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
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.
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.
Lila Tillman
Secretary
Lila was selected as the 2011 Bishop Amat Memorial High School (La Puente, California) ALA CA Girls State delegate. She has returned consistently to the program since 2013 to serve on the counselling staff. Lila is a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary, George Tadlock Unit 472, honoring her late brother's military service in the United States Army.
Lila earned a dual Bachelors degree in Pure Mathematics and Political Science from Loyola Marymount University. She began her career in an expanded education nonprofit and now works as a data analyst for a large public utility where she drives strategic initiatives and provides critical operational support for major engineering projects.
Secretary
Lila was selected as the 2011 Bishop Amat Memorial High School (La Puente, California) ALA CA Girls State delegate. She has returned consistently to the program since 2013 to serve on the counselling staff. Lila is a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary, George Tadlock Unit 472, honoring her late brother's military service in the United States Army.
Lila earned a dual Bachelors degree in Pure Mathematics and Political Science from Loyola Marymount University. She began her career in an expanded education nonprofit and now works as a data analyst for a large public utility where she drives strategic initiatives and provides critical operational support for major engineering projects.
Valerie E. Hardy
Member at Large
Valerie Guy Hardy was selected in 1980 to attend ALA California Girls State from El Segundo High School. She joined the counseling staff in 1990 and later served and Chief Counselor and Director. She was selected to be the 2024-2025 ALA Girls Nation Chair, and currently serves as the ALA CA Girls State Advisor.
Valerie graduated and earned an elementary education teaching credential from CSUF. She taught elementary school for 27 years before retiring. She now devotes her time to volunteering, golf, travel, and shenanigans.
Member at Large
Valerie Guy Hardy was selected in 1980 to attend ALA California Girls State from El Segundo High School. She joined the counseling staff in 1990 and later served and Chief Counselor and Director. She was selected to be the 2024-2025 ALA Girls Nation Chair, and currently serves as the ALA CA Girls State Advisor.
Valerie graduated and earned an elementary education teaching credential from CSUF. She taught elementary school for 27 years before retiring. She now devotes her time to volunteering, golf, travel, and shenanigans.
Sarah Sled Lent
Member at Large
Sarah Sled was a 1997 ALA CA Girls State delegate from Mission College Prep High School in San Luis Obispo, CA. Over the last 28 years she has been a volunteer staff member as a junior, city, county, and chief counselor. Sarah has been a member of the Girls State Alumnae Foundation Board of Directors since its inception.
Sarah earned her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a Presidential Fellow. She spent 17 years working in tech as a Director of Research at Meta, Amazon, and Google, and now runs her own UX Research consultancy, and works and volunteers as a college admissions counselor.
Member at Large
Sarah Sled was a 1997 ALA CA Girls State delegate from Mission College Prep High School in San Luis Obispo, CA. Over the last 28 years she has been a volunteer staff member as a junior, city, county, and chief counselor. Sarah has been a member of the Girls State Alumnae Foundation Board of Directors since its inception.
Sarah earned her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a Presidential Fellow. She spent 17 years working in tech as a Director of Research at Meta, Amazon, and Google, and now runs her own UX Research consultancy, and works and volunteers as a college admissions counselor.
Angie Balius
Member at Large
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.
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.
Member at Large
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.
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.
Maggie Taylor
Member at Large
Maggie attended ALA California Girls State in 2004. She works with industry leaders at IT companies helping them connect with CXOs, IT decision-makers and business decision-makers to achieve their marketing goals.
Member at Large
Maggie attended ALA California Girls State in 2004. She works with industry leaders at IT companies helping them connect with CXOs, IT decision-makers and business decision-makers to achieve their marketing goals.
Sherry Core
Member at Large
Member at Large