Board of Trustees

ROBERT BREM, MA, MC, NCC, Licensed Professional Counselor, is Chair of WISR’s Board of Trustees. Advanced Doctoral Work: Public Administration and Organization Theory, Arizona State University (1994 to 1998); Master of Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, 1989; Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Arizona State University, 1985. Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor. Robert J. Brem is a futurist and organizational consultant; and he is a professor of politics, public administration, and psychology. Robert Brem is a National Board Certified and Arizona Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a certificate in non-profit organizational management. He is a professional teacher, and consigliere (engaged in organizational consulting, community organizing, “mentoring” [life coach & clinical supervisor)], and counseling) since 1989. Robert has taught at eight institutions of higher learning in Arizona and California. He has been on the faculty at College of Alameda since 2004 (in psychology and political science); and on the faculty at CSU-East Bay (since 2007) teaching in the Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program (and in the department of political science). He is also an Associate of the Center for Future Consciousness working in consulting in Alternative Futures Policy Analysis and Conscious Evolution in the public and social (non-profit) sectors. He was Chair of the College of Alameda Curriculum Committee and the co-chair of the Peralta District “Green” Curriculum Committee and on the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Peralta Initiative (from 2005 to 2016). As well, he is the lead curriculum developer and a Co-Coordinator of the Community Change and Urban Leadership Initiative—an initiative in the areas of community development, urban leadership, and civic engagement, public service, law, and violence prevention (2005 to present).

CHARLES GREENE, MBA, is Treasurer of WISR’s Board. Chuck graduated from the University of Pittsburgh (Bachelor’s) and has his MBA from Harvard Business School. Chuck Greene is the Executive Director of the Cedars of Marin, which has model day and residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Chuck has more than 36 years of nonprofit management experience as co-founder and Administrative Vice President of World College West, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of San Francisco, The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund and the Goldman Environmental Prize. He has been an interim executive director for nine Bay Area nonprofits, including at CompassPoint Nonprofit Services. Previous interim assignments include Chinese for Affirmative Action, Angel Island Immigration Foundation, Zen Hospice Project and the Marin Institute.

BRIAN C. HARRIS is Secretary of the Board. BA Politics and Philosophy, York University, England, 1976. Mr. Harris immigrated to the United States in 1979. He has managed Paradigm Promotions LLC, a Public Relations and Sales Management company, since he founded the company in 1986. Paradigm Promotions has contributed to the growth and success of a myriad of emerging and established businesses. Among many accomplishments, Paradigm brought the concepts and analysis of emotional intelligence to the fore in the wake of the Columbine HS massacre in 1999. They were promoters of the public television program Kanga Roddy, which applied the concepts of emotional intelligence, empathy and non-violent resolution to resolve the most complex of challenges and moral dilemmas. The highly rated show entertained millions of children throughout the United States, through song and dance, between 1998 and 2000. From 2010, Mr. Harris founded the Zero Net Energy Working Group to promote solutions to energy use in building and construction. In 2017, ZNEWG secured unanimous passage of the landmark Berkeley Deep Green Building Initiative through the City Council.

NICOLE DIXON, MS in Psychology/MFT, WISR, 2022. BA, Social Welfare with honors, University of California, Berkeley. AA, Psychology and Sociology with highest honors, Berkeley City College. Nicole is a WISR alumna whose master’s thesis researched, “In What Ways Might High Expectations for Academic Performance Negatively Impact the Development of a Positive Sense of Self among Youth?” As a student at WISR, she has been active in facilitating collaborative relationships and a study group among MFT students. Her practicum was with WISR’s Center for Child and Family Development providing therapy for low-income students in San Francisco’s Mission district, and their families. Before coming to WISR, during her undergraduate studies, she interned with Berkeley City Councilmember, Kate Harrison, working on projects in such areas as homelessness. Nicole worked for several years as a Behavioral Technician, providing behavioral therapy to youngsters with autism. She was a recipient of the Cal Alumni Leadership Scholarship, and as a graduating senior, she was considered for the University Medal, due to her 3.96 GPA. She joined Delta Xi Phi sorority because of its mission focusing on multiculturalism and inclusiveness. Her senior honors thesis was on Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Future Incarceration for Children with Early Onset Conduct Disorder.

SAJAD SHAKOOR, MS in Education and Community Leadership from WISR in 2016. Bachelor of Specialized Studies (BSS) from The Ohio University in 2013. He’s currently a doctoral candidate at WISR pursuing his EdD. In 1997, Sajad was sentenced to life in prison under California’s Three Strikes Law and was incarcerated collectively for over 2 decades. While inside, he reformed his life and pursued education. That education and his personal growth helped him influence civic leaders at Stanford University to address the injustices of the Three Strikes Law and successfully overturn that very law that took away his freedom. After his release in 2013, Sajad started working for the Tayba Foundation to help advance educational programs in prison. In 2014 he enrolled at WISR, and he founded a non-profit organization to further assist prisoners in their educational development. As part of these efforts, he campaigned for and helped pass SB 1391, a bill that made it possible for California prisoners to acquire community college education for free. Sajad founded the Falafel Corner restaurant franchise in Sacramento in 2016 and grew it to over 30 locations, making it one of the biggest Halal restaurant chains in America. As a tireless advocate for prisoners’ rights, he uses Falafel Corner as a means to employ formerly incarcerated people and to provide them with the skills and training that will help them grow and prosper.

