Board of Directors
Greg Abbott
– Greg is currently in his fourth year as a volunteer coach in the CAN
program. Greg has been a business executive and attorney in the life
sciences industry for almost 30 years. Currently, Greg provides business
strategy advice and is a consulting expert on licensing and business
transactions in the high tech and biotech industries. His current law
practice is devoted to pro bono legal aid involving immigrant rights
cases. He received his J.D. with honors from the University of Denver
College of Law and holds a B.A. in economics from Yale University.
Scott Barnhart, M.D., M.P.H. – Scott is a physician and faculty
member at the University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public
Health. He practices medicine at Harborview Medical Center and focuses
his efforts on health system strengthening in developing countries. He
is a former medical director of Harborview Medical Center and received
an residency and specialty training and a MPH from the University of
Washington, MD from George Washington University and a BA from St.
Lawrence University. He was a Seattle School Board Director from
1991-1999.
Ray Blakeney (CAN Vice-President)
– Ray is currently working at a non-profit based in Seattle. He spent
10 years at Microsoft, most recently as the Global Program Manager for
the Microsoft Academy for College Hires. Prior to working at Microsoft,
Ray worked in college admissions and government. Ray holds a BA in
Political Science from the University of Dayton and did Masters work in
Higher Education Administration at Boston College. He is the first in
his family to receive a college degree.
Amy Hagopian, Ph.D. (CAN Education Committee Chair)
– Amy was chair of the Garfield PTSA when CAN was founded, and was a
champion for affiliating the two organizations. She is on the faculty at
the University of Washington School of Public Health, where she teaches
evaluation, policy, community development and international health. She
is a former Seattle School Board member (1990-1993).
Bruce Jacobsen (CAN Board President)
– Bruce Jacobsen's father was the first in his family to attend college.
Bruce has volunteered as a tutor at Garfield and as treasurer of the
McGilvra Elementary School PTA. He currently runs a company that designs
digital curriculum. Local schools using his curriculum include Nathan
Hale, Roosevelt, Seattle Academy and the Northwest School. Other
non-profit experience includes serving on the board of Trust for Public
Land, and being one of the early supporters of Room to Read. Prior to
starting his own company, Bruce worked for Microsoft, including running
the Kids and Games business unit, and at RealNetworks as chief operating
officer and president.
Lewis Levin (CAN
Treasurer)
–
Lewis is a product of public schools—primary, secondary, and college
(until graduate school)—who turned out OK. That is the American Way
that CAN helps to preserve. In addition to joining the CAN board, Lewis
has started a private foundation to focus on promoting tolerance and
encouraging business openness to environmentalism. Previously, Lewis
worked in the software industry for 30 years, including 24 years at
Microsoft.
Donna Lou (CAN Development Committee Chair)
– Donna is a community volunteer who currently sits on the board of The
Seattle Foundation and Washington Women's Foundation and is an active
member of Social Venture Partners. Donna has also worked at The Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and at Microsoft Corporation. Donna was in the
first generation of her family to attend college. She graduated from
the University of Washington with a degree in political science.
Linda Straley (CAN Secretary)
–
After 20 years, Linda recently retired from the faculty of Seattle
Academy (SAAS) where she taught Spanish and English and served as
Director of College Counseling, a position she held for 13 years. Linda
has a B.A. degree in history from Smith College and has taught middle
school in Guatemala and Panama. She is currently serving as Board
Secretary and on the CAN Education Committee.
CAN Founder
Julia Schechter – Julia began volunteering as a
Garfield community volunteer and founded the College Access Now Program.
She is currently serving as Executive Director of CAN. Before starting a
family, Julia held a staff position with the Assembly Higher Education
Subcommittee in Sacramento, CA; worked on number numerous political
campaigns and taught sixth grade in a Redwood City School District
bi-lingual classroom. She has a BA in Politics from U.C. Santa
Cruz and a Masters in Education Policy and Administration from Stanford
University.
|