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Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, President

Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, co-founder of Synergy Public Affairs, has been a leader in intergovernmental and community relations for more than 25 years. She currently represents the Business Network for Offshore Wind in the West and provides strategic counsel on Federal relations to the organization, which is at the forefront of growing a major renewable energy source in the U.S. Prior to launching her public affairs firm, Nancy successfully transformed the State of California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

With stabilized funding and innovative initiatives, like the California Pay Equity Task Force and an expanded STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) portfolio, including Million Women Mentors-CA and Engaging Girls in STEM, Nancy developed strategic partnerships and focused with deliberate purpose to change the lives of California’s women and girls.

During the Clinton Administration, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and before that held a similar position at the US Department of Labor.

Nancy graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She received the Alumnae Medal of Honor for her years of service to the college. She resides in San Rafael, CA with her husband Sam, and daughter Kira, a MarinSEL graduate.

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Craig Hodgson, Treasurer

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Cyane Dandridge

Cyane Dandridge is the Founder and Executive Director of Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) and the School of the Environmental Leadership (SEL). Over her 30 plus years of experience, Cyane has seen the big picture of how communities lack access to energy efficiency services, clean technology, and real-world sustainability pathways.

After receiving her M.S. in Building Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cyane utilized her entrepreneurship and knowledge of innovation in the built environment to bring climate solutions to the community level. By connecting students, residents, government officials, and the workforce in the design process of sustainability programs, she believes we can better pinpoint opportunities for communities to reach their goals. With so many groups working toward our climate future, Cyane is excited for the potential our youth and communities have to create an environmentally responsible world.

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Ward Bouwman

Ward Bouwman holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication as well as a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology. He brings over 10 years of experience as a Systems and Network Administrator, and is an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator. In addition, he has developed several Custom Filemaker applications and solutions that have been in use for over 10 years. Mr. Bouwman has launched a number of successful companies, one being Mac business consulting by Oakgrounds Inc. and is the lead programmer of Pearl Bids Silent Auction Management software.

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Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell, EdD has been a public school educator for the past eighteen years serving in the roles of classroom teacher, academic and athletic coach, school principal, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, and superintendent. During his tenure as a superintendent, his school district received state and national accolades including the National Blue Ribbon Award which recognized their work for student performance and mental health and well-being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. McDowell serves on numerous boards, served as a college professor, and worked for non-profit organizations to enhance student learning around the world. Over the course of his career, Dr. McDowell has authored bestselling books, created professional learning programs and workbooks, provided keynotes and workshops, and provided practical tools and resources for thousands of teachers and leaders on almost every continent around the world. A prolific author and consultant, Dr. McDowell is recognized as one of the leading authorities on integrating innovative and impactful practices into schools. Offering keynotes and executive coaching to heads of school around the world, he partners with educational leaders to implement high leverage strategies that will enhance teaching and learning in classrooms, schools, and systems.

He holds a B.S., M.A. and Ed.D. Michael and his wife, Quinn, live in Northern California with their two children, Harper and Asher.

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Loren Altura

Loren Altura is a versatile global legal leader and business partner with many years of experience in leading legal teams and providing strategic counsel for start ups and multinational corporations across industries, including, ecommerce, consumer packaged goods, food safety, education, logistics, technology licensing, finance and SaaS. With a proven track record of delivering value and results, Loren helps colleagues, boards, C-suite leaders and business teams solve complex problems, successfully navigate the unknown, and efficiently manage risk to achieve transformational growth. Known for adding value in dynamic international environments, Loren has expertise in corporate and commercial law, data privacy, regulatory compliance and emerging technologies.

Loren earned her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs and her juris doctor from Loyola University School of Law with certifications in intellectual property and international law. She is licensed to practice in California.

Loren and her husband live in the North Bay with one teenager in college and one teenager currently in the MarinSEL program.

In her spare time, Loren leads yoga and meditation classes and serves as guest faculty for Nor Cal institutions such as Ratna Ling as well as participates in community volunteer efforts with the Order of the Eastern Star of Mill Valley, CA.

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In Memoriam: Mildred Church Dandridge

We are honored to remember and pay tribute to the life of one of our most cherished staff members, Mildred Church Dandridge. Mildred was part of The SEL since its inception in 2011.

Mildred was fundamental to the forming of SEI. She acted as SEI’s Education Program Director until 2007, working with countless schools and engaging youth in their communities. Though she “retired” in 2007, she still remained a member of the SEI team and helped launch The SEL. Mildred wrote key curriculum for both SEI and The SEL and assisted in laying the foundation for key curriculum to receive University of California A-G approval for The SEL, as well as obtaining college credit for the courses. Throughout these contributions, Mildred sought ways to help train young people to take a clearly defined environmental leadership role in their communities.

In addition to all of her accomplishments at SEI and The SEL, Mildred was an integral part of her community. She volunteered her time to start Odyssey of the Mind at the Dixie School District in San Rafael, as well as the innovative GATE program that focused on creative math projects. She was the treasurer of the East Bay Peace Action Network and served on committees at the El Cerrito Library and El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee. Before she joined the SEI and The SEL team, she was the Director of Academic Advising and an adjunct faculty member at The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York. She helped to found The Sage Colleges Women’s Center, where she empowered young women to have the confidence to take on anything they wanted in their lives and careers – to be feminists. Mildred believed by developing an environmental leadership role, young people have the potential to change the way they think about themselves and the environment. It was all of these accomplishments and more that lead to Mildred being honored with the Purpose Prize Fellowship in 2007 and becoming a multiyear awardee of the YWCA Woman of the Year Award.

As instrumental as Mildred was in establishing SEI and The SEL, it is her heart of gold and vibrant smile that we will miss the most. Mildred put her voice and action behind her values and gave 200% to these organizations. Many of us at The SEL have worked alongside Mildred for years and miss her immensely.