Page Index
Board Members
Janice Brown - President
Director, California State University, Fresno
Janice Brown is currently the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities at Fresno State. She had a long term career in Human Resources Management with Bank of America and U.S. Bank as well as seven years in the private sector in Financial Management.
In 2000 Janice returned to school at Fresno State and obtained her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. With her passion for working with students and their academic challenges as well as her training in rehabilitation she knew that serving on a college campus and working with this student group, was the role she was meant to do.
Carol Rankin - Vice President
Professor, California State University, Fresno
Carol Rankin was awarded the Rh.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern Illinois University in 1999 and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She has worked as an alcohol and substance abuse counselor and was certified in Illinois as a criminal justice addictions specialist and Board Registered mental illness and substance abuse counselor (dual disorders). She also has several years of previous experience as a behavioral specialist with the Department of Mental Health-Developmental Disabilities in Illinois.
Carol has served as a faculty member at the University of Illinois-Springfield from 2000 to 2007. She has been a faculty member at CSU-Fresno since 2007. Carol has presented both nationally and regionally on issues related to dual disorders; women in recovery; cognitive-behavioral approaches to anger awareness and on the applications of motivational interviewing.
Selina Escobar - Secretary
Senior Public Health Administrator, HealthNet
Selina Escobar is currently a Senior Public Programs Administrator for Fresno, Madera and Kings Counties at Health Net of California. In this role she is responsible for developing and implementing plans to promote member access to appropriate public programs in the Central Valley region.
Selina, who has lived and worked in the Central Valley all her life, has assisted with the development and implementation of the Health Net Disabilities Advisory Committee. Earlier, she worked as a Program Officer at First 5 Tulare County providing contract and technical assistance to programs serving all children 0 to 5.
Selina is married and has two children aged 17 years and five months. She has a Masters in Public Administration from California State University Fresno.
Gayle Black - Treasurer
Vice President of California Bank & Trust
Biography Coming Soon
Paula McElwee
Consultant
Paula McElwee is an independent consultant, working with non-profit organizations to assist with strategic planning, board training, and interim leadership. She has been on the board of RICV since 2005 and is finishing her second term as President. She has served as interim Executive Director for four Centers in California.
Paula grew up in Illinois, went to college in Western Nebraska and attended graduate school in Hays, Kansas where she lived for 25 years. During that time she was the first director of one of the first ten Centers for Independent Living funded under the Rehabilitation Act, Operation LINK (now known as LINK, Inc.) She received a Master in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco in 1983. She moved to Fresno, California with her family in 2000.
Russell K. Ryan
Attorney/Partner, Motschiedler, Michaelides & Wishon
Russell K. Ryan is a partner in the law firm of Motschiedler, Michaelides, Wishon, Brewer & Ryan, LLP, one of the preeminent law firms in the San Joaquin Valley. He actively represents management in all aspects of labor relations and employment law, including wrongful discharge and discrimination litigation before state and federal courts. He represents employers in proceedings before the different bodies.
Ryan served as a member of the Madera County Civil Service Commission, as President of the Madera County Bar Association, and was an adjunct professor of law at San Joaquin College of Law from 1992-2000.
Anthony Gracian
Student, Fresno Pacific University
Anthony Gracian is a double major finishing his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and in Social Work from the Fresno Pacific University. He has the Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from West Hills Community College in Lemoore as well.
With a firm opinion that it is everyone’s civic duty to be part of civic clubs, Anthony, is a member and holds office in several boards and committees in addition. He has won several awards and recognition for his active involvement in community service.
Susan Thompson
Graduate, California State University, Fresno
A resident of Fresno, Susan Thompson was born with Cerebral Palsy. She retired from the US Veterans’ Hospital in Fresno after 26 years in the pathology laboratory, during which time she earned a degree in biology. Susan also has a Bachelors' degree in Social Work and Gerontology Specialist Certification. She is currently in a Masters of Science program in Rehabilitation Counseling.
While at the Veterans Medical Center and as a private hospice caregiver, she saw how the needs and desires of the elderly and persons with disabilities were often not heard. Susan’s goal is to work helping both the elderly and those with disabilities to successfully move back into their own homes and live happy, productive, and independent lives regardless of any disability they might have. She is currently on the Health Net Seniors and Disability Advisory Committee (HNSDAC)
Violet Green
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, VA Central California Health Care System
Violet Green has been serving as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at Veterans Administration, Central California since two years. A veteran herself, Violet provides Compensated Work Therapy services to Veterans who are referred by their Mental Health service provider. Prior to this, she worked for 29 years as an educator. She began her career in education as an elementary school Library Technician while earning her teaching credentials. She worked as a K-12, Special Education Teacher before going into administration. As an educational administrator, Violet worked as a Program Specialist, Counselor, Vice Principal and Principal. Violet has served in the Navy, during the Vietnam era and Operation Desert Storm and finds it an honor and privilege to work with and for fellow Veterans.
Arthur M. Lopez
Retired Deputy Director, Department of Rehabilitation
Arthur M. Lopez, retired as the Deputy Director of the California State Department of Rehabilitation after a successful tenure of twenty three and half years.
After securing a Masters in Public Administration from the San Jos State, Arthur started his career as an Employment Preparation Instructor at the Center for Employment and Training, worked at the Court Diversion Program and moved on to Good Will Industries where he served for six years.
Arthur has served on various Workforce Investment Boards, such as the Fresno County WIB, Santa Clara County WIN, NOVAB. In addition he has served on the Proyecto Vision Board, a project of the World Institute of Disability.
Apart from this, Arthur has been active in martial arts for over 30 years with a black belt in Kajukembo Karate and is now a certified by Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute for teaching Tai Chi for Arthritis. He founded the Tai Chi for Arthritis Program at the Saint Paul Newman Center, as a contribution to the community.
Frances Reyes Acosta
Consultant
Frances Reyes Acosta was born and raised in Fresno, Frances Reyes Acosta has extensive background and experience at different levels of Business and Community Affairs. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara she worked to improve, administer and develop programs for the University of California, San Mateo Unified School District and Wells Fargo Corporate Professional Development. While in Southern California, she owned her own firm representing businesses from California, Europe and South America, providing consultancy services in Marketing, Public Relations and Governmental Affairs.
Frances was also the Public Affairs Director/Executive Producer for KJEO-TV Channel 47 and KFSN-TV Channel 30, here in Fresno. Most recently she has worked as a Senior Marketing Executive for CBS-Radio and Clear Channel Broadcasting. Frances currently works with local companies and organizations to explore and develop the sensitivities and opportunities regarding ABLE PEOPLE with hearing, visual, mobility and cognitive challenges.
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