Our dedicated staff and board are committed to serving San Francisco's foster youth, ensuring that every child has a voice that's heard.
Open Positions | Staff | Board
Open Positions
Case Supervisor, Transitional Age Youth, & Juvenile Justice Lead
Intern & Youth Empowerment Board Member
SFCASA is committed to workforce diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. SFCASA will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. San Francisco CASA is an equal opportunity employer.
STAFF
Kate Durham, Executive Director
An experienced leader, Kate has worked with Bay Area community-based nonprofits, philanthropy and local government for 30 years. Kate launched her career at Hospitality House’s program for runaway and homeless youth based in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, where she went on to become Executive Director. She then worked at San Francisco's Human Services Agency in Housing and Homeless Programs, where she worked to engage the community around a proposed drop-in center serving the homeless community in the Mission District.Most recently, Kate served as Executive Director for Beyond Emancipation, a multi-service organization serving transition age current and former foster youth in Alameda County. One of her significant achievements at BE was leading the development and integration of a strength-based, trauma-informed, direct services coaching model, created to deliberately reconnect young people with their innate capacities, voice and choice.
Paul Knudsen, Chief Operating Officer
Paul joined SFCASA in 2013 and currently leads the development and communications, operations, and data teams. He has raised more than $45 million in his 32 years of development and marketing work, including positions at Project Open Hand, American Conservatory Theater, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the San Francisco Education Fund. An avid traveler, Paul has lived in Barcelona, Madrid, and Tokyo. He is always planning his next trip. Paul has a BA in mathematics from Williams College and a Masters of International Marketing from ESMA Escola Universitaria in Barcelona.
Erika Dirkse, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Prior to her appointment as Program Director in 2011, Erika served for three years as a Case Supervisor, focusing her work on supporting volunteers working with adolescents. Erika is particularly interested in supporting older youth in foster care and is a founder of the San Francisco AB12 Local Workgroup. Additional interests include resiliency in foster youth, access to public benefits, and improvements to the bridge between services for juveniles and adults. Outside of SFCASA, Erika is a member of the Program Quality and Compliance Committee at the Lincoln Child Center in Oakland. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and holds doctoral candidacy status in the history of social sciences. Erika is also a committed bike-commuting mom who loves to be outdoors.
Thomas Zickgraf, Director of Finance
Thomas joined SFCASA as Director of Finance in 2024, bringing over 25 years of financial leadership across diverse sectors. His extensive experience includes serving as Comptroller for a Northern California Harbor District, providing financial guidance to startups, and early advocacy for HIV/AIDS services and education in the 1990s. Thomas serves on the Board of Directors of the California Marine Affairs & Navigation Consortium as a volunteer, demonstrating his deep commitment to community service. Known for his collaborative style and dedication to *Tikkun Olam*—the Jewish principle of repairing the world—Thomas is extremely proud to be able to help SFCASA make a lasting impact on the lives of youth in foster care. Thomas is a long-time resident of San Francisco, living with his partner and their rambunctious Border Collie/Dachshund mix, Henri.
Shiko Wanjiku, Director of People and Culture
Shiko is a global citizen and a fierce advocate for children’s rights. She believes in a child’s right to a fulfilling, opportunity and fun filled life. She has worked with various special populations: Commercially Sexually Exploited Minors (CSEC), children diagnosed with Autism, and Foster Youth. She has found tranquility in a child’s ability to imagine a better world. Shiko has adapted that childlike quality of embracing the impossible to continue to advocate for equity and systemic change. She has a passion for compassion, a love for service based leadership and dogs. She is the proud mom of a stubborn but cute Shih Tzu named Sebastian.
Sue Lockyer, Senior Program Manager
Sue is a Bay Area native and joined SFCASA in 2019 as a Case Supervisor, after receiving her master’s degree from San Francisco State University in Communication Studies. During her graduate program, she focused all of her research in human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable populations. For many years Sue has volunteered serving homeless and exploited women in a safehouse setting, and currently volunteers on the San Francisco Human Trafficking hotline. Understanding the large overlap between systems-involvement and exploitation, Sue is passionate about supporting youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system to reduce vulnerability. She is inspired by CASAs as they selflessly support and advocate for the young people they serve. For fun she hikes, plays with her grumpy dogs, hangs out with her kids, and decorates fabulous cookies.
Esperanza Jacuinde, Program Manager
Esperanza joined SFCASA in 2022 as a Program Manager. A 1st generation Mexican American college graduate, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration. For the last 12 years, she has been honored to work with young adults and youth with unique circumstances, including youth in foster care and probation-involved youth. In 2012, she received a Certificate of Honor from the Board of Supervisors in the City and County of San Francisco for her commitment, dedication, and time spent tutoring incarcerated youth in San Francisco, ensuring they have the educational opportunities needed to succeed. She has worked with ILSP, Youth Guidance Center, and other community-based youth organizations. Esperanza is also a certified Life Coach and is passionate about supporting others to meet their goals.
