisting the Contributions Director.

Janey Cohen

Position
Database Tech
2021-22
Year Joined
2019
Biography

Janey joined the Women’s Fund in 2019. She graduated from UCSB, with a science degree and a teaching credential. She enjoyed 36 years of teaching middle school students in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. While Director of Service Learning at Crane School, she discovered the joy of volunteering and working with non-profits. Retired since 2014, Janey now gives her time to several non-profits in the Carpinteria community, where she has lived with her husband, Tim, for over 35 years. She serves on committees at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, the Carpinteria Woman’s Club, and the Friends of the Carpinteria Library. Janey is also a watercolor artist and a member of the Santa Barbara Art Association and the Santa Barbara Visual Artists.

Julie Sorenson

Position
Group Captain Liaison
2022-23
Year Joined
2006
Biography

Julie Sorenson has been a member of the Women's Fund since 2006 and a captain of INSPIRED since 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development/Family Studies with a minor in Psychology at Cal Poly. Her work experience began with direct care and management in group homes. She worked at Devereux for ten years, working primarily as a medical case manager. Since 2013, she has been V.P. of Customer Service for Sprigeo, a web-based reporting system for student safety. She is married with two daughters in their twenties. When her children were younger, she worked with ParentClick/SBParent.com, doing Marketing/Sales. Julie manages social media and newsletters for Leading From Within. She is also the Community Coordinator for the Katherine Harvey Fellows (KHF) alumni. A program alum from the KHF class of 2010-11, Julie is an involved community member, volunteering at local organizations. Still inspired, she is excited to share her passion for the Women's Fund by supporting both captains and members as one of the Group Captain Liaisons.

Kathryn Dinkin

Position
Group Captain
2022-23
Biography

Kathryn has lived in Santa Barbara for over 30 years and has worked with several nonprofits during that time: from the Arthritis Foundation to Legal Aid, from the Santa Barbara Bar Association to the board of WEV. She was on the Transition House Board of Directors for 10 years and served on the SB Women's Commission for several years, one year as President. She has one daughter. Her husband is a partner at the Stradling Law Firm. She loves Santa Barbara and is proud that we have so many wonderful nonprofit organizations in our community.

Kathy Weber

Position
Contributions Manager
2022-23
Year Joined
2009
Biography

Kathy joined the Women's Fund in 2009 and is captain of the Funding Friends group. She joined the Finance Committee as Contributions Manager in 2019. She is originally from Pasadena and has BA and MS degrees from the University of Wisconsin. Her 35-year career at the University of Michigan included information technology and bioengineering, focusing on child passenger safety. Since moving to Santa Barbara in 2004, she was active in Newcomers as newsletter editor and database manager, and she served on the SBMA Women's Board as webmaster and treasurer. Kathy is currently Secretary of the Ensemble Theatre Company Board of Directors, and she is an active supporter of the SB Symphony and the SB Maritime Museum.

Kathy Wenger

Position
Membership Events Manager
2017-18
Year Joined
2015
Biography

Kathy has been a member of Women's Fund since 2015. She is originally from St. Joseph, Missouri and moved to Washington, DC after graduate school. She and her husband split their time between Santa Barbara and DC. Kathy was the Tournament Director of the professional men's and women's tennis tournaments in DC for ProServ, Inc. She then served on the Executive Committee of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts as their Marketing Director. After leaving Wolf Trap she started her own event production and design company serving corporate clients needs with entertaining groups of 50-3500 people. Kathy has been actively involved in volunteer work in the DC area for 30+ years. She served on the Board of Directors of the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland and as Chair of their openings of two theatre spaces. Since 2009, she has served on the Steering Committee for the Women on the Move luncheon in DC in support of MS research. She also chaired a gala for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in DC, a Board member and gala chair for NARAL MD and as a member of a variety of nonprofit committees.

Lauren Trujillo

Position
Membership Chair
2020-2021
Year Joined
2019
Biography

Lauren Trujillo first came to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB where she received a B.A. in History. She is a UCLA MLIS graduate and is the Foundation Director of the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation. Lauren is also a member of the Junior League, Santa Barbara Northside Optimist Club, Santa Barbara Young Professionals, and sits on the board of the Women’s Literary Festival of Santa Barbara. She is thrilled to join the membership team and give back to our community as a member of the Women’s Fund.

Linda van Buren

Position
Individual Member Liaison
2023
Year Joined
2016
Biography

A transplant from New York, Linda has had the very good fortune to call Santa Barbara home for the past 50 years and volunteering in the community in various capacities has been an integral part of her life here. Initially Linda's efforts were directed toward the arts, especially with the Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Symphony. That emphasis changed when she joined the Women’s Fund in 2016 as a member of the Encore group. Her enthusiasm for the Women’s Fund was so immediate that she soon formed Encore Too and Encore Three and continues to be the Captain of both groups. The Women’s Fund has enabled Linda to address the needs of women and children in our community in a way she never imagined possible. While not engaged with the Women’s Fund, she continues her 50 year plus career as a travel advisor. The little leisure time that remains is devoted to traveling the world with her husband, gardening, reading and caring for their toddler granddaughter.

 

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