Board Officers

Yoka van Woerden has worked internationally in business in the fashion industry, coordinating and supervising the work of many workers in getting products from factory to market. While in Italy she acted as a Business Developer, traveling and working abroad in France, China, Canada, and the United States. She has launched start-ups and managed the logistics and financial side of various businesses. Her experience in budgeting and capital allocation optimized the functionality for each business at which she worked. As an advocate for MCRCC, Yoka provides support to survivors via the helpline and forensic exams. Currently serving as one of the advocate representatives to the Board, she is also the business manager for her husband's law firm.  
 

Dennis Alexander grew up in Milwaukee, WI and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He moved to the Monterey area in 1990 to study at the Middlebury Institute of International Relations at Monterey, where he received his MBA. A resident of Seaside since 1996, he was elected to the Seaside City Council for two terms, ending in 2018.  Dennis is a retired teacher and reserve police officer. He served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippines, and his local community volunteer experience includes Rebuilding Together Monterey-Salinas, the American Red Cross, Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, Monterey County AIDS Project, and Monterey County Rape Crisis Center.

Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Human Services, and Public Policy at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) where she teaches public administration, research methods, and capstone courses. Dr. Lopez-Littleton’s teaching and research interests include health inequities, the social determinants of health, and social equity. Dr. Lopez-Littleton graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Ph. D in Public Affairs with an emphasis in health services management. She is a U.S. Army veteran and registered nurse who enjoys dancing, comedy, and traveling.

Elizabeth L. Ramírez is a Spanish bilingual, bicultural family psychotherapist with a Marriage and Family Therapy license. She currently has a private practice offering counseling services to individuals, children and families. She has been providing counseling services in the Monterey County community for 16 years with various community agencies, and the most recent 9 years in private practice. She also focused on academic counseling at the Community College level, holding a position with the Educational Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) at Hartnell College. She has enjoyed creating a home in the Monterey Bay through professional activities and exploring the surrounding natural beauty. She has experienced the natural beauty while participating in a favorite pastime – running and training for races.

Kevin Cahill is the Director of the Communication Design program in the School of Computing and Design at California State University Monterey Bay. Kevin has a MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art and has taught Graphic Design, Communication Criticism, Multimedia, Ethics and Current Issues in Communications Technology and Web Design. Most recently, he was the Art Director for CalStateTEACH, the California State University system's first statewide, online teacher credential program. Kevin was also a key instructor in the Imagine College Summer Institute where he taught multimedia and web design to at-risk high school students. Kevin lives in Salinas with his husband and Pacific Grove native, Chip Lenno.