Meet the Team
Andréa Victoria Lisbon
Co-Founder, President of the Board & Executive Director
Andréa-Victoria Lisbon is a 16-year Veteran of the Armed Forces, having served in both the United States Air Force and the United States Army. A VFW, Ms. Lisbon served during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Ms. Lisbon holds an A.S. in Legal Studies and a B.S. in Paralegal Studies, both from Johnson & Wales University, and a J.D. from Barry University. She is a high-performing, strategic thinking professional with more than 20 years of experience in business development services. Highly skilled at relationship building with clients and across organizations and teams, Ms. Lisbon brings energy and a sense of urgency in spreading awareness via public speaking, presenting, and mentoring. She maintains a focused interest in communities plagued with the interpersonal struggles and inequities of today. She is also an active member of the Tuolumne Community Review Council - a group of community members who believe that "when we center the needs of the most vulnerable, the needs of all will be met."
Andrea Wilson-Vazquez
Co-Founder & Vice President of the Board
Andrea Wilson brings invaluable experience and knowledge to SUSUSO by way of her position as the Director of Educator Training and School Partnerships at Code Savvy. This Minnesota-based nonprofit works to expand equitable and engaging K-12 computer-science education. She is also a teacher, most recently working as an innovative instructional coach at an alternative high school. Through her role, she partnered with teachers to help students with unique learning needs to engage in creative problem-solving via maker and computer science education. She also previously served as a Maker and Computer Science educator, as well as a Teacher for English Learners. Andrea holds a B.A. in Spanish and Global Studies, her K-12 teaching license, and an M.A. in English as a Second Language Education. She is a CSTA CSforELs Teacher Leader and Facilitator, a CSTA 2022-23 Equity Fellow, and a Co-PI on the Coaching for Equity in Computer Science initiative. She is passionate about the role of educators in expanding equitable STEM learning experiences.
Dr. Stephanie Beaver-Guzman
Member - Board of Directors & Advisor to the Executive Director
Stephanie Beaver-Guzman, Ed.D. (Hupa/Yurok) is an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, a mother and a wife. A tenured faculty member at Columbia College and lecturer at CSU Stanislaus, she has worked in higher education for over fifteen years. Stephanie presently is a Counselor in Special Programs and teaches Ethnic Studies. She is a public speaker, presenter and consultant. Stephanie is passionate about supporting individuals from marginalized communities and creating systemic change. She works toward decolonization, language and cultural revitalization, food sovereignty, and social equity.
Tira Lawhorn
Member - Board of Directors
Tira Lawhorn is a Veteran of the United States Army and works as Program Specialist for the TRiO Educational Opportunity Center at Columbia College. She is currently an active member of the Mu Chi Sigma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and The Village Demands Equity Institute. She served as the Classified Tri-Chair for Columbia College's Cultural Enrichment Committee, working to build student-centered practices and equitable services to students throughout the Motherlode community. Her personal charge is to be a conduit between educational institutions and school seekers who, for social, financial, or cultural reasons, are underserved at various levels of education. Empowering marginalized populations to access post-secondary educational services is her passion.
SERENA ORMAN-OCHS
Director of Public Relations & Treasurer of the Board
Serena is a passionate advocate with a strong focus on engaging with community resources. With a background spanning over two decades in community service and education, she has dedicated herself to making a positive impact. Her expertise lies in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations. Through raising awareness, strategizing for change, and acting as a vocal advocate, she strives to create a more harmonious and just environment. Serena's commitment to promoting human rights and social justice has always been characterized by peaceful actions. By dispelling stigmas through support, empathy, advocacy, and connecting people to resources, she aims to create a world that embraces understanding and acceptance. Nurturing comes naturally to her, and her diligent work ethic is a testament to her dedication. Serena is driven by a deep well of compassion, which has been enriched by life experiences. She finds immense joy in extending a helping hand and sharing love with those around her.
