SFADCF Board of Directors
Karyn Brooks
Karyn has worked in the high tech industry for over 20 years at Fortune 100 Silicon Valley companies transforming the day to day lives of consumers globally. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Wellesley College and MBA at the University of San Francisco. She is a proud volunteer for a San Francisco Bay Area based non profit, Students Rising Above (SRA). SRA supports first generation college students from low income communities by guiding them through college, graduation and into the workforce.
She embodies the sentiment “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Working with SRA allows Karyn to focus on her passions; education, mentoring of college bound teenagers and supporting her local San Francisco and Marin County communities. Karyn was awarded Students Rising Above, Volunteer of the Year in 2010 and is proud to serve as Vice President of the San Francisco Alumnae Delta Community Foundation.
Rev. Angela Brown, JD
Rev. Angela Brown, was educated in San Francisco Public Schools. She attended University of San Francisco where she received a Bachelor of Science degree.
After graduation Rev. Angela began to work in the San Francisco District Attorney as an investigator. Rev. Angela entered San Francisco Law School where se receive a Juris Doctorate Degree. The San Francisco District Attorney Office hired Rev. Angela as an Assistant District Attorney where she worked for in various units in the office until her retirement in 2010. Rev. Angela joined the Naval Reserves as an enlisted member, commissioned as an Officer, after twenty-two years of service she retired at the rank of Commander in 2006.
After retiring from the District Attorney Office, Rev. Angela attended Pacific School of Religion Seminary, earning a Masters of Divinity, in 2014. Rev. Angela’s first appointment was, Associate Pastor serving at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church 2014-2018. Her current appointment is the Minister of Community Engagement, Advocacy and Social Justice for the ten United Methodist Churches located in San Francisco.
Colleen Higgs, PharmD
Dr. Higgs, is the Division President of Clinical and Pharmacy Services for Ramsell Corporation, which connects people served by public health programs to needed medications. She is responsible for clinical programs in the delivery of prescription benefits, and negotiations necessary for development and maintenance of the company’s pharmacy networks. Colleen holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy. She gives back to UCSF thru service as a volunteer faculty member where she has an appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor.
Commitment to volunteerism and public service is a consistent thread in Colleen’s history, having served on the Medical Advisory Committee for Planned Parenthood early in her career, and later as a member of the East Bay American Heart Association Board supporting fundraising efforts and community education about heart disease. She is an active member of the San Francisco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and brings her experiences and skills to contribute to the success of the San Francisco Alumnae Delta Community Foundation.
Helen R. Lamar
Ms. Helen R. LaMar is the Executive Director of the Providence Foundation of San Francisco. She is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University with a Degree in Finance and she holds several banking credentials through the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Home Loan Bank in Washington, DC. During her successful 24-year career as a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner, Ms. LaMar traveled to over 75% of the cities in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.
In addition, Ms. LaMar has been with the Providence Foundation since it was founded in 1997, first serving as a member of the Board of Directors and as of 2004, as the Executive Director. She works tirelessly to secure funding from private donors, as well as local, state and federal governments to support and implement programs for low-income individuals and families, older adults, at-risk youth, homeless, and other vulnerable populations.
Under her leadership, the Providence Foundation has constructed two housing complexes, Providence Senior Housing and Bayview Hill Gardens. As a result, 50 low-income seniors and 73 formerly homeless individuals and families of the Bayview Hunters Point Community now have a place to call home.
Ms. LaMar is an active member of the San Francisco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and serves as Chief Financial Officer of the San Francisco Alumnae Delta Community Foundation (SFADCF).
Dr. Michal Foriest Settles
Michal currently serves on the Business Faculty at City College of San Francisco. She has enjoyed a 30-year distinguished career in the field of public transportation/utilities working at BART, AC Transit and the SF MTA-Public Utilities Commission.
After retiring from BART (as the Human Resources Manager) and AC Transit (as the Assistant General Manager of Administration), she began devoting more time to public service, accepting an appointment by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown to the San Francisco Redevelopment Commission. She also served as Secretary and Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Retirement Board, Treasurer of the American Association for Training and Development, and Vice Chair of the Sam Tran Paratransit Commission. She even found time to serve as a docent at the Ano Nuevo State Reserve, conducting guided tours of the elephant seal population.
Dr. Settles earned a doctoral degree from the University of San Francisco and a master’s degree from Howard University. She has also earned business certifications in retirement counseling and administration from Wharton, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UCLA’s Anderson School of Business. She is certified by the International Foundation of Retirement Educators as a Retirement Counselor and Administrator.
Gail Booth Toliver
Gail Booth Toliver was educated in San Francisco Public Schools. She attended California State University Sacramento where she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business and Public Administration.
After graduation, Gail began working in the stock brokerage business where she became infatuated with the inner workings of the stock market. She began her post graduate education, with an emphasis in finance and Investment banking. She studied and passed the General Securities Reregistered Representative exam (Series 7), and Uniform Securities Agent State Law examination (Series 63), which allows her to trade and invest for clients across the United States. Two years later, Gail earned a General Securities Supervisor license (Series 9/10). To round out her financial advisor fitness, Gail also holds a General Life Insurance license. Gail has held several positions in the financial services arena and has used her financial services background in various philanthropic capacities. Most recently, Gail was the Credit Policy Officer for MUFG Union Bank.
In her spare time Gail enjoys hiking, volunteering, and sharing her talents within the San Francisco community. She is a native San Franciscan, and currently resides there with her husband, Rory, and 2 children, Milan and Alexa.
Shirley Allyne Matthews
Shirley Matthews, daughter of the late Dr. Jerome Emory Matthews and the Late Rossalind Shaw Matthews, came to San Francisco at an early age. During her young and teenage years, she was a member of the Girl Scouts and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. After graduating from Presentation High School, she matriculated to Bennett College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.
Ms. Matthews has devoted much of her life to community service and has won numerous awards for her devotion, including: the Professional Woman of the Year Award from the San Francisco Chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women Clubs, Inc.; and the United Negro College Fund’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
She is a member of the San Francisco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a member of The Links, Inc., for which she has served as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Ms. Matthews retired from the United Negro College Fund after 30 years as Project Manager, Assistant Area Development Director, and Area Development Director. She has been a member of St. Cyprian's Church for 66 years.