Current Commissioners:
Richard Alderson
Kimberly Allan, Chair
Charlie Cleaves
Melanie Delgado, 1st Vice Chair
Kathleen Edwards
Marc Gotbaum
Joan Hiser
Amy Lansing
Nicole LoCoco, 2nd Vice chair
Ryan Trabuco
Arlene Young
Bios:
Rich Alderson
Rich Alderson is a career educator who holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco. He is also authorized to teach biology and physics in high school. He taught at the high school level for 18 years and recently completed an 18-year career as a school administrator. He served as a middle and high school principal, concluding his public school administrative career as a superintendent. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with students with special needs. He taught in the various alternative programs and received an ‘Outstanding Teacher Award’ for his work with special education students. His administrative background in special education is also quite extensive. He has worked closely with local, county and state programs to support special needs students and has been innovative in bringing new special education programs to his schools. Mr. Alderson operates Alderson Education Advocates, a company that assists families with special needs children develop the appropriate services for their child based upon federal law.
Kimberly Allan
Kimberly Alan is an attorney and former San Diego federal prosecutor. Ms. Allan received her Bachelor’s degree in economics with honors from UC Berkeley and her law degree from UC Davis. She was an attorney at the US Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. for over seven years and an Assistant US Attorney in San Diego for over nine years. She has served on several boards and commissions, including as President of the Coronado Schools Foundation and on the board of the Coronado Cays Homeowners Association. Her interest in juvenile justice is based on her service as a Board Member and Site Coordinator for the San Diego Juvenile Court Book Club. During over 10 years of monthly meetings with incarcerated youth for book club discussions, high school graduation ceremonies and educational scholarship awards, she has witnessed firsthand the enormous challenges facing these young people. Ms. Allan currently practices estate planning law and lives in Coronado with her husband and daughter.
Charlie Cleaves
Charlie Cleaves has been with U.S. Marshals Service for 20 years as a Criminal Investigator, and former long-time member of the Violent Crimes Task Force Fugitive Group. He currently oversees all of the USMS Contracted Private Jails, Intergovernmental Agreements, and Contracted Services provided to the USMS in Southern California. He received his Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University after a stint in the U.S. Army, serving with the 2nd Ranger Bn. in Ft. Lewis, Washington, and 5th Special Forces in Ft. Bragg, NC. A San Diego native, who graduated from Kearny High School, Mr. Cleaves has worked closely with at-risk kids in San Diego County for many years as a volunteer for STARPAL/Police Athletic League working as Camp Director for summer camp and Coordinator for their soccer camps. With a passion for coaching and mentoring, Mr. Cleaves is a fixture in East County coaching in youth sports leagues throughout the year. Additionally, he will enter his 13th year as the Varsity Girls Soccer Coach at Steele Canyon High School. He is married with four children.
Melanie Delgado
Melanie Delgado is an attorney at the Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI) at the University of San Diego School of Law. She is a graduate of the USD School of Law where she was a co-recipient of the James A. D’Angelo Outstanding Child Advocate Award in 2006. Delgado works on issues involving transition-age foster youth, and she directs CAI’s Homeless Youth Outreach Project (HYOP). Many of the youth she serves have been touched by the juvenile system in some capacity.
Kathleen Edwards
Kathleen Edwards is an advocate for students with special education and mental health needs. She holds a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Special Education Administration. For the past 35 years, she has worked as a teacher, administrator and trainer dealing with special education and mental health issues. Her interest in the Juvenile Justice Commission is fueled by the high percentage of adjudicated youth with special education and mental health needs. Edwards is a former member of the Mental Health Association of San Diego County and was an Arizona Special Education Teacher of the Year. She lives in San Diego with her husband and son.
