GIRLS STATE ALUMNAE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Heena Doshi
President
Heena was selected as the 2010 Highland High School (Bakersfield, California) ALA CA Girls State delegate. In 2015, she returned as a first-time staff member and has been working with the program ever since as a counselor and Director of Public Relations for the Girls State Alumnae Foundation. In 2024, Heena began her tenure on the Alumnae Foundation board.
Heena earned her BA in International Development with a minor in Gerontology (UCLA, '15) and Masters in Public Health (GWU, '20). She began her career in healthcare nonprofit and now works as a consultant for a top life sciences consulting firm where her work is focused on health policy within cell and gene therapy.
President
Heena was selected as the 2010 Highland High School (Bakersfield, California) ALA CA Girls State delegate. In 2015, she returned as a first-time staff member and has been working with the program ever since as a counselor and Director of Public Relations for the Girls State Alumnae Foundation. In 2024, Heena began her tenure on the Alumnae Foundation board.
Heena earned her BA in International Development with a minor in Gerontology (UCLA, '15) and Masters in Public Health (GWU, '20). She began her career in healthcare nonprofit and now works as a consultant for a top life sciences consulting firm where her work is focused on health policy within cell and gene therapy.
Emily Taketa
Vice President
Emily attended ALA California Girls State in 2017 as a delegate from Roseville High School. She has returned to ALA California Girls State as a volunteer staff member since 2022 and plans on always staying connected to the ALA California Girls State network.
Emily holds a B.A. in History from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Washington. 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. Today, Emily works as a Senior Orientation Coordinator at California State University, Fullerton and is also involved with NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education. She prides herself in working towards educational justice by designing accessible, inclusive, and empowering programs for new CSUF students and their families.
Vice President
Emily attended ALA California Girls State in 2017 as a delegate from Roseville High School. She has returned to ALA California Girls State as a volunteer staff member since 2022 and plans on always staying connected to the ALA California Girls State network.
Emily holds a B.A. in History from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Washington. 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. Today, Emily works as a Senior Orientation Coordinator at California State University, Fullerton and is also involved with NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education. She prides herself in working towards educational justice by designing accessible, inclusive, and empowering programs for new CSUF students and their families.
Raylene Merino
Secretary/Treasurer
Raylene Merino attended ALA Girls State in 2000, and was voted as her city's Treasurer. She returned to Girls State in 2002 as an Assistant Counselor and has returned throughout the years to serve as City Counselor and County Counselor. Raylene is a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary's first electronic unit, George Tadlock Unit 472, thanks to her father's and grandfather's service in the Army, and has served as a past president and chaplain.
Raylene graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. She began her career as a tax accountant at a local public accounting firm in San Diego and then worked as an investment accountant in Chapel Hill, NC. She currently works as a senior accountant for a healthcare company in Nashville, TN, as her husband attends medical school.
Since her introduction in 2000, Raylene's love and appreciation for the ALA Girls State program has only grown stronger. Raylene most enjoys seeing the delegates learn and grow over the course of the program week, and it is her desire to witness the Girls State program thrive so that future Girls State sisters can continue to "pass it on."
Secretary/Treasurer
Raylene Merino attended ALA Girls State in 2000, and was voted as her city's Treasurer. She returned to Girls State in 2002 as an Assistant Counselor and has returned throughout the years to serve as City Counselor and County Counselor. Raylene is a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary's first electronic unit, George Tadlock Unit 472, thanks to her father's and grandfather's service in the Army, and has served as a past president and chaplain.
Raylene graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. She began her career as a tax accountant at a local public accounting firm in San Diego and then worked as an investment accountant in Chapel Hill, NC. She currently works as a senior accountant for a healthcare company in Nashville, TN, as her husband attends medical school.
Since her introduction in 2000, Raylene's love and appreciation for the ALA Girls State program has only grown stronger. Raylene most enjoys seeing the delegates learn and grow over the course of the program week, and it is her desire to witness the Girls State program thrive so that future Girls State sisters can continue to "pass it on."
Nancy Brown Park
ALA Liaison
Past National President of the American Legion Auxiliary
Nancy Brown-Park, of Palm Desert, Calif., was elected national president of the American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 93rd National Convention in Houston.
Nancy, a member of George Tadlock Unit 472, joined the American Legion Auxiliary through her father, Richard D. Brown, a WWII Army Air Corps veteran. She is also eligible through the service of her husband, Jim Park, a Navy Vietnam War veteran.
