PSV BOARD & LEADERSHIP

Education and advocacy are in Lisa's lineage. Lisa's great, great, great, grand uncle, Benjamin Tonsler, was a graduate of Hampton Institute and principal of Jefferson School in Charlottesville, Va. In the late 1800s, he prepared hundreds of Black students for college despite it being illegal to educate them past eighth grade. From there, Lisa comes from a long line of educators and administrators so it's not a surprise that she founded Private School Village (PSV) to build a community of support for Black families in private schools. Prior to PSV, Lisa served as an interim senior administrator at an independent school and subsequently co-created a diversity and inclusion fund designed to immediately increase racial diversity in the same school. Shortly after, she taught graduate students about nonprofit public relations as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California for four years. A seasoned professional with more than 20 years of for- and non-profit experience, Lisa served as senior vice president of communications and marketing for the American Cancer Society (ACS) for six years in New York City. While there she managed a regionally-dispersed staff of 20 and championed award-winning strategies for engaging donors and volunteers, and launched some of the organizations first e-fundraising tools. Lisa co-chaired an executive level team to create the organization’s first multi-year Diversity & Disparity Plan, contributed to the success of a $50 million capital campaign to build an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, and through media advocacy, Lisa helped get clean indoor air laws passed in New York and New Jersey which paved the way for subsequent legislation in other states. Prior to her stint with ACS, Lisa worked for several organizations including Ketchum Public Relations, Black Entertainment Television, and on behalf of the for-and non-profit organizations and the special interests of Earvin “Magic” Johnson. A graduate of a K-12 independent school in Atlanta, Ga, The Westminster Schools, Lisa matriculated from the University of Virginia where she earned a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communication Studies. Lisa now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Nikea is our inaugural deputy director and works collaboratively within every aspect of the organization to provide management, oversight, input, and guidance alongside Founder/Executive Director Lisa Johnson (no relation), the PSV Board, and countless parent volunteers. Nikea is a published, entertainment/media professional with over twenty years in competitive, highly-driven, client-service and creative capacities. As a former talent manager, Nikea helped to guide the careers of A-list recording artists and screen talent. Nikea proudly possesses over nine years of leadership and advisory roles within LA independent schools and communities. A former parent board president, independent school trustee, member of the African American Board Leadership Institute, SoCal POCIS, Private School Village, iDream for Racial Health Equity, and now Director of Development at an independent school, Nikea is passionate about advocating for Black families. Nikea possesses the innate ability to cultivate relationships as a leader, innovator and collaborator, proving to institute successful strategies and ensure an optimal and efficient operation. Nikea earned her BA and MFA from USC. She and her husband, Damani, have four children, Mia, Selah (8th grade), Yara (3rd grade), and Hendrix (DK).

Leslie Grau is an experienced Technology and Operations executive passionate about driving transformation, building innovative solutions, and helping organizations run smarter and more effectively. He brings extensive experience across industries and organizations of all sizes, helping them tackle big challenges and achieve meaningful growth. Recognized for his ability to align strategy with execution, drive growth, and enhance operational efficiency, his initiatives have boosted profit margins, reduced budgets without sacrificing quality, grown e-commerce revenue, and provided better user experience and engagement. Leslie holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Information Systems from Albany State University of New York and professional certifications in Executive Leadership and Project Management from Cornell and UCLA. An award-winning leader, including the CIO 100 Award, Leslie thrives on delivering value through innovation, operational excellence, and strategic alignment. Leslie draws inspiration from his parents, high school teachers, and his family’s long-standing commitment to not-for-profit educational and community involvement programs. Growing up, he witnessed firsthand the impact of organizations dedicated to providing critical support and education for underserved communities. Leslie and his wife, Jackie, proudly represent a multiracial family and call Los Angeles home.