Marc Gotbaum
Marc Gotbaum, PsyD, LMFT, is currently the Director of Vista Hill’s Juvenile Forensic and mental Health Program. The Juvenile Court Clinic program serves delinquent and dependent youth with psychiatric medication stabilization and counseling. The GPS Assessment Program provides educationally related mental health evaluations to students in determining specialized needs therein. He continues in private practice as a Critical Incident/Trauma Specialist, providing on-site disaster counseling and consulting, locally and around the globe. Dr. Gotbaum comes to Vista Hill with 20 years of clinical and administrative experience as the Director of the YMCA’s Youth and Family Services division; Family Court Mediator and California State Expert Witness; TERM Team Clinician, County of San Diego; Children’s Mental Health-Special Education Services Assessor; and Director of Vietnam Veteran Family Assistance Program and Ocean Beach Community Services. Dr. Gotbaum has served on the Child Sexual Abuse and Victim Assistance Coordination Councils. He has been an adjunct Professor/lecture at SDSU, USD, and National Universities.
Joan Hiser
Joan Hiser is currently a marketing consultant within the San Diego community. Previously, manager of Advertising and Promotion for the KFMB stations, she was named Billboard Magazine’s Marketing Manager of the Year. She has over 20 years experience in marketing for both media and non-profit organizations, as well as extensive experience with the production and analysis of focus group research data for various clientele. She serves as a board member for the San Diego Broadcasters Assoc., the Mission Hills Heritage Assoc., and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Diego. She currently sponsors a “little sister” as well. She has served on boards for La Jolla High School and Francis Parker School. Joan is married with three sons.
Amy Lansing
Amy Lansing is on faculty at the University of California, San Diego, in the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and is also an adjunct professor in the Sociology Department, Division of Criminology, at San Diego State University. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with specializations in Neuropsychology, Developmental Trauma and Forensic Epidemiology. Her National Institute of Health and National Institute of Child and Human Development funded translational research program is dedicated to understanding the neurobehavioral underpinnings of high-risk behaviors and functional impairment in underserved populations such as juvenile delinquents and maltreated youth. This program integrates neuroscience technologies (imaging, genetics), mental health services (treatment for trauma spectrum and drug/alcohol disorders; interventions for violence and impulsivity reduction), neuropsychology, criminology and public policy issues (health disparities, HIV/STD risk). In addition to the Juvenile Justice Commission, she is an independent contractor for the State of California, providing assessments of mentally disordered adult offenders. Her interest in the JJC stems from the significant number of delinquent youth with cognitive deficits, neurological and mental health needs.
Nicole LoCoco
Nicole LoCoco is a recent graduate from San Diego State University where she graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Economics. As a native San Diegan, she continues to work in customer service for the San Diego Padres and has been there for the last five years. As a student, she volunteered for the County of San Diego Office of Alternate Public Defender as an Investigative Intern where she worked closely with the Juvenile Delinquency division in the Kearny Mesa courts and also the adult offices downtown. This is where her extreme passion for the juvenile justice system and the rehabilitation of at-risk youth cultivated. Her future goals are to attend law school and work in the public sector as a prosecutor or public defender for the County of San Diego to continue to have an impact on many lives.
Ryan Trabuco
Ryan Trabuco has dedicated countless hours to public and community service. Since 2009, he has served on the County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board where he provides oversight of the County’s treatment and rehabilitation programs, and helps advise the County Board of Supervisors on alcohol and drug prevention policy. November 2011, he was elected to serve as President of the Clairemont Town Council which helps promote civic, commercial, educational and cultural activities within San Diego’s largest neighborhood and community. He serves on the Board of Directors for several non-profit, community advocacy organizations and is completing his Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. He lives in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego.
Arlene Young
Arlene Young, Ph.D., has worked with children and families for over 50 years. Her first career was in Early Childhood Education. She was a Center Director in Headstart Programs in Colorado and in San Diego, and started a school committed to Cultural Diversity after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King; it has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. While earning her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology, she has conducted research in Child Development. She is currently in private practice with offices in Hillcrest and Chula Vista, where she treats children, adolescents, couples and families.
