GSAF Committees
California's Girls State Alumnae Foundation Board committees aim to support the work of the organization:
- Development Committee - Implements our annual fundraiser.
- Internship Committee - Implements our summer internship program.
- Public Relations Committee - Manages our social media throughout the year.
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
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Assistant Director of Development
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Public Relations Committee
Siarra Bergmann
Director of Public Relations
.Siarra attended ALA California Girls State in 2012 as a delegate from Willits High School. She returned to Girls State as a Junior Counselor in 2013 and has been a returning counselor since 2022.
In 2017, Siarra graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Siarra started work with Teach For America-Memphis and still continues teaching in Memphis. Siarra is passionate about education equality and fostering a love of learning in children of all backgrounds.
Director of Public Relations
.Siarra attended ALA California Girls State in 2012 as a delegate from Willits High School. She returned to Girls State as a Junior Counselor in 2013 and has been a returning counselor since 2022.
In 2017, Siarra graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Siarra started work with Teach For America-Memphis and still continues teaching in Memphis. Siarra is passionate about education equality and fostering a love of learning in children of all backgrounds.
Josie Metcalfe
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Josie attended ALA California Girls state in 2021 as a delegate from Argonaut High School. She returned as a Junior Counselor in 2022 and has come back to the program as a staff member since. She plans on coming back to program for many years to come.
Josie currently attends the University of Colorado Boulder where she majors in Elementary Education with hopes of becoming a teacher. Along with her major, Josie also minors in Journalism and Leadership Studies. Serving as a member on her sororities executive board as the House Manager, she oversees day to day operations in a house of 76 women. Josie is proud to be involved in organizations that inspire women to be their most authentic selves.
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Josie attended ALA California Girls state in 2021 as a delegate from Argonaut High School. She returned as a Junior Counselor in 2022 and has come back to the program as a staff member since. She plans on coming back to program for many years to come.
Josie currently attends the University of Colorado Boulder where she majors in Elementary Education with hopes of becoming a teacher. Along with her major, Josie also minors in Journalism and Leadership Studies. Serving as a member on her sororities executive board as the House Manager, she oversees day to day operations in a house of 76 women. Josie is proud to be involved in organizations that inspire women to be their most authentic selves.
Intern Committee
Emily Taketa
Director of Interns
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.
Director of Interns
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.
Siarra Bergmann
PR Liaison to the Intern Committee
.Siarra attended ALA California Girls State in 2012 as a delegate from Willits High School. She returned to Girls State as a Junior Counselor in 2013 and has been a returning counselor since 2022.
In 2017, Siarra graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Siarra started work with Teach For America-Memphis and still continues teaching in Memphis. Siarra is passionate about education equality and fostering a love of learning in children of all backgrounds.
PR Liaison to the Intern Committee
.Siarra attended ALA California Girls State in 2012 as a delegate from Willits High School. She returned to Girls State as a Junior Counselor in 2013 and has been a returning counselor since 2022.
In 2017, Siarra graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Siarra started work with Teach For America-Memphis and still continues teaching in Memphis. Siarra is passionate about education equality and fostering a love of learning in children of all backgrounds.
Ellie Kidd
Assistant Director of Interns
Ellie attended ALA California Girls State in 2021 as the delegate from Chico High School when it was online due to the pandemic. She returned to ALA California Girls State in 2022 as a Junior Counselor where she fell in love with the program. Ellie has been on the counseling staff since and she plans on being part of it every summer possible going forward.
Ellie is a third-year student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, pursuing her own degree plan. She studies how the social sciences interact with biology and the study of the human body. She also has minors in Women and Gender Studies & Child Development. Ellie is passionate about working with women and children of all identities and backgrounds. She plans to be a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife someday. Ellie is also heavily involved in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Assistant Director of Interns
Ellie attended ALA California Girls State in 2021 as the delegate from Chico High School when it was online due to the pandemic. She returned to ALA California Girls State in 2022 as a Junior Counselor where she fell in love with the program. Ellie has been on the counseling staff since and she plans on being part of it every summer possible going forward.
Ellie is a third-year student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, pursuing her own degree plan. She studies how the social sciences interact with biology and the study of the human body. She also has minors in Women and Gender Studies & Child Development. Ellie is passionate about working with women and children of all identities and backgrounds. She plans to be a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife someday. Ellie is also heavily involved in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.