After graduating from Antioch University with a degree in African American Studies (minor in mathematics), AJ Yates spent over two decades working in independent schools as a teacher, coach, advisor and dorm parent. AJ is the Director of Programs at The Children’s Education Initiative (TCEI). Prior to joining TCEI, AJ was a Major Gifts Officer, Director of Multicultural Outreach and Senior Associate Director of Admission at a boarding school in Southern California. AJ also serves on the board of the Ventura Surf Soccer Club and The Squared Network. AJ resides in Pasadena, California with his wife, Carin, and dog, Ollie. AJ’s two daughters both graduated from independent school.

Howard Stevenson is a nationally sought expert on how to resolve racial stress and trauma that affect health at every stage of life. His work prepares children and adults to assert themselves during face-to-face microaggressions that undermine academic and work productivity. Key to this racial healing work is integrating cultural strengths to reduce in-the-moment threat reactions, increase access to memory, physical mobility, and voice, and prevent long-term health detriment. Dr. Stevenson has served for 32 years as a clinical psychologist working in under-resourced rural and urban neighborhoods across the country. His book, Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference, summarizes this work. Dr. Howard Stevenson is the Constance Clayton Professor of Urban Education, Professor of Africana Studies, in the Human Development & Quantitative Methods Division of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the Executive Director of the Racial Empowerment Collaborative, a research, program development, and training center that brings together community leaders, researchers, authority figures, families, and youth to study and promote racial literacy and health in schools and neighborhoods. From 2015 to 2021, he was co-director of Forward Promise, a national philanthropy office that funds community-based organizations that help families of color heal, grow, and thrive above the trauma of historical and present-day dehumanization. He received the 2020 Gittler Prize, by Brandeis University, for outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic, and/or religious relations. He was listed in the 2021 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings of the top university-based scholars in the United States who did the most to shape educational practice and policy. In 2021, Dr. Stevenson was elected to membership in the National Academy of Education (NAEd). The NAEd advances high-quality education research and its use in policy and practice and consists of U.S. and international associates who are elected on the basis of outstanding scholarship related to education.

Mariama Richards has served as the head of school at Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences since 2022. She joined Crossroads as the associate head of school in 2020. She is charged with supporting the philosophy and strategic plan of the School, a K-12 progressive school located in Santa Monica, California. Mariama majored in history at Spelman College and received her master’s in Africana Studies at Cornell University. She began her educational career as a humanities teacher in Washington, D.C., public schools and went on to direct an educational nonprofit, Summerbridge New Haven. After leaving Summerbridge, Mariama was appointed to various senior administrative roles at schools such as Georgetown Day School in Washington, Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City and Friends Central School in Philadelphia. Mariama has worked on issues of educational equity in schools for the past 27 years. She has also worked with several environmental organizations in their pursuit of crafting inclusive, community-based programs.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Cool Mom Co., Lizzy is an entrepreneur, entertainer, and powerhouse mom of 3. Widely trusted as a representative for modern moms, Lizzy has been featured in top media outlets for her vibrant personality and knowledge in the lifestyle space. You will find her starring in Roku’s #1 rated new series “Honest Renovations”. Additionally, her highly anticipated podcast, The Cool Mom Code, is now live, where she invites celebrity friends & powerhouse moms to have real, unfiltered conversations about parenthood, friendship, and being a modern woman in today’s world.

Alida Garcia is a mom of twins and a founder of Twin Impact, a company that powers organizations and campaigns with effective strategies and focused management. A veteran campaign manager and issue advocate, in recent years Alida has served as a Senior Advisor for Latino Vote for Vice President Kamala Harris' Presidential campaign, a Senior Advisor for President Biden on Migration, and the VP of Advocacy at FWD.us, an organization focused on common sense immigration and criminal justice policies. She is also the founder of Inclusv, a company focused on increasing the number of people of color pursuing careers in politics & advocacy.