KAREN YOUNG, EdD, MPH. EdD in Higher Education and Social Change, WISR, 2022. Master’s in Public Health Education, San Jose State University, 1978. Ms. Young is a WISR doctoral program alumna whose dissertation used the Dreyfus Model of Expert Knowledge to focus on the evaluation of Home Care Aide training and determine if the training prepared the student graduates to work in the home care industry as second-level caregivers or Direct Support Providers, DSPs. She is the owner and Executive Director of Provider’s Friend, a health education and training company established in 1988. She provides health education and training services for residential care providers in California. She teaches health education and training courses in Bay Area Community Colleges and Adult Schools. Further, she is the author of the training curriculum and the Home Care Aide Training Workbook used to train caregivers in three Bay Area school districts. Ms. Young developed the Home Care Aide training curriculum and communication tools approved by the California Department of Rehabilitation for Home Care Aide training of individuals who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.

Non-Voting Members of the Board:

JOHN BILORUSKY, PhD, a co-founder of WISR (1975), has been WISR’s President for 45 years, and has served as a core faculty member at WISR since its inception. John’s academic degrees are: BA in Physics cum laude, and cum laude in General Studies, University of Colorado, 1967. MA in Social Foundations of Education, University of California at Berkeley (1968), and PhD in Higher Education, University of California at Berkeley (1972). He previously served on the faculty in Social Science Interdisciplinary Studies (University of California, Berkeley), Community Services (University of Cincinnati), and as Director of Graduate Studies at University Without Walls-Berkeley. He has written and published extensively on adult learning, action-research, and reform in higher education. Over the years, John has served as a consultant and project director for many educational institutions and community organizations, and for innovative action-research projects aimed at community improvements and educational reform.

AMANDA CORTEZ, MA, LMFT, (Faculty Representative to the Board). BS in Community Studies with an emphasis in Community Organization, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2009. Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling, John F. Kennedy University, 2015. Her experience ranges from serving populations struggling with mental health within the Criminal Justice System, Victims of Domestic Violence, SLE-Substance Abuse and Independent Living within SARC. In addition, her work expanded to working with high-risk populations such as providing 5150 risk assessments for minors, emergency response, consultation, seeking safety training to other clinicians in the field, along with providing management services to crisis response teams for mobile crisis response and a crisis stabilization unit.

With over 17 years dedicated to the field, she then moved towards developing a group practice and filling gaps that she felt her mental health community was missing.  As the Founder and Owner of Yes to Therapy, Amanda has cultivated a sanctuary for healing, extending her expertise to those grappling with mental health challenges. Her practice isn’t confined to traditional boundaries; as she and her dedicated team provide profound treatment to clients with all needs.  A licensed LMFT since 2018, her contributions extend beyond the therapy room—she is a public speaker, renowned for her engaging talks on mental health issues and therapist development. Notably, Amanda graced the stage at the CAMFT 60th Anniversary Conference, captivating audiences with her insights and passion.

In addition to her clinical and advocacy roles, Amanda Cortez is a catalyst for change in the therapist community. She founded the nonprofit organization Yes To You, a 501c3 dedicated to enhancing access to professional development for minority women who choose to take the path of studying mental health. Her leadership extends to the SCV-CAMFT Board of Directors, Silicon Valley, where she serves as Treasurer, actively shaping the future of mental health advocacy. In 2023, she and her team at Yes To Therapy authored Tales of The Other Side of The Couch, a transformative book anthology designed to demystify the mental health profession and inspire future generations of therapists. This initiative is aimed to provide mentorship and knowledge-sharing, ensuring that aspiring professionals are equipped with the insights and tools needed to thrive in their careers.

SHEENA SATTARPOUR, MA, LMFT, is the Executive Director of the Western Institute for Social Research-Center for Child and Family Development (CCFD) and the Coordinator for the Oxford Symposium in School-Based Family Counseling (SBFC). Sheena is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco (USF). Sheena has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development with a minor in Biology. She also obtained a certificate in chemical dependency and substance abuse counseling, which further piqued her interest in counseling psychology, and the family systems model.

Throughout her career, she has participated in research projects at Arizona State University such as observational coding of children’s behavioral, physical and emotional interactions and academic success; and investigating through telephone interviews the raising of successful teens in Mexican and Mexican-American families. As an Associate Substance Counselor at Court Counseling Services, Inc. (CCS) and a Marital and Family Therapy Associate during her practicum at the University of San Francisco (USF) and in many other internship positions, Sheena gained clinical experience and Crisis Intervention Support (CIS) skills while working with the developmentally disabled. Sheena has taught groups about substance abuse, family systems dynamics, bullying/cyberbullying and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT).