Board of Directors

Please scroll down to see bios of board members.

Dr. Jinny Rhee joined the CSULB College of Engineering as Dean in July 2021, bringing to The Beach years of experience developing innovative student success and faculty-development programs and forging strong relationships with industry leaders, alumni, and community partners. Dr. Rhee came to CSULB from San Jose State University, where, as Associate Dean of the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, she led programs that raised graduation rates, increased faculty and student diversity, improved academic advising, and pioneered staff and faculty workshops on anti-racism and microaggressions. As Associate Dean, Dr. Rhee led college-wide initiatives and assisted with strategic planning and fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative college culture. Dr. Rhee administered the $1.8 million Silicon Valley Engineering Scholarship program, and was involved in over $9.2 million in philanthropy to the SJSU College of Engineering and its affiliated programs, engaging corporate, alumni, and community partners.

She developed Engineering Programs in Community Service (EPICS @SJSU) to attract underrepresented minorities and women to engineering and tech and helped initiate the Industrial Technology Network Security Apprenticeship Program with Cisco Systems.

Deepika S. Thompson is Senior Counsel in Lozano Smith’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on the public finance and facilities and business aspects of public agency law.

Ms. Thompson is experienced in advising public entities and non-profit organizations on a variety of business, property, finance, construction, contracting, governance, conflict of interest, procurement, and general legal matters. Her combined litigation and transaction practice enable early identification and management of issues on the front end, to minimize and prevent lengthy legal battles.

She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, where she was an Articles Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Philip Nicolay is a partner with Environmental Resources Management located in Irvine, California.  Mr. Nicolay is a Professional Geologist in California and Arizona.  He has extensive experience in managing large complex environmental and capital project programs for a variety of private sector, municipal, and federal clients.  He is experienced with technical and regulatory framework applicable to transit and electrical utility projects.  He has over 30 years of experience working in Southern California.  He lives in San Pedro and has coached youth sports and supported youth science programs.   Phil and his wife Michele have raised three children and been married for 35 years.   Phil loves to play golf, talk about geology and science, and hike to new locations in the west.

Donna Skinner left her full-time career in social services after 22 years with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles to travel and to pursue her life-long interest in art. Since that time, she has worked and studied art and art history in the United States, Europe, South America and Scandinavia. She accepted her first commission in Como, Italy.

Donna supports her painting habit with gainful employment in the field of computer graphic arts including digital media arts for nonprofits and artists. She is a long-time member and past president of Soroptimist of Long Beach, volunteer service organization for professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls (where she met Chief DemoChick Robin Thorne). She lives in Huntington Beach, CA.

Donna has an MS from the University of Oklahoma and a BS from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. A believer in life-long learning, she has taken zillions of units in fine art and digital arts from the Coast Community Colleges.

DEMOCHICKS FOUNDER

Robin S. Thorne,  ENV SP, has made outstanding achievements in her profession since receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in 1997. She began her career as an Associate Foam Manufacturing Engineer for Foamex International in Pennsylvania, responsible for testing new formulations as well as trouble shooting to correct deficiencies in existing formulations. She transferred to California to oversee the full scale production of polyurethane foam and provide supervision to approximately 30 employees. Robin was given the opportunity to advance in her career and assumed the responsibilities of the Environmental, Health and Safety Manager. In this position, she was responsible for implementing and coordinating the health and safety programs for over 400 employees at four facilities.

Robin became a Risk Management Specialist for Poms & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. in Dec. 2005 working closely with their client, who manages property, liability, worker’s compensation health benefit programs for self insured districts. In addition to having responsibility for environmental, health and safety compliance, Robin had been responsible for developing emergency/disaster plans compliant with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security.

In 2009, Robin established CTI Environmental, Inc., (CTI) an environmental, construction and safety consulting firm and serves as CTI’s Chief Executive Officer. Robin and her team have been awarded contracts by Southern California Edison, California State University, Walsh-Shea Constructors, Kiewit Pacific, Legal Aid Foundation, International City Bank. In 2018, CTI began to compete in the federal market having been awarded projects with the Bureau of Prisons, and Department of Forestry. CTI was awarded a contract by the City of Los Angeles to provide debris removal services after  a catastrophic event. Robin is responsible for the daily operations, including directly consulting with clients, identifying potential opportunities and vendors to execute on projects, hiring talent, oversight on projects and ensuring CTI provides first in class services.

In addition to the advancements that Robin has made in her career, she has been actively involved in numerous community service projects. She served as Chair of the Sustainable City Commission of Long Beach, President of the American Society of Safety Engineers, board member of both the YMCA Community Development Branch and Soroptimist International of Long Beach. Robin enjoys reaching out to women in need and has organized and coordinated programs to help less fortunate families, shelter residents, and needy seniors. Robin’s created a presentation highlighting the accomplishments of minorities in engineering. This program is ideal for students at any level. Robin also has an interest in making a global impact and was afforded the opportunity to travel to S. Africa where she conducted a Vision Board Workshop for women in Durban and a Business Seminar for the Carletonville Miracle Center. She has conducted Vision Board Workshops in Brooklyn, NY as well as Carson and Long Beach, CA. Robin recently launched an initiative called ‘DemoChicks’ introducing young girls to nontraditional fields, including engineering and construction. The organization also empowers and uplifts those who are currently in the fields.

Robin has received numerous accolades over the years and is most proud of her induction into the Drexel University College of Engineering’s Circle of Distinction. It is the highest honor the college bestows upon alumni who have made significant contributions to the field of engineering and who have shown exemplary support for the College of Engineering and the University. Over the years, they each have forged a path of accomplishment that serves as an inspiration for all of us but particularly for our students, the individuals who will be the future problem solvers in our increasingly complex world.

Robin is the proud mother of one son and recently established a scholarship in his name at the Community College she attended in Philadelphia, for students majoring in Engineering who have overcome various obstacles to succeed.

Robin feels truly blessed that she has been able to accomplish so many things in her life and plans to continue looking for opportunities to grow, improve and serve others in her community.

Nia Elaine – Bio coming soon!