Dawn Limerick, a Los Angeles native, is Founder of The Greenwood Standard, an organization dedicated to engaging and promoting socially conscious consumers to vetted black businesses to build long-term power and wealth in the Black community. She is also a Design Associate with Everick Brown Design and it’s Objects and Accents curated collection. A certified life and mindfulness coach, Dawn launched “The Presence Workshop” to focus on a true passion—helping and empowering other women to fully AWAKEN in their own lives, create their powerful stories and truly be their best selves. She is on a mission to help get rid of baggage, quiet inner critics and most importantly, break through the PAST for a more purposeful PRESENT. Prior to this, Dawn spent 14 years in retail as department and store manager for the likes of Nordstrom, BCBG and Bloomingdale’s. She later sold real estate for Coldwell Banker before deciding to stay home and focus on raising her two children. Dawn majored in Broadcast Journalism at The University of La Verne and spent a year abroad in England where she studied International Relations. A devoted wife and mother, Dawn also volunteers regularly at The Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House.

Pinkie Nolan is COO of PSV. In this capacity she oversees all operational and administrative functions – the internal operations of PSV – alongside Lisa Johnson, the Founder/ED. Pinkie is a mission-focused, seasoned, strategic, and process-minded leader with experience scaling organizations, leading executive management teams, and developing performance cultures. As a key volunteer leader of the organization, Pinkie also serves on the PSV Board of Directors and leads the collaborative creation and implementation of the organizations post-COVID strategic plan. Pinkie is also the Chief Value Officer at Hoag Memorial Hospital, where she is responsible for facilitating the definition and prioritization of initiatives that are critical to the achievement of strategic and operational goals. For approved initiatives, she is responsible for ensuring that they are executed successfully – on time, on budget, and delivering on the promised organizational value. Ms. Nolan has over 25 years of strategic and tactical expertise in organizational operations, including managing merger and acquisition integrations, launching new facilities and service lines, overseeing complex transformation initiatives, and coordinating continuous improvement efforts. She has developed frameworks to manage billion-dollar strategic project portfolios, and successfully managed complex business and technology projects at enterprise, regional and global levels. Her experience spans both the commercial and government sectors, including Fortune 50 companies and nationally ranked health systems. She also worked in the management and IT consulting industries, where she provided business advisory and technology services to government agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, Health & Human Services, and the Federal Communications Commission. Ms. Nolan earned her B.S. in Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia and her M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech. Pinkie, who lives in Orange County with her husband, Norm, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Norm, a former international professional basketball player, currently works with independent school students to build athletic and leadership ability on and off the court.

Alonda was named the Head of Middle School in April 2022 after a nationwide search. Alonda was previously the Director of Admissions at Morristown Beard School and Assistant Head of School at Hollywood Schoolhouse in Los Angeles, CA prior to that. Alonda has been an educator and administrator for over 15 years. Alonda is a California native and received her undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge with a specialization in Liberal Studies with a minor in Children’s Theatre. Alonda earned a Master's of Education with Teaching Credential from Pepperdine University.

Cindy Virani is a marketing professional for Reel Health, a COVID-19 response system for the entertainment industry, and Beignet Box, a southern sweet treat brand originating in New Orleans. Additionally, Cindy brings fifteen years of experience in the apparel industry to the PSV team. As a pivotal part of the efforts behind world-renowned brands Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Affliction, and Christian Audigier, Cindy honed her skills as a dynamic, creative and highly motivated brand professional. She has a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing manufacturing projects from concept to completion, designing and executing outside-the-box marketing strategies, and successfully driving sales. Many years in the fast-paced world of fashion have left her skilled in integrating complex moving parts, demonstrating exceptional communication, and making critical decisions during challenges…the tools needed to be the entrepreneur she is today. As an LA native from a multicultural family, Cindy is the product of a diverse LAUSD public school education. Having seen the diminishing budgets and opportunities in the public school system, she chooses to send her son Damon to Sierra Canyon School, an independent school that affords him every opportunity while also sharing Cindy’s belief that diversity in every child’s educational environment is an integral component in shaping well-rounded, egalitarian citizens of the future.