Jennifer Moya, Engagement Events & Partnerships Manager
Jennifer is from Bogota, Colombia. What started as an exchange program in the US, became her new life 6 years later. She graduated as a psychologist from University Manuela Beltran in Bogota and got a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has experience in developing and managing projects involving community outreach, and mental health in the workplace. Jennifer is a Certified mediator for civil disputes and a major advocate and contributor for Diversity and Inclusion. She loves growing her indoor plant collection and reading as often as she can.
Maria Vierra, Grants & Contracts Manager
Maria is a Bay Area native who joined SFCASA in 2016, bringing over a decade of grant writing experience and a passion for social justice advocacy to her role. Previously, she served as Grants Manager at Canal Alliance, a multiservice community agency in San Rafael serving low-income immigrants, and at The Marine Mammal Center, a marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, and research center in Sausalito. Maria graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Sociology and a graduate certificate in Technical and Professional Writing. Maria is an avid reader and animal lover who enjoys exploring hiking trails with her dog in her free time.
Eduardo Mayorga, Volunteer Engagement Specialist
Eduardo joined the SFCASA team in September 2022 as the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. After obtaining their B.A. in Sociology from the University of San Francisco in 2018, he spent his time working with youth in various aspects – from CSEC youth, to youth that have experienced abuse/neglect, to restorative justice work with youth. He has a passion for social justice, creating art, and taking care of plants. In his free time, he can be found skateboarding downtown San Francisco or sketching up his next tattoo.
Diane Posner, Training Specialist
Diane joined the SFCASA team in June 2019 as the Training Specialist. Diane brings her background and passion as a Literacy Specialist for the states of California and Hawaii, as well as international nonprofit organizations dedicated to empowering educators, inspiring students and encouraging leaders with the resources they need to make literacy accessible for all. She is excited to support the CASA volunteers and foster youth in her role as Training Specialist. Diane holds a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Languages from UC Berkeley and a Master of Science in Education from CSU Eastbay. One of Diane’s favorite opportunities has been her role as a primate caregiver, communicating with and cooking for Koko the Gorilla and her gorilla pal, Ndume.
Janey Kemp, Senior Data and Evaluation Specialist
Janey has worked with SFCASA for thirteen years. They earned their B.A. in Sociology at Loyola University-New Orleans and their M.A. in International Studies at the University of San Francisco. They take pride in their two rescue Yorkies, who annoy everyone but them.
Melany Romero, Community Engagement Coordinator
As a seasoned leader in the non-profit work sector, she has dedicated her life to helping others. She has over a decade of experience working for non-profit organizations that work on making a difference in the lives of underprivileged communities. Some of her work includes working with various organizations that helped girls rescued from sex trafficking. Growing up in the Bay Area, Mel has always had a strong desire to give back to her community, and her work with non-profits has allowed her to do just that. You can find her outside when she’s not at work, on a hike, at the beach, or hanging with friends. She loves traveling, good food, coffee, and the San Fransico Giants!
Leticia Palacios, Senior Case Supervisor
Leticia joined SFCASA in December 2019 as a Case Supervisor. Originally from San Francisco, Leticia holds a B.A from University of California, Santa Barbara in Sociology and Feminist Studies. Leticia’s line of work has focused on Child Development and Early Education services for children 0-5 years. She is eager to support the CASAs and foster youth, while continuing to learn about the impacts of trauma on a child’s development. In her free time, she likes to read, listen to music, watch movies and explore.
Meg Gale, Senior Case Supervisor
Meg is a Bay Area native and joined SFCASA as a Case Supervisor in early 2022. Prior to SFCASA, she worked as a case manager at The Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara County and at Edgewood Center in San Mateo County. At Bill Wilson, she provided intensive case management and rental subsidy for 22 formerly homeless families including former foster youth. At Edgewood, she worked with 30 Kinship families, helping them to keep their relative children out of the dependency system. She is also an adoptive mom to her now 8 year old son, whom she and her husband adopted at birth from Anchorage, AK. Meg is avid swimmer and hiker and loves to explore the world around her with her husband and two boys.
Siera Brown, Case Management Specialist
Siera is a Bay Area native. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Sacramento State University. She was able to intern with 2 different members of the California State Senate which landed her a job with Senator Glazer’s district office. Working in the district exposed her to a passion for non-profit work in the community. She started working for Aspiranet which is an organization dedicated to providing transitional housing for foster youth. This gave her a perspective on how the foster youth community desperately needs people who want to support and advocate for them. Outside of work, she enjoys any outdoor activities, watching football and her rescue kitties.
Ashley Montoya, Case Supervisor
Ashley is a Bay Area native and joined SFCASA as a Case Supervisor. Ashley is a first generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and minor in Sociology. She dedicates her passion for mental health awareness along with social justice advocacy for migrant's rights and children's rights. In 2019, Ashley participated in a trip to Nogales, Arizona border where she was a part of peaceful protests and vigils. Through this experience, she learned more about oppressive institutions, violation of human rights and activism. Prior to joining SFCASA, Ashley facilitated a support group for Spanish speaking mothers, became a case manager, and an Enhanced Visitation Supervisor. As an Enhanced Visitation Supervisor, Ashley dived into the social work realm and discovered the advocacy needed for the youth in the foster care system. Through her passion, she learned and continue to decolonize language barriers, and navigate resources to bring awareness. Outside of work, Ashley loves to paint, hike, explore foodie spots, and take naps with her cat.
