GSAF Committees
California's Girls State Alumnae Foundation Board created four committees to support the work of the organization:
- Development Committee - Implements our annual summer fundraiser.
- Internship Committee - Implements our summer internship program.
- Public Relations Committee - Manages our social media throughout the year.
- Professional Development Committee - Provides opportunities for networking and professional development to our alumnae.
Development Commitee
Angie Balius
Director of Development
Angie Balius has been actively involved with ALA Girls State since 2007 in a variety of capacities, including her service as Assistant to the Chief, City Counselor, and Assistant City Counselor. She has loved each position and appreciates the opportunity to interact with Girls State delegates each year. She especially enjoys watching the delegates gain confidence in themselves and in their leadership abilities during Girls State as the week progresses. She believes that the biggest gift of serving on the Girls State staff is the lifelong friendships that are forged during the week.
Angie graduated from California State University Long Beach with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and her teaching credential. She was an elementary teacher for 18 years in the Garden Grove Unified School District, and now works at its District Office as the Specialist in the Office of K-12 Educational Services. Angie is also currently the Associate Director for the UCI Writing Project, and has also worked as a consultant for the California Writing Project.
Director of Development
Angie Balius has been actively involved with ALA Girls State since 2007 in a variety of capacities, including her service as Assistant to the Chief, City Counselor, and Assistant City Counselor. She has loved each position and appreciates the opportunity to interact with Girls State delegates each year. She especially enjoys watching the delegates gain confidence in themselves and in their leadership abilities during Girls State as the week progresses. She believes that the biggest gift of serving on the Girls State staff is the lifelong friendships that are forged during the week.
Angie graduated from California State University Long Beach with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and her teaching credential. She was an elementary teacher for 18 years in the Garden Grove Unified School District, and now works at its District Office as the Specialist in the Office of K-12 Educational Services. Angie is also currently the Associate Director for the UCI Writing Project, and has also worked as a consultant for the California Writing Project.
Macie Bayer
Assistant Director of Development
Macie Bayer attended ALA California Girls State in 2010 where she served as a Senator and was voted her city's Most Outstanding Citizen. Since 2011, she has returned nearly every year as a California Girls State Counselor and is currently a member of the American Legion Auxiliary due to her husband's service in the Marines. She loves the Girls State program and the lifelong friends it has brought her, and especially enjoys watching the delegates be exposed to new ideas and grow as women and leaders.
Macie received her a bachelor's degree in Sociology and International Development from Brigham Young University and then continued her interest in working with underserved communities through a Future Leaders in Actions Fellowship with the Boys and Girls Club. She now lives in the DC area and works for the US Agency for International Development in the Bureau of Global Health, working on maternal and child health projects. She stays busy teaching yoga, playing intramural sports, and exploring the East Coast with her husband.
Assistant Director of Development
Macie Bayer attended ALA California Girls State in 2010 where she served as a Senator and was voted her city's Most Outstanding Citizen. Since 2011, she has returned nearly every year as a California Girls State Counselor and is currently a member of the American Legion Auxiliary due to her husband's service in the Marines. She loves the Girls State program and the lifelong friends it has brought her, and especially enjoys watching the delegates be exposed to new ideas and grow as women and leaders.
Macie received her a bachelor's degree in Sociology and International Development from Brigham Young University and then continued her interest in working with underserved communities through a Future Leaders in Actions Fellowship with the Boys and Girls Club. She now lives in the DC area and works for the US Agency for International Development in the Bureau of Global Health, working on maternal and child health projects. She stays busy teaching yoga, playing intramural sports, and exploring the East Coast with her husband.
Caitlin Voss
Assistant Director of Development
Caitlin Voss first attended American Legion Auxiliary California Girls State as a delegate in 2008. She has returned as a member of staff since 2009, only missing one year to finish her Bachelor’s degree. California Girls State has played a key role in Caitlin’s growth as an educator and mentor. Caitlin is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary George Tadlock Unit 472, thanks to both of her grandfathers’ time in the service.
