President and Leadership Team

Alvin McLean Jr., PhD, is dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Psychology and Social Sciences at National University. He is also co-owner of a medical specialty home health agency that manages chronic medical conditions in patients’ homes. Mr. McLean joined the University of Washington’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine faculty after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology. His research, publications, and presentations focused on the neuropsychological and psychosocial sequelae of traumatic brain injury, neuropharmacology, and care management strategies to improve daily functioning after brain and spinal cord injuries. In addition to his academic work, Mr. McLean has an extensive business background, including developing residential, outpatient and home-based rehabilitation programs for persons with brain and spinal cord injuries. He was senior vice president for Paradigm Health Corporation for over 20 years. Mr. McLean serves on the boards of San Francisco Theological Seminary, Bay Area Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program, Man2Man-Urban Youth Advocates, and Alameda County Care Alliance. Mr. McLean is also a musician and has directed the men’s chorus at Allen Temple Baptist Church for 25 years. Mr. McLean received two bachelor’s degrees from Kansas University. He earned his master's and doctorate in clinical psychology and psychophysiology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Amber Luther, BA, specializes in higher education planning in the San Francisco office of Populous, an international architecture and design firm. Her background includes planning for high-end residential, education, workplace, health care, and mixed-use collegiate and professional sports projects in the U.S., Middle East, and Canada. As one of Populous’ thought leaders within the national design community, she speaks at conferences, conducts research on new technologies that support innovative design processes, and publishes papers on innovation in design. Since 2017, she has led Populous’ Campus 2050 initiative studying campus design trends and themes with a consortium of universities including CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, DePaul, Northwestern, Purdue, and Stonybrook. Her recent work includes the University Mary Hardin Baylor Master Plan, SUNY University at Buffalo UB 2020 Plan, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Campus Relocation, Bloomsburg Campus Master Plan, the Philadelphia VA Medical Center Master Plan, and a variety of projects with Thomas Jefferson University.

Brad Barber, JD, is a retired attorney and assistant vice president emeritus for Institutional Advancement at the University of California (UC) Office of the President. Mr. Barber has extensive experience in managing nonprofits, and in planning and implementing fundraising campaigns. In addition to his work with all UC campuses and their foundations, Mr. Barber previously served as senior vice president and chief development officer of Children’s Hospital & Research Center in Oakland (now part of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital). He is currently involved with UC Berkeley as a member of four advisory boards, a visiting scholar at the Center for Studies in Higher Education (since 2013), and former chair of the Friends of the Bancroft Library. Mr. Barber serves on the Earth and Life Studies advisory committee for the National Academy of Sciences. Mr. Barber earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Boalt School of Law.

Caroline Cabias, BA, retired from the State of California with her last appointment as the State Board of Equalization chief financial officer, where she managed the board’s $500 million operating budget. Ms. Cabias previously managed the board’s information technology strategic planning, human resources, and customer services programs. During this time, she also served as project manager for the State of California Information
Technology (IT) Human Resources Classification and Selection Project intended to modernize the state’s IT classification plan. Ms. Cabias has also served in executive management capacities for the departments of Toxic Substances Control, Food and Agriculture, and Health with her first career executive appointment prior to her 30th birthday. 

When not consulting on organization and management issues, Ms. Cabias serves on the boards of the UC Davis Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis Foundation, UC Davis Global Affairs, UC Davis Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, Annual UC Davis Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference, Latino Economic Council of Sacramento, Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and on the La Familia Counseling Center STEM program and Opportunity Center Community Collaborative. Ms. Cabias received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UC Davis and a certificate in organization and management in the public sector from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.    

Christine "Chris" Helwick, JD is General Counsel Emeritus for the California State University system, the largest four-year institution of higher learning in the world, with 23 campuses and over 400,000 students. She has over 18 years of senior leadership experience, providing advice to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, and campus Presidents, and managing 23 in-house lawyers. Her department was named the “Best Legal Department” by Corporate Counsel magazine in 2013.

Ms. Helwick received the distinguished service award from the National Association of College and University Attorneys in 2007 for her exemplary leadership. She also served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of College and University Business Officers for six years.

