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.
Nina Ho
Assistant Director of Development
.
Assistant Director of Development
.
Gracie Gomez
Director of Professional Development
Graciela (Gracie) Gómez attended CA Girls State in 2019 and returned to Girls State as an Assistant Counselor in 2022. She has enjoyed contributing back to the program and foundation that positively impacted her years ago in high school.
Gracie takes pride in being a first generation student. She hopes to influence those in her family and in her community to fight against the barriers they were born into.
Gracie is a third year undergraduate student at the University of California-Irvine where she is studying Political Science. She has always been very passionate about law and government. Gracie has been involved in the UC Student Lobby Conference, the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, a legal internship at Latham & Watkins LLP, the Lou Correa Young Congressional Leaders Program, the Summer Youth Education Conference under past Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, and has been an avid volunteer for the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
For the past year, she has been giving back to her community by working as a high school English Instructional Aide.
However, she will be moving onto a new opportunity where she will begin a legal internship in Washington D.C. this upcoming Winter. Gracie hopes to attend law school after graduation and begin a prosecuting career.
Director of Professional Development
Graciela (Gracie) Gómez attended CA Girls State in 2019 and returned to Girls State as an Assistant Counselor in 2022. She has enjoyed contributing back to the program and foundation that positively impacted her years ago in high school.
Gracie takes pride in being a first generation student. She hopes to influence those in her family and in her community to fight against the barriers they were born into.
Gracie is a third year undergraduate student at the University of California-Irvine where she is studying Political Science. She has always been very passionate about law and government. Gracie has been involved in the UC Student Lobby Conference, the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, a legal internship at Latham & Watkins LLP, the Lou Correa Young Congressional Leaders Program, the Summer Youth Education Conference under past Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, and has been an avid volunteer for the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
For the past year, she has been giving back to her community by working as a high school English Instructional Aide.
However, she will be moving onto a new opportunity where she will begin a legal internship in Washington D.C. this upcoming Winter. Gracie hopes to attend law school after graduation and begin a prosecuting career.
Samaya Rubio
Assistant Director of Professional Development
.
Assistant Director of Professional Development
.
Zoya Khan
Assistant Director of Professional Development
.
Assistant Director of Professional Development
.
Macie Bayer
Assistant Director of Development
Macie Rollins 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 a member of the American Legion Auxiliary due to her husband's service in the US Marine Corps. She loves the Girls State program and the lifelong friends it has brought her, and especially enjoys watching the delegates gain new perspectives and grow as women and leaders.
Macie received her bachelor's degree in Sociology and International Development from Brigham Young University and her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She has spent time working in maternal and child health at the US Agency for International Development and is currently a Presidential Management Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She stays busy teaching yoga, playing intramural sports, and exploring the national parks with her husband and young daughter.
Assistant Director of Development
Macie Rollins 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 a member of the American Legion Auxiliary due to her husband's service in the US Marine Corps. She loves the Girls State program and the lifelong friends it has brought her, and especially enjoys watching the delegates gain new perspectives and grow as women and leaders.
Macie received her bachelor's degree in Sociology and International Development from Brigham Young University and her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She has spent time working in maternal and child health at the US Agency for International Development and is currently a Presidential Management Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She stays busy teaching yoga, playing intramural sports, and exploring the national parks with her husband and young daughter.
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.
Clarissa Rodriguez
Assistant Director of Public Relations
.
Assistant Director of Public Relations
.
Intern Committee
Emily Taketa
Director of Interns
Emily attended ALA California Girls State in 2017 as a delegate from Roseville High School. She returned to Girls State as an Assistant City Counselor in 2022 and plans to continue doing so as it provides an opportunity to participate in the development of aspiring women.
In 2022, Emily graduated with a B.A. in History from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At Cal Poly, Emily found a passion for student affairs and higher education by working for Cal Poly Orientation, one of the top-rated orientation programs in the country. Now, Emily is pursuing a M.Ed. in Leadership in Higher Education at the University of Washington. She plans on working professionally to support the experiences of college students, parents, and supporters.
Director of Interns
Emily attended ALA California Girls State in 2017 as a delegate from Roseville High School. She returned to Girls State as an Assistant City Counselor in 2022 and plans to continue doing so as it provides an opportunity to participate in the development of aspiring women.
In 2022, Emily graduated with a B.A. in History from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At Cal Poly, Emily found a passion for student affairs and higher education by working for Cal Poly Orientation, one of the top-rated orientation programs in the country. Now, Emily is pursuing a M.Ed. in Leadership in Higher Education at the University of Washington. She plans on working professionally to support the experiences of college students, parents, and supporters.
Marisa Wilkerson
Assistant Director of Interns
.
Assistant Director of Interns
.
Kori Damm
Assistant Director of Interns
Kori attended Girls State in 2004 where she served as an assemblywoman, leading to a deep interest in legislative processes. After graduating with her BA in Political Science from UC Merced in 2009, Kori worked for a member of the US House of Representatives as a legislative aide and served as the Field Operations Manager for a congressional campaign.
Kori has been an elementary teacher for the past ten years, and she is passionate about creating transformative learning experiences through blended-learning instruction. She earned her Master's in Education, Innovative Learning from Touro University in 2016.
In addition to volunteering as a counselor at Girls State, Kori is also a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She currently serves as the Event Chair for the St. Jude Greater Bay Area Walk/Run.
She resides in Vallejo with her husband, Aaron, and their two daughters, Hollis and Georgia.
.
Assistant Director of Interns
Kori attended Girls State in 2004 where she served as an assemblywoman, leading to a deep interest in legislative processes. After graduating with her BA in Political Science from UC Merced in 2009, Kori worked for a member of the US House of Representatives as a legislative aide and served as the Field Operations Manager for a congressional campaign.
Kori has been an elementary teacher for the past ten years, and she is passionate about creating transformative learning experiences through blended-learning instruction. She earned her Master's in Education, Innovative Learning from Touro University in 2016.
In addition to volunteering as a counselor at Girls State, Kori is also a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She currently serves as the Event Chair for the St. Jude Greater Bay Area Walk/Run.
She resides in Vallejo with her husband, Aaron, and their two daughters, Hollis and Georgia.
.