Caitlin received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from UC Davis, where she was also a member of the Varsity Softball team. She also received her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Cal Poly SLO and her Physical Education Teaching Credential from Brandman University. Caitlin resides on the Central Coast of California in her hometown of Orcutt (Santa Maria) where she works as an Elementary Physical Education teacher, and she spends her free time giving softball lessons to girls age 8-13
Assistant Director of Development
Caitlin Voss first attended American Legion Auxiliary California Girls State as a delegate in 2008. She has returned as a member of staff since 2009, only missing one year to finish her Bachelor’s degree. California Girls State has played a key role in Caitlin’s growth as an educator and mentor. Caitlin is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary George Tadlock Unit 472, thanks to both of her grandfathers’ time in the service.
Caitlin received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from UC Davis, where she was also a member of the Varsity Softball team. She also received her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Cal Poly SLO and her Physical Education Teaching Credential from Brandman University. Caitlin resides on the Central Coast of California in her hometown of Orcutt (Santa Maria) where she works as an Elementary Physical Education teacher, and she spends her free time giving softball lessons to girls age 8-13
Nicole Willis
Director of Professional Development
Nicole began as Director of Development in 2019. She is MHCI Director of Student Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute. She is a longtime ALA California Girls State volunteer.
Director of Professional Development
Nicole began as Director of Development in 2019. She is MHCI Director of Student Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute. She is a longtime ALA California Girls State volunteer.
Breana Martinez
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Breana Martinez attended ALA California Girls State in 2012 and has returned as a Girls State Assistant Counselor since 2017.
Breana graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2017 with a B.A. in Cognitive Science. Breana then volunteered with AmeriCorps Building Healthy Communities where she mentored at-risk youth in a migrant community in Kern County during the 2017-2018 school year. Breana now works as an advocate for teen mothers in the greater Kern County area; she provides case management and co-facilitates a support group for the teen mothers. Breana plans on becoming a school social worker.
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Breana Martinez attended ALA California Girls State in 2012 and has returned as a Girls State Assistant Counselor since 2017.
Breana graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2017 with a B.A. in Cognitive Science. Breana then volunteered with AmeriCorps Building Healthy Communities where she mentored at-risk youth in a migrant community in Kern County during the 2017-2018 school year. Breana now works as an advocate for teen mothers in the greater Kern County area; she provides case management and co-facilitates a support group for the teen mothers. Breana plans on becoming a school social worker.
Gianna Volonte
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Gianna Volonte attended ALA California Girls State in 2016 where she served as a clerk to the Senate and was elected Outstanding Citizen. She also returned the following year where she was a Junior Counselor.
Gianna is currently a student at Oberlin College in Northern Ohio, where she is double majoring in Religion and Archaeological Studies and minoring in Mathematics. In addition to her schooling, Gianna is full-time athlete on her school’s Varsity Softball Team and is the Secretary of Oberlin’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)- a student run organization, dedicated to addressing issues of student-athlete welfare on campus.
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Gianna Volonte attended ALA California Girls State in 2016 where she served as a clerk to the Senate and was elected Outstanding Citizen. She also returned the following year where she was a Junior Counselor.
Gianna is currently a student at Oberlin College in Northern Ohio, where she is double majoring in Religion and Archaeological Studies and minoring in Mathematics. In addition to her schooling, Gianna is full-time athlete on her school’s Varsity Softball Team and is the Secretary of Oberlin’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)- a student run organization, dedicated to addressing issues of student-athlete welfare on campus.
Public Relations Committee
Heena Doshi
Director of Public Relations
Heena Doshi attended ALA California Girls State in 2010 and has been serving on its counseling staff since 2015.
She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in International Development and a minor in Gerontology. Currently, Heena is pursuing her Master of Public Health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health with a concentration on Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation. In the past, she served as the Development Coordinator at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and as Research Associate and Consultant at the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Director of Public Relations
Heena Doshi attended ALA California Girls State in 2010 and has been serving on its counseling staff since 2015.