In 2006, Ms. Helwick received a Fulbright award to study higher education exchange programs in Europe. She has participated in professional legal seminars at Oxford and the Aspen Institute. Formerly head of Litigation at the University of California, she was the first attorney to secure a court-ordered injunction against violent animal rights protestors on the UCLA campus.

In retirement, Ms. Helwick has authored articles on higher education management and presented at various gatherings. She currently serves as Senior Counsel at Hirschfeld Kraemer, providing counsel to higher education clients, conducting investigations, and coaching senior leaders. She is on the Board of the Center for the Collaborative Classroom, a nonprofit developing curriculum for K-5 schools that integrates social and emotional learning.

Ms. Helwick has taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and served on ABA Site Evaluation Teams. She has mentored students and participated in community programs such as Operation Jumpstart and Shortstop.

Conrad M. Vial, M.D, is a Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer. As Sutter Health's Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Vial accountabilities include development of clinical strategy, research and graduate medical education, Quality – inclusive of clinical outcomes, experience, efficiency and safety, clinical operations integration, mental health and addiction services, laboratory services, pharmacy, digital health, and design & innovation.

Dr. Vial is a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon who has held various leadership roles in multi-specialty medical group practice and integrated healthcare delivery. From the clinical practice perspective, Dr. Vial is particularly interested in structural heart disease, focusing on minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery and catheter-based valve repair and replacement.

Dr. Vial received his bachelor’s degree and medical doctorate from Stanford University. He earned a Master of Philosophy at Cambridge University in England, while also completing a postdoctoral fellowship in transplant immunology. He conducted his general surgical and cardiothoracic surgical training at Stanford University Medical Center. He has been board certified in both general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery.

Dennis J. O'Connell, BA, spent more than 30 years in the construction, manufacturing, retail and investment businesses, including 10 years with Bechtel Corporation. He has extensive experience as a board member, including with Marin General Hospital Foundation, Marin Community Health, Marin Physician Hospital Organization, and Babcock Foundation. Mr. O’Connell chaired the boards of Marin General Hospital and Sutter Health and is a former member of the Sutter West Bay Hospitals, Sutter West Bay Medical Foundation and Sutter Bay boards. He currently serves on the board of Bailard, a wealth management and institutional investment firm in Foster City, California. He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from California State University, Chico.

Elizabeth “Liz” Chaney, BA, is a retired account executive and regional director for JLL, a global commercial real estate investment and services firm. Her 30 years of experience includes overseeing Kaiser Permanente’s real estate portfolio transactions and Stanford University Medical Center’s growth. She assists institutional and private sector owners to advance complicated development programs with multiple stakeholders. She has also handled significant programs for the federal government, state of California, Fortune 100 corporations, and leading academic and health care institutions. A recognized leader in health care development, she also participates in teaching at institutions such as Yale University and Stanford University.

Ms. Chaney earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a licensed architect in California.

Eric Roberts, MBA, is a retired CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Roberts had spent over 20 years at the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster where he led the Forensic Accounting Services Group that specialized in cases involving securities laws and investigations. In that role, Mr. Roberts assisted in the representation of hundreds of companies, officers, directors, and other institutions in all types of securities cases, including class actions, derivative actions, white collar defense, and Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement proceedings.

Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Mr. Roberts spent 29 years, including 19 as a partner, at the accounting and consulting firm of Deloitte. Among other assignments, he headed the Northern California Litigation Support and Reorganization Group where he consulted and testified as an expert witness in Federal and State courts and in arbitrations on issues involving accounting matters and economic damages. Earlier in his career at Deloitte he was the lead partner on audits of public and private companies and numerous colleges and universities.

Mr. Roberts serves on the board of Stiles Hall. In the past he was on the boards of Mills College (chair of the finance committee and member of the executive and audit committees), the SF AIDS Foundation (chair of the finance committee and member of the audit committee), and Pangaea Global AIDS (chair of the board).