Kalyn Kollie, Case Supervisor
Kalyn joined SFCASA in July 2024 as a Case Supervisor. She holds a B.A. in Family and Child Studies from the University of New Mexico. In her line of work, Kalyn has worked with unhoused individuals and people with special needs, and supported mental health for women and children in low-income communities. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, going to the beach, and watching basketball games. She is looking forward to working with advocates to support foster youth.
Sasha Todd, Case Supervisor
Sasha joined SFCASA as a Case Supervisor in April 2024. Prior to her current position, Sasha worked as a visit supervisor with foster care youth in Santa Cruz County, and then as a Regional Supervisor for an AmeriCorps education program. Sasha has a BA from Santa Clara University in Ethnic studies, with a concentration in writing, as well as a certification in Conflict Resolution Training from the Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz. Sasha lives in the East Bay, and enjoys gardening, playing with animals, and reality TV.
Melissa Barron, Case Supervisor
Melissa joined the SFCASA team in October 2024 as a Case Supervisor. She holds a M.S. in Management and Leadership, and a B.S. in Sociology, with an Emphasis in Criminology and Corrections, and a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Melissa is committed to raising the voices of those often unheard, particularly children, women, and underrepresented communities who have experienced abuse, and in understanding the critical role male-identifying individuals play in a child’s development. She has extensive experience managing youth, adults, and volunteers in nonprofits, as well as working with rural and urban youth in various professional and volunteer roles. Originally from Utah, Melissa is beyond grateful to have made her way to San Francisco. Outside of work, she loves playing with her puppy, Pepper.
Luciné Jamkochian, Development and Communications Associate
Luciné joined SFCASA in May 2024 with experience in nonprofit and agency communications. She is happy to be back in the nonprofit sector and passionate about amplifying the voices of youth in foster care. Luciné holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley. She appreciates time on her yoga mat, a good cookie recipe, Sundays spent reading, and Trader Joe's.
Nathaniel Marsden, Operations and Technology Associate
Nathaniel became part of the SFCASA team in April 2024. With a degree in Cinema and Digital Media from UC Davis, he’s passionate about video editing, music production, and DJing. Nathaniel’s easygoing nature shines through especially when he’s chatting about sports and dogs.
Stephen Huynh, Accounting and Human Resources Associate
Stephen joined SFCASA in May 2024. Prior to joining SFCASA, he supported a Fortune 500 company's Operations team. Stephen holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Merced. He enjoys traveling and experiencing new places, eating good food, and taking photos of the places he has been to.
Anna Lorenzo, Tax Project Specialist
Cheesy as it may sound, Anna loves helping others. As a bilingual speaker, she has had the opportunity of working with various populations, such as first-generation students, domestic violence victims, foster youth, low-income taxpayers, and donors. During her undergraduate years at UC Berkeley, Anna served as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer for 2 years. Through VITA she got the opportunity of helping low-income taxpayers expand their financial literacy and maximize their refunds through tax preparation and filing. This experience kindled her interest in applying her tax knowledge to serve others and in reforming the complex tax system. Outside of taxes, Anna is a strong advocate of higher education and maternal, child, and adolescent health. In her free time, Anna finds pleasure in reading, watching horror movies, running, and talking to her sisters.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is a dedicated group of community volunteers with a broad range of talents and professional backgrounds. They provide SFCASA with exceptional governance, fiscal oversight, compliance, and accountability.
Executive Committee
Erwin Mock, Chair - Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets, Thoma Bravo, LLC
Rebecca Katz, Vice Chair - Manager of Recruiting, McKinsey & Company and Former SFCASA Volunteer
Ken Tang, Finance Treasurer and Chair - Financial Advisor, UBS Financial Services
Suchi O’Connor, Secretary - Non-Profit Consultant
Vicki Valandra, Board Member at Large - MBA and Realtor, Corcoran Global Living
Members
Felix Burmeister - Director, Cohen & Company Capital Markets
Christine Dela Rosa - Principal Strategist, Brand Advocacy, Atlassian
Fernando Florez - Chief Revenue Officer, Making Sense
Lyndsay Handlos - Executive Marketing and Communications Consultant, Vella Marketing and Consulting
Katie Klingensmith - SVP Investment Specialist, Brandywine Global
Katherine Little - Executive Vice President, Align Social Impact
Tanya Miller - Social Worker, Family Builders
Osita Nwabasili - Process Research Technology, Chevron
Elizabeth Orbison - Head of Operational Excellence, TechSoup
Charles Reader - Chief Talent Officer, California Health Care Foundation