tamika l. grubbs
Secretary of the Board
Ms. Grubbs was a previous board of director member for a non-profit organization called The Full Promise (TFP), which taught participants skills to enhance their personal lives and communities through career advancement and entrepreneurship. She was also the public relations manager for the Children's Organ Transplant Association. Most notably, from 2017-2021, she was the Founder and Executive Case Manager for Cystic Fibrosis Continuity Of Care Foundation
alison "ali" schult
Equal Access Sign Language Support
Ms. Schult is a graduate of CSU Fresno with an Education Specialist Credential and a Masters degree in Deaf Education in 2012. Her passion for Deaf Education and American Sign Language (ASL) began at Delta College where she enrolled in her first ASL class. She was overcome by the beauty and ease of the language that she understood, almost immediately. Since ASL makes use of the visual components of the eyes and tactile muscle memory of the hands, Ali found herself being able to comprehend everything that the teacher was signing, bearing witness to language coming to life. She quickly excelled to the top of her class, earning her way to an externship at the Riverside School for the Deaf. She was then presented with the opportunity to study abroad in Ghana, West Africa where she worked at the Mampong School for the Deaf.
Meewha Bell
Director of Marketing & Design
Meewha Bell is a creative chameleon whose experience in the fashion industry spans from New York to Europe. With a background in business management, her love for the arts has led her to executive roles in operations management, product development, technical design, and graphic design for both start-ups and major corporations. Presently, her entrepreneurial spirit leads her to focus her talents on helping young companies looking to prioritize diversity and inclusion, while simultaneously seeking to approach design innovatively.
special advisors to the executive director
Marlys K. Bell
Ms. Bell began her career in Washington, D.C. where she first worked for the US Peace Corps. She recruited individuals from across the US to become staff members in the 22 African countries where the Peace Corps maintained a presence. She retired from her 25-year government career as a leader for the national Head Start programs. She has worked with several US presidents and their officials as an advocate for young children and their parents, striving to increase the likelihood of their long-term success and achievement in school and life. For the last several years, she has advocated for marginalized individuals, promoting systemic change and greater public awareness of their presence in communities.
Natoshka N. Lonon
Natoshka is an entrepreneur, veteran, and community leader. She owned and operated Honey Dip Catering for 8 eight years. She served honorably in the United States Air Force for four years, notably in support of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. And she worked for the Los Angeles County Child Support Department for more than 22 years. She is also the proud mother of a 26-year-old son and a 29-year-old transgender daughter. No stranger to public service, she was selected to be part of a 1-year leadership cohort to build leadership skills and foster relationships within the Los Angeles County Department. Within that cohort, Natoshka was selected again, along with five other colleagues, to create a program that partners with organizations to better serve parents and families. This program was called Young Parent Connect which used direct outreach to foster partnerships with organizations such as Volunteers of America. The ultimate goal is to provide information and resources to Child Support Services’ parents and families.
joaquin jordan
Joaquin Jordan holds a Master of Political Science from California State University, Chico. In his professional career, he is the Associate Director of Project Upstream, which is a program within the Butte County Public Defender’s Consortium. An element of Project Upstream is the Prison Pre-Entry Program for first time prison commitments between the ages of 18 and 25, with the goal of increasing their motivation to engage in prison programming by providing rehabilitative assessment, navigation, and case management.
He is also a Social Impact Consultant and Subject Matter Expert with Continuity Consulting and statewide lead of the Youth Peer Mentor Program which is funded through a multi-million-dollar contract with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Within this capacity, he facilitates treatment groups and provides instruction to transitional-age youth, in and out of custody.
He is a member in good standing with the following California Counselor Certification Organizations, California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) as a Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor III-Clinical Supervisor (SUDCC III-CS), California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II-Clinical Supervisor, California (CADC II-CS CA).
He is certified by the Superior Court of Butte County as an Expert Witness relative to alcohol and drug treatment and rehabilitation of both adults and juveniles.