Mr. Roberts received his BS and MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Katherine “Kate” Schapiro, BA, CFA has over 40 years of experience as an investment professional. She established her own investment consulting practice in 2019 and currently provides investment advice, research, and consulting services to a private family wealth management firm in San Francisco. 

Over the course of her career, Ms. Schapiro managed mutual funds, co-mingled and employee benefit trust funds, institutional accounts and private client portfolios for prominent companies including Wells Fargo, Strong Capital Management and Sentinel Investments. In the 2015-16 fiscal year, she was Interim Executive Director for the CFA Society San Francisco, one of the world’s largest CFA societies serving over 3300 members throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. 

Ms. Schapiro earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Stanford University. She is a CFA Charterholder and remains an active member and volunteer in the local CFA San Francisco society and with CFA Institute. 

Ms. Schapiro served as a non-Regent member of the Investment Committee for Samuel Merritt University’s Board of Regents from early 2020 to June 2023. 

Previously, Ms. Schapiro was a trustee of Mills College in Oakland, CA from 2010 to 2019. She served on the Board of Directors of CFA Society San Francisco from 1992 to 2000 including a year as President. 

Ms. Schapiro appeared as a guest on Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and Fox Business News. She has been profiled in Barron’s and The New York Times. 

Ms. Schapiro is an avid skier, hiker, and bicyclist, having cycled on six continents. 

Kevin Hart, BS, is a seasoned health care executive, change strategist, and collaborative leader. In 17 years of progressive leadership with industry pioneer Kaiser Permanente, Kevin is at the forefront of industry transformation – bringing teams together to solve complex problems at scale. He has also leveraged technology to implement large-scale improvements for delivering more efficient, cost-effective, and patient-centered care.

Well, regarded as a highly effective communicator with a “big picture” vision, Kevin has an exceptional history of designing and implementing innovative strategies for organizational growth. He is also adept at building great teams, creating an open and honoring work culture, and empowering individuals to find joy at work and meaning in their collective mission.

Distinctive skills include managing organizational change, mitigating risk, infusing new ideas for business improvement, and delivering solid results in a high-performing, cross-functional team environment. Beyond health care, Kevin’s experience also spans the high-technology, construction, and manufacturing, engineering, and procurement industries, including Fortune 500 companies, professional services organizations, and start-ups.

With an abiding commitment to community wellbeing, Kevin gives abundantly of his time and expertise. He serves on the board of a nonprofit organization focused on providing health care information technology solutions to federally qualified health centers and community clinics. He is also on the board of the Hidden Genius Project, an initiative that trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.

Lisa Zuffi, BA, is a retired senior vice president and group director at Signature Bank’s San Francisco office. She has worked in commercial banking for over 25 years. In addition to her extensive banking experience, Ms. Zuffi has a background in business and community development, and she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. She has served on the boards of Oakland’s Lighthouse Community Charter School and the Oakland Business Development Corporation. Ms. Zuffi earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Berkeley.

Melanie Bell-Mayeda, MBA, is Director of Strategy and Operations at Google. She is focused on the identification and development of future user experience and opportunities for the company to deliver. Prior to her time at Google, Melanie was a Partner and Managing Director in IDEO’s San Francisco office, helping lead the Design for Change studio. Her passion lies in helping organizations reinvent themselves to connect with customers in new and meaningful ways. Melanie had led two major initiatives looking at the future of care. “The Powerful Now,” a global project that explored ways to bring creativity and design thinking to the topic of aging. The second was working with Pivotal Ventures to explore opportunities to reinvent the caregiving space with a focus on elevating and valuing the invisible labor or women. Prior to joining IDEO, she led LeapFrog’s global licensing business and worked at Virgin Entertainment Group, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, and Morgan Stanley, where she sharpened her skill in applying strategic thinking and financial analysis to the business decision-making process. Ms. Bell-Mayeda earned a bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in sociology from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Mercedes Chavira, RN, BSN received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Saint Mary’s Intercollegiate program in 1987. She holds professional designations and certifications as a Certified Perioperative Nurse from UCLA/Ronald Reagan Medical Center and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses and Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Boards. 