She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in International Development and a minor in Gerontology. Currently, Heena is pursuing her Master of Public Health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health with a concentration on Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation. In the past, she served as the Development Coordinator at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and as Research Associate and Consultant at the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Stephanie Shih
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Stephanie is a 2016 alumna of ALA California Girls State and served as the GSAF Intern in 2018.
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Stephanie is a 2016 alumna of ALA California Girls State and served as the GSAF Intern in 2018.
Yoko J. Igawa
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Yoko Igawa attended ALA California Girls State in 1998, and was elected as her city’s mayor. She has been returning as a counselor since 2003. Yoko is also a charter member of the nation’s first electronic American Legion Auxiliary unit, George Tadlock Unit 472, and has served as its First Vice President.
Yoko earned a B.S. in Physics-Biophysics and a minor in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego; a M.S. in Biomolecular Science & Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy. She is currently obtaining her Certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University.
She is the Manager of Public Affairs at Foothill Transit, a joint powers authority governed by 22 cities and the County of Los Angeles. She currently serves on the San Gabriel Valley Public Affairs Network Board of Directors, Cal-ICMA Board, International City/County Management Association Government Affairs and Policy Committee, International Network of Asian Public Administrators Board, and Covina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In the past, she served as an appointed member of the City of Monterey Park Personnel Board and on the USC Price School Alumni Board of Directors.
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Yoko Igawa attended ALA California Girls State in 1998, and was elected as her city’s mayor. She has been returning as a counselor since 2003. Yoko is also a charter member of the nation’s first electronic American Legion Auxiliary unit, George Tadlock Unit 472, and has served as its First Vice President.
Yoko earned a B.S. in Physics-Biophysics and a minor in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego; a M.S. in Biomolecular Science & Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy. She is currently obtaining her Certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University.
She is the Manager of Public Affairs at Foothill Transit, a joint powers authority governed by 22 cities and the County of Los Angeles. She currently serves on the San Gabriel Valley Public Affairs Network Board of Directors, Cal-ICMA Board, International City/County Management Association Government Affairs and Policy Committee, International Network of Asian Public Administrators Board, and Covina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In the past, she served as an appointed member of the City of Monterey Park Personnel Board and on the USC Price School Alumni Board of Directors.
Professional Development Committee
Nina Ho
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Nina Ho attended ALA California Girls State in 2004. She has returned to ALA Girls State as a Counselor for many of the years since then. After earning Bachelor’s degrees in English and Classics from UCLA, Nina worked at a security consulting firm in Los Angeles for seven years. She then relocated to Chicago, where she now works as a Senior Consultant at a boutique consulting firm. She advises businesses on how to best manage major organizational change to ensure adoption and effectiveness. She is also a proud volunteer at the All Stars Project of Chicago and the Westside Justice Center.
Maggie Taylor
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Maggie Taylor attended ALA California Girls State in 2004. Maggie was elected as Bidwell County Clerk and selected as her city’s town crier. She has been returning as part of the counseling staff since 2005.
Maggie is the Support Department Manager and Partners Program Coordinator for VisiStat, a Silicon Valley SaaS company. Raised in Chino Hills, CA, Maggie received a B.A. degree in Political Science and a minor in Japanese from San Jose State University. Residing in San Jose with her fiancé, Mark, and their mischievous beagle, Butters,Maggie spends her time coaching a colorguard team, volunteering with the American Legion Auxiliary and organizing events for the San Jose State Quarterback Club.
Assistant Director of Professional Development
Maggie Taylor attended ALA California Girls State in 2004. Maggie was elected as Bidwell County Clerk and selected as her city’s town crier. She has been returning as part of the counseling staff since 2005.
Maggie is the Support Department Manager and Partners Program Coordinator for VisiStat, a Silicon Valley SaaS company. Raised in Chino Hills, CA, Maggie received a B.A. degree in Political Science and a minor in Japanese from San Jose State University. Residing in San Jose with her fiancé, Mark, and their mischievous beagle, Butters,Maggie spends her time coaching a colorguard team, volunteering with the American Legion Auxiliary and organizing events for the San Jose State Quarterback Club.