Nancy, a 65-year member of the Auxiliary, has held numerous leadership positions in the organization at the unit, district and department levels. At the national level, she was chairman of the following committees: Junior Activities, Public Relations, National Security, Constitution & Bylaws, Membership, Children & Youth and Veteran Affairs & Rehabilitation. She was also a member of the National Executive Committee in 2002-2003.
Nancy has a background as a retail buyer and currently owns and operates a sales and marketing company. She exemplifies the American Legion Auxiliary motto of Service Not Self by actively volunteering in her community and with other philanthropic organizations. She and her husband have two children, Christopher and Chloe, who are also part of The American Legion Family.
ALA Liaison
Past National President of the American Legion Auxiliary
Nancy Brown-Park, of Palm Desert, Calif., was elected national president of the American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 93rd National Convention in Houston.
Nancy, a member of George Tadlock Unit 472, joined the American Legion Auxiliary through her father, Richard D. Brown, a WWII Army Air Corps veteran. She is also eligible through the service of her husband, Jim Park, a Navy Vietnam War veteran.
Nancy, a 65-year member of the Auxiliary, has held numerous leadership positions in the organization at the unit, district and department levels. At the national level, she was chairman of the following committees: Junior Activities, Public Relations, National Security, Constitution & Bylaws, Membership, Children & Youth and Veteran Affairs & Rehabilitation. She was also a member of the National Executive Committee in 2002-2003.
Nancy has a background as a retail buyer and currently owns and operates a sales and marketing company. She exemplifies the American Legion Auxiliary motto of Service Not Self by actively volunteering in her community and with other philanthropic organizations. She and her husband have two children, Christopher and Chloe, who are also part of The American Legion Family.
Valerie E. Hardy
Former ALA California Girls State Director
Former Chief Counselor of ALA California Girls State
Valerie Hardy was born and raised in El Segundo, California. In 1980, she had the great privilege to be selected as the delegate to ALA Girls State from her high school. She states, "The experience changed my life." She graduated from CSUF and continued on to get her teaching credential. She and her husband, Jack, have 2 beautiful daughters, who are both grown. She lives with her family in Colorado, where she teaches kindergarten at Pine Ridge Elementary School. She has remained involved in ALA California Girls State through membership in the American Legion Auxiliary, the Foundation, and as a part of the ALA Girls State counseling staff. She has served as a counselor on every level, including 5 years as Chief Counselor. This year, in addition to being on the Foundation board, she will serve as the director for the 2014 session of ALA California Girls State. She states that "being a member of the ALA GSAF board is important to me because I understand the relevance of ALA California Girls State and have seen first hand the impact it has had on young women leaders. To promote and perpetuate the program is an honor."
Former ALA California Girls State Director
Former Chief Counselor of ALA California Girls State
Valerie Hardy was born and raised in El Segundo, California. In 1980, she had the great privilege to be selected as the delegate to ALA Girls State from her high school. She states, "The experience changed my life." She graduated from CSUF and continued on to get her teaching credential. She and her husband, Jack, have 2 beautiful daughters, who are both grown. She lives with her family in Colorado, where she teaches kindergarten at Pine Ridge Elementary School. She has remained involved in ALA California Girls State through membership in the American Legion Auxiliary, the Foundation, and as a part of the ALA Girls State counseling staff. She has served as a counselor on every level, including 5 years as Chief Counselor. This year, in addition to being on the Foundation board, she will serve as the director for the 2014 session of ALA California Girls State. She states that "being a member of the ALA GSAF board is important to me because I understand the relevance of ALA California Girls State and have seen first hand the impact it has had on young women leaders. To promote and perpetuate the program is an honor."
Sarah Sled Lent
Past Chief Counselor of ALA California Girls State
Sarah Sled attended ALA Girls State in 1997 and has served as a counselor for ALA CA Girls State for 20 years. She has also served as a counselor for ALA Girls Nation.
Originally from the Central Coast of California, Sarah holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Political Science from MIT. She spent a decade working in UX Research in Silicon Valley for Gallup, Netflix, and Facebook. Sarah currently resides with her husband and son in Las Vegas, where she is the President & COO of Blush, a dating app start-up.
Past Chief Counselor of ALA California Girls State
Sarah Sled attended ALA Girls State in 1997 and has served as a counselor for ALA CA Girls State for 20 years. She has also served as a counselor for ALA Girls Nation.
Originally from the Central Coast of California, Sarah holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Political Science from MIT. She spent a decade working in UX Research in Silicon Valley for Gallup, Netflix, and Facebook. Sarah currently resides with her husband and son in Las Vegas, where she is the President & COO of Blush, a dating app start-up.
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.