Since 2021, Mercedes has been the Nurse Patient Advocate with Anthem Vivity Blue Cross of California in Woodland Hills, California. She began her career in perioperative nursing in 1987 and brings 37 years of experience working with top-ranked hospitals and Fortune 500 companies. Mercedes has an extensive clinical background and expertise in training, education, and leadership roles.

Mercedes is a powerful force in the workplace, using her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others and advocate for her patients. She believes patient care should be holistic and compassionate, with an emphasis on educating patients and building strong therapeutic relationships based on trust and evidence-based practice.

Inspired daily by her husband of 23 years and her immediate family, especially her brother and his family, Mercedes enjoys traveling, gardening, mentoring others, and volunteering as a perioperative nurse in her free time.

Saul Rosenbaum, BS, is a retired financial services executive. Prior to retiring in 2021, he served as a managing director, member of the executive committee, and shareholder of San Francisco-based Prager & Co., LLC, a boutique investment banking, and financial advisory firm. He has 35 years of experience providing strategic financial advisory and investment banking services to governmental and nonprofit entities, during which time his focus was devoted primarily to college and university clients. 

Prior to joining Prager & Co. LLC, Mr. Rosenbaum served as a vice president in the San Francisco Public Finance Group of Prudential Securities Inc., where he provided fixed income investment banking services to nonprofit and governmental entities. Prior to that, he served as a senior consultant in the Municipal Finance Consulting Division of Ernst & Young.

Saul serves on the Board of Directors of Alliant Educational Foundation (AEF) and is Trustee Emeritus of Alliant International University (AIU). He graduated with honors from the University of Arizona where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in finance.

Shefali Parikh, MOT, BA, is a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She oversees all aspects of manufacturing, quality control, customer service, billing, and shipping. She began this role in 2004 and has driven growth in sales and profitability. She has a BA in psychology and minor in women’s studies from UC Riverside and MOT (Master of Occupational Therapy) from Samuel Merritt University.

Neptaly "Taty" Aguilera, BA, serves on the UC Davis Health Medical School Community Advisory Committee, the board of directors for the UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association, and is co-chair of the University of California Statewide Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association. He currently serves on the executive board of directors for the Coalition of Civil Rights Organizations in state government and has also served on the Sacramento County Grand Jury and is a member of the California Grand Jurors’ Association. 

Mr. Aguilera is retired from the California Department of Health Care Services, after 40 years of public service in various leadership positions in health-related programs. He oversaw the statewide Medi-Cal field offices responsible for the review of Treatment Authorization Requests for medical services. In addition, he was chief of the Primary Health Care Program and responsible for overseeing funding for 350 community and primary care clinics serving populations including Asian, Black, Filipino, farmworkers, Latino, Native American, veterans, women, LGBTQ, disabled and seniors in designated medically underserved areas in California. 

Mr. Aguilera earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Davis and has certificates of achievement in human resources, labor relations, budgets, finance and contracts, and equal employment opportunity, from the State of California. 

Ching-Hua Wang MD, PhD is the second president in the history of Samuel Merritt University. She works with the President's Cabinet to fulfill the University’s mission and values, with a commitment to improve health outcomes by educating future healthcare professionals who are highly skilled and reflect the communities they will serve.

Dr. Wang previously served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Sacramento. Before joining Sacramento State, she served as dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences at Dominican University of California, where she was also a professor of immunology and microbiology. There, she initiated and developed several academic programs, including a Master of Science in physician assistant studies program and internationally educated nurses’ program.

She was one of the original 13 faculty members recruited to start California State University, Channel Islands. She served as director of the Bridges to Stem Cell Research initiative, director of the school’s Master of Science in Biotech and Bioinformatics program, was special assistant to the provost, and chair of several natural science and health science programs.

She received her medical degree from Beijing Medical College, a Master of Science degree in immunology from Beijing University, and a PhD in immunology from Cornell University. She has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has obtained over $11.3 million in funds from private sources and corporations and $15 million in grants. 

Dr. Wang and the President's Cabinet provide stewardship of institutional resources in consultation with